Please i need help

Katnip, RN · Dec 14, 2004

In general, yes, employers do have the right to fire you without notice, especially during or right after the orientation period. If they're smart, they'll talk to you about your weakness and offer remedial help, but often they don't.

Instead of worrying about the rumors, why not go to your manager and talk to her? Just tell you you feel you may be having some problems, would like to have the opportunity to discuss them with the manager and your preceptor and work our a plan to improve.

Maybe they feel that this department is not right for you, and they have some suggestions that might suit you better within the hospital. It's better than being let go entirely.

Being proactive in nursing is very important. More than one job has been saved by making the first move.

Good luck.

blessed02 · Dec 14, 2004

i feel you- going "somewhat" thru the same issue. have you been applying for other jobs ? if you have "personal problem " look for another person at your work place as a reference- i hate rumors but at times they are true-

oh yeah-at least in my work place i've seen 4 people fired without warning but one of them an lpn fired last week will be going to the lawyers.

about not being informed of important issues talk to your boss/chain of command and write somewhere about what was done/not done for future use in case you have to defend yourself.

take heart graduate nurse- i'm really sorry you have to go thru this issue

hello
i feel like i ned to vent because i'm feeling so frustrated and desperate. what would you do if your employer is trying to force you to resign by giving you the hardest assignment and no one is offering any assistance? i feel like i'm sinking so badly. the end of my orientation period is coming very soon and i dont know whats going to happen when that day comes. there is a rumor going around that i'm going to get fired. do you think employers have a right to fire you without warning, or do you think they have to give their employers a week of notice before discharging them? i'm feeling very frustrated because this is my first nursing job and if i resign now i wont have any work experience. but at the same time, i feel like everyone is so against me and always setting me up to get into trouble by not telling me about important things. what do you think i should do? please help!!!

Bjo · Dec 19, 2004

I gotta say that it probably won't get any better for you where you are. If it is that bad and you are at the end of your orientation period, how will you be feeling when you are independent?

As for not having any work experience, you got that job as a graduate nurse and you will find another one. Better to lack the experience and build on your skills than to stay somewhere that will end up doing more damage to your track record than it is worth.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2004

Yes, the can fire you without notice. But you need to go to the source, first go to the manager face to face, find out what they are thinking, and if there is anything you can improve upon. By being on orientation do you have a preceptor? Where is this preceptor and why aren't you getting any help? Speak up for yourself. Tell who is making the assignments that they are unfair, and ask your coworkers for help. Personally, I'm usually so busy I have to be asked for help and then I gladly give it. I'm sometimes into my stuff so much I don't realize someone may be drowning. So speak up.

But most of all it seriously sounds like you need to quit. Sounds like a dreadful place to work. If it's this bad on orientation, don't expect it to get better without some proaction on your part.

Anniekins · Dec 19, 2004

I got off orientation aug/sep........a co worker of mine got off orientation about 2 weeks ago....and is having a rough time keeping up. People talk talk talk behind her back.....................

I said to one of the charge nurses....we need to help her. Maybe "partner" her up w/ a very experienced nurse, lighten her load up...something to help her out. the CHARGE nurse replyed "Well, we just dont think that this floor is for her".

I honestly wanted to puke, hearing this come from a figure as such. :angryfire

pie123 · Dec 19, 2004

I agree with Cyberkat and 3rd shift guy!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2004

There are some very good suggestions here for getting additional input.

But quite honestly, why do you want to work in the environment that you are describing?

If people are sneaking behind backs, non helpful and nonmentoring - that does not change if you are a great nurse and stay. Those same behaviors will run off other good employees, you'll be working short staffed because few nurses wish to put up with the behavior, etc. It also will burn you out on that first crucial Nursing experience. Many people quit Nursing because of bad first experiences.

Better to find a nurturing environment.

