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I'm a new grad who is almost at the end of the six month probation or trial period in my hospital job. The manager who hired me left and the new manager seems to not be pleased with my work. Besides being talked to virtually every day about some non-clinical situation I should have handled differently, I was told "I'm hearing bad things about you since I've taken over here", and not given details. I know there are still many things I don't know in nursing and I don't mind constructive criticism or coaching, but I'm at the point where I simply dread to see this manager. I am updating my resume and starting to look just in case. Unfortunately this hospital is part of a big health care network in this area, and if I have to leave this network, my job options are quite a bit more limited. What should I be doing at this point?

Hi, I'm a new med-surg grad and sometimes I have to either schedule times for meds for a newly admitted patient or reschedule meds for a patient who was NPO before surgery. In the first case, the order will say daily, bid, tid, etc, but no times. In the second cases, usually all or almost all the morning oral meds were held but apparently I may need to give some or all of them later in the day. Can anyone enlighten me on how I determine which to give, which to wait until the next day, and what times to schedule? P.S. the next day, pharmacy will have scheduled or rescheduled so it's no longer a problem.

I have been there and done that. I as a new grad in orientation have made 2 med errors, neither of which harmed the patients. Although I have changed my personal procedures for giving meds and am no longer making mistakes, I am still fighting the lack of trust from my preceptor and educator. If you are interested in the methods I use to avoid mistakes, send me a message. That director definitely had no right to treat you as she did. As far as how she found out about it, I know long-time nurses on my unit who feel comfortable complaining about anyone to any member of management who walks by. To disagree with some other postings, I have fought politics and bad management for a long time in an earlier career. I truly believe that confronting the director is a no win situation that will only backfire on you. Talking to your own manager about it is fine. Regarding talking to HR, keep in mind that HR's primary loyalty is to the hospital/corporation, not to the employees. Good luck to you.

Hi, Mariedoreen, I'm sorry you're so unhappy. I'm just finishing up orientation in med surg, and there are things I don't like: the patient load is difficult, way too few aides, some obnoxious doctors, patients who think it's a hotel, family members who think their loved one is the only patient you have, repetitive redundant paperwork, gossip, catty nurses, obsessive-compulsive preceptors, etc. However, I like nursing itself and I even like the variety in med surg. So I guess I'm asking you is it the basic profession you want to get away from, or the surrounding work environment? Is there anything you enjoy or get gratification from? If you think you want to be a nurse somewhere, I would stay where you are for a year unless they actually kick you out. Since you don't have to work right now, what about reducing the number of days you work? Maybe running ragged for 2 or 3 days a week is manageable instead of 4 or 5. Anyway, I know that sinking feeling when you have spent so much time and money on becoming an R.N. and then wonder if you made a mistake. Good luck, no matter what you decide to do.

I have seen it all in other professions/industries. But I haven't seen this kind of behavior at the 2 hospitals I've worked at. If I did, I probably would ignore it unless patient care was being affected. But I would like to know where a nurse can work and actually have enough free time to flirt etc. We have just about zero downtime, unfortunately.

I am so sorry this is happening to you, and angry too. Our jobs require so much of us, yet we are always vulnerable to accusations even without proof, from patients, staff and management. I wish I had more practical advice to offer but all I can say is try to hang in there. Good luck now and in the future.

I've had this same slow-to-ramp-up situation in the past, as early as high school and as late as my 40s in a previous job situation. Actually, almost every time I ended up excelling once the pieces came together. If you have had similar experiences, keep them in mind and keep your confidence up. Good luck in school and afterwards!

Wow, you are really organized. Thanks for the great ideas.

I am a new grad at 52, and I basically like 12 hour shifts. By the time I finish charting, it's really a 13 hour day. I go home, have a snack and go to sleep. The only time it's a problem for me is if I am scheduled for 3 days in a row like 12 - 12 - 8 or 12 - 8 - 12. By the time I have a day off, it takes me a full 24 hours to recover. I know scheduling is difficult for the managers, but mine tries to accomodate people's requests and choices; I think every hospital should.

Hi, all, I came to nursing as a second career. Nursing school in middle age was not easy, but I graduated 4th in my class. I was hired as a NICU nurse but was told that while I did everything correctly, my pace was too slow. Now I am orienting in a different hospital in Med-Surg, and while I feel it is going much better than the NICU, I'm starting to sense that my preceptor and manager are still concerned about my progress, mostly in time management. Do I need to get out of the hospital environment? Is there a less acute setting that a new grad can be employed at? Has anyone else out there entered nursing in middle age and also struggled?