wandering_rn

I keep hearing about Group One in the Texas area. What exactly is it?

Thanks to all for their advice- it's nice to see nurses supporting one another rather than finding fault. I am still hopeful this new job works out- she said I was hired and that my contract was just waiting to be signed by her direct manager. Hopefully I will get a chance here. I am planning on taking some positive steps as far as educating myself- taking a dysrythmia class, planning on taking a critical care course- over the space of the next year. This new job will be in an ICU stepdown environment-which makes me a little nervous. But, the manager has assured me a 6 week orientation, plus she says staff here are very helpful- to quote her- "the only dumb question is one never asked" and "people who do well are the ones who ask questions". I'm hopeful that this will allow me to learn- but not be a trial by fire- as it seems so many areas in nursing are. Also- I am getting counseling- this experience has left me shaken- I hate to admit it- but after the last nurse manager and the risk manager got through with me- I doubted my ability to be a good nurse. But I am going to give this 150%- and see where it leads.

I would contact the State Board of Nursing where you graduated and find out their recommendations. Also- a lot of hospitals now offer re-entry programs, so after you take your NCLEX, they would offer you a good orientation. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Thanks to all who have given me such great advice and tried to lift my spirits. I may have found a position here in the area I now live in- where I wouldn't have to drive an hour each way to work. This hospital seems very big on education- the manager who I'm hoping will hire me used to be the education coordinator- so she's very big into educating her staff and answering questions for people without critizing them for not alreadly knowing the answer. So I hope all goes well with this. It's just very easy to believe the worst things people say about you sometimes- the real challenge is picking yourself up and not letting them get the best of you.

Yes- past employeers do give negative information- especially in a small town like this one- they may not do it officially- but they do it. Yes, I could lie on my job apps- but this is a small town and people talk- I don't want to go somewhere- be doing fine- and then get fired for lying on a job application. I am currently trying to get on with a hospice here in town, we'll see how it turns out. Thanks for the advice and encouragement though.

I enjoyed labor and delivery mainly. But there were no L&D jobs avaliable for new grads when I got out. So I choose critical care on the recommendation of my critical care instructor. Like I said- I would like to remain in nursing- but when potential employeers call for my references- all they get is negative information. Any suggestions?

Thanks to all who have lent their sympathy to me- it does mean a lot. But I have decided to try and go back to school to learn something else- if I can. Yes, nursing may have different career paths in it- however I can't find a job within any field of nursing it seems. I have looked for a job for over a month, but when potential employeers go to contact my last two employeers- they hear very negative things. I don't know how to combat this negative information in interviews. Any suggestions?

Thanks to everyone who has been supportive- your words mean a lot right now. I am going to try and apply for something I never saw myself doing- hospice. They seem very receptive to me- supportive in fact- despite my recent troubles. We'll see if they actually offer me a job after they check with my latest former employeer- after hearing what she has to say though- I'm not going to hold my breath. Thanks again to everyone- when I try to talk to my family about this- they just tell me to suck it up- it's nice to have a sympthatic ear!

Thank you for your kind words. I'm just so overwhelmed right now- not sure what to do next. I have done hospital nursing only- SICU and ICU stepdown. I was fired by my last employeer after 6 weeks for not meeting their standards- that firing has me doubting my ability to even assess a patient- much less give any kind of quality care. The problem with finding a job is that when potential employeers go to check my references- they hear very negative things about me- and won't give me a chance. Again- thanks for your kind words.

This is my first post, but I have been reading the boards for about 2 months now. I need some advice- I am considering leaving nursing after only being out for 2 years. The reasons I'm considering leaving are numerous. I just don't know if I'm smart enough to be a nurse, and I've been fired from two nursing jobs in a row now- within the space of 3 months. And I can't find another job in the area I'm currently in- after moving accross 3 states to be closer to my family. I'm just so very depressed right now, don't mean to throw myself a pity party. Just wanted to get some suggestions or advice. Thanks