Sometimes quitting/getting fired is a good thing.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 19, 2004

i got off orientation aug/sep........a co worker of mine got off orientation about 2 weeks ago....and is having a rough time keeping up. people talk talk talk behind her back.....................

if i caught them doing that, i might say something like, "wow, is that really fair to talk about her like that? that's not the way to make newbies feel welcome, trust me," and leave. let them think about it. 'cause i wouldn't put up with that kind of stuff for long. there are too many good jobs with nicer people to work with out there. but it depends. there might be hope.

i said to one of the charge nurses....we need to help her. maybe "partner" her up w/ a very experienced nurse, lighten her load up...something to help her out. the charge nurse replyed "well, we just dont think that this floor is for her".
i honestly wanted to puke, hearing this come from a figure as such.

what would you do if your employer is trying to force you to resign by giving you the hardest assignment and no one is offering any assistance?

i so wish that those nurse-eaters would realize what it costs the entire team to do this to newbies!

here's where you can be a better influence here. you can help to effect change on this unit. you have more power in this situation than you think.

first, be no part of the gossip or bullying that goes on. take the issue to the manager, and explain how important it is to keep good nurses. explain that it takes an average of $50,000 per nurse for precepting and training, and how that money is being wasted when those nurses are not treated well and then leave.

suggest that the manager could save money for the unit by striving to keep those new nurses. and suggest that the manager try to bridge the gap between the newer nurses and the more experienced nurses with a mentoring program.

in our mentoring program, experienced nurses are partnered with newer nurses to be a resource for them regardless of whether they've precepted them or not, and regardless of whether or not they're on orientation. the way it works in my unit is, we all just wind up helping one another because we don't want the newbies to screw up--causes bad morale for the entire unit when we have a major patient problem-- or cost the unit money by leaving.

ps oh, and just for the heck of it, read up on some threads here that talk about workplace bullying and hostile work environments. at some point in your career, whether it fits this situation or not, it'll surely come in handy.

good luck, and please keep us posted about your situation. we care.

Town & Country · Dec 19, 2004

Welcome to nursing!

This is the situation more often than not. I agree with the other posters. Be assertive and go straight to your Unit Manager. It may be too late to do that, but what have you got to lose now?

Tell her that you feel uneasy and could you ask to extend your orientation, perhaps with another preceptor?

Tell her that you want to keep your job and you want to learn....stress your dedication to the hospital. Tell her you will commit another six months if they will extend your orientation a couple weeks, or something like that. Make them an offer they can't refuse......

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 20, 2004

By all means, talk to your preceptor, your unit educator, your manager ... whomever ... about your assignments. They may be giving you tough assignments now at the end of your orientation to see if you are ready to be independent. That's a fairly standard ... and legitimate ... educational strategy. Orientees start with the "easy" assignments and then work up to the really difficult ones at the end of their orientation. It's sort of like a final exam. However, if this is the case, you should be aware of it. The reasons for them giving you the difficult assignments should be out in the open -- along with the expectations for your performance.

llg

celeste7767 · Dec 23, 2004

If you are a new grad and are in orientation, do you have a preceptor or mentor you can talk to? If not, is there a nurse educator who is responsible for the New Grad Internship program at your hospital? If so, discuss the issue with her. She may already have been notified of any "problems" regarding your performance and may have some advice regarding what you can do to forestall any negative action; you would also have the opportunity to give your perceptions of your performance and the way assignments are being made. It is unfortunate, but some units have cliques of nurses who always seem to get the "choice" assignments, leaving the heaviest patients for the Agency nurse or the New Grad (because she needs the experience, they will say.) If all else fails, however, during the "probationary period", new grad or not, employers state that it is a time for them to see if they like you and IF YOU LIKE THEM. They always stress that they can let you go without notice and that you have the same privilege during that introductory period. Your a new nurse, there's tons of jobs out there and somewhere there is one with your name on it. Don't let one bad experience get you down. If you leave, remember it will be their loss. They will have to go back to taking care of those difficult patients themselves!!