Aurora21

I was asking because I was concerned that if just went ahead and resigned I would end up losing any chance of getting unemployment. I mean the economy is tough for new grads and I wasn't sure when I would be able to find a new job again soon enough, but yes your right it does look bad to get fired so I didn't want to do that either. I didn't want to risk it so I did end up resigning and I also got unemployment benefits to my surprise. When asking the question "Would you consider re-hire?" if they say "no" that means you were let go on bad terms like being terminated. That's one of the things I asked before resigning "If i resign will i be eligible for re-hire?" she said told me that I would be. Had I let them terminate me I would have been listed as not eligible for re-hire.

Well, I was called in for an interview with someone from HR and never got the second interview. Which is fine because I got another job somewhere which is better for me and I didn't have the best feeling about that place anyway. She just asked, "What do you know about our facility?", "Why psych?", "Why our hospital?" She wanted to make sure I was really committed to working there if I got hired. She explained that they have about 1 staff member to 4 patients, someone to pass out meds, and two RNs (one of which acts as charge). She also said for example they can have up to 40 pts. on an adolescent unit, but that they are usually overstaffed if anything. The orientation would be 3-7 days. I just haven't heard the best things about UHS so far and they could only hire me per diem. That and I would have to drive a little out of the way, but had they offered me a job and I didn't have anything else I probably would have taken it. Some places do want that med-surg background before going into psych, but this UHS hospital didn't have a problem with it. Good luck with your interview! Just try to be open-minded and ask questions. If they give you a tour maybe you can even get to ask one of the nurses how they like it.

Hello rayfocker and fellow RNs, I am a new grad and very much need work. It has been tough since I graduated in 06/2010 you know with the economy and not having the experience. I was just called back unexpectedly yesterday by a psych facility in SoCal about working per diem. She said they were just acquired by UHS and are open to hiring new grads. She wanted to know if I was really interested in psych because she mentioned she didn't want me leaving after 3 months, which too me is kind of bad sign that they are concerned about turn over. Anyway she called me for an interview tomorrow. What do you think about working there would you recommend it especially for a new grad? What is the orientation like? What is the nurse to patient ratio? Anything I should be concerned about?

Hello noblepath, It was a telemetry/med-surg floor. You know I really don't know what happened with the LVN and pharm. I was pulled so fast from the floor. That day was just hectic. The patient needed a PICC like two days ago and apparrently the PICC nurse was unaware. We had to give her IV meds through her foot because the other ones had gone bad. She was on wrist restraints, delusional, and uncooperative. Her K levels were very low. We were trying to give IV K through her foot which is painful. She kept trying to rub her foot on the bed to get the IV out, but we couldn't restrain her there because she was already restrained on her wrists. She also needed oral K, but couldn't take it because the nurse to make the swallow eval had not evaluated her yet and when she finally did evaluate her said she couldn't swallow, so we had to give her powder K which took the pharmacy a while to get there. The daughter was with her and so sweet, but she started crying because of the state her mother was in. Also, that day the unit secretary was having a baby shower so the LVN and my preceptor kept going back to get cake and take pictures with mom-to-be. It was just a very hectic day. I was trying my best and I was tired because they oriented me on days then I was told to go to nights then they decided I might be better on days, so my body was adjusting. When the error was finally caught the Dr. was upset, but he did try to be understanding of the fact that I was new and learning. He asked the same about the Pharm "Why didn't the pharm catch it?" I really don't know what happened I just felt so bad about the whole thing and fired so fast I didn't think to ask.

Hello One2gofst, I guess in CA it must be different. I couldn't apply for Unemployment right away. I did have to wait another 3 months to apply. I was terminated in October and had to wait until January to apply. I told them that I was "asked to resign or be terminated" I didn't think I would get, but I had to try a least. They did have to interview me over the phone. I just tried to explain the situation exactly as it happened and I let them know that I had not been reprimanded in the past, that this was my first job as an RN, and that the Dr. was aware of the situation and made sure that I knew to correct it next time. I'm not sure why they awarded it to me but they did and I'm glad because I do really need it right now.

Hello QMAN, Yes, the whole thing was devastating/upsetting. They asked me on a Friday to resign and called me on Monday to tell me they decided with termination. I went in and gave my letter of resignation. I have been applying for jobs as a new grad and leaving out that experience. I figure either way it looks bad to say I resigned or that I was terminated after only 3 1/2 months. I did end up getting unemployment even though I resigned. I was surprised because I thought I would have to be terminated to get it. I'm not sure why they decided to give it to me, but I let them know about the situation. I told them they had asked me to resign or be terminated and I also let them know that I had no been formally reprimanded in the past. It is a big help to have and I feel somewhat vindicated to know that they weren't completely right to let me go.

Is it better to resign or just let them terminate me? After 3 1/2 months of my new grad orientation, I was asked by my manager and nurse educator to resign. I had made a mistake on a telephone order. Instead of writing 0.75mg I wrote .75mg. Nobody else caught this and thought I wrote 75mg. The wrong dosage was given to the patient by the LVN. I have been orienting on a very busy med/surge tele unit. When they told me this I was so upset I burst into tears. I was told that if this was the only incident then it probably wouldn't have led to me having to resign, but there were other concerns they had too. Basically the manager said that she would have to bring this up with HR and I would have the weekend to think it over. She said if she calls after the weekend and asks me to come in for a meeting with HR that means they are calling me in to terminate me. The manager and nurse educator said it would be better to come in and turn in my letter of resignation instead of having to go to a meeting and be terminated. I almost feel like they just don't want me there. I was starting to get real stressed about this job, but I thought that was normal especially for a new grad. Part of me feels relief, but I'm also worried about how this will affect my future career, that and I have my family to support. I've only had 3 1/2 months of experience. I'm no longer technically a new grad, but I'm not experienced either. I haven't even worked on my own without a preceptor. It was hard enough to find this first job in this economy, but what's it going to be like now when I have to go find a job and explain my 3 1/2 job experience? Maybe I'm jumping the gun here because HR I guess has to make the final decision, but still they are making it seem like "this job is not the right fit for me" and I should consider resignation. If anyone can offer any insight or advice I'd very much appreciate it.