Quit?

[Howdie]

Need some advice from my fellow nurses out there.

I have been a nurse for 5 years. Finally, landed a job after being unemployed for 7 months. My experience is in Rehab, and Medsurge. I started my new job Nov 2. We had hospital orientation for a week. Then I started my clinical orientation and its been 2 weeks. I was informed 5 shifts into my orientation that I had only one more shift, then they may give me two more, or they may let me go. BIG SHOCKER FOR ME and my preceptor. Basically they said the hospital wants their RNS to be orientated in 2 weeks, or they are letting them go. I never knew this was the rules, and neither did my preceptor..So, I still havent entirely grasped their computer systems (4), which has lead me to have overtime. Its been presented to me in such a way that I am discouraged by the lack of communication and wondering if it I should just quit now and heed my warning or give it a shot because I at least have one more shift to show them I can do it? It seems like there dead set on getting rid of me because they dont have time to show me the ropes. When I ask questions about their system, I either get "I am too busy," or the eye roll followed by the huffing puffing, or they just walk away.

What would you do if you where me? I have already spoken to the managers on the floor and they alluded to the fact that I will be let go if I am not done with orientation in a day or so. I did document the activities of orientation and gave the managers a copy and I am afraid the staff is going to resent me once they find out I complained about my orienation.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In a slumping economy that is shedding jobs at an alarming rate, I would try my hardest to find another source of employment before quitting the job that I currently have. Being without a job really stinks.

There is a clear-cut reason why many healthcare facilities are refusing to hire new grads, and instead, preferring to hire experienced nurses. It is all about the almighty dollar, because management regards new grads as "too expensive" to properly train and orient. These places want the experienced nurse who can quickly orient to the unit and be up and running in a very short amount of time.

Good luck to you, and I hope this all works out for the best.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

My heart goes out to you - learning a new computer system is not always easy.

Have you spoken with anyone in Human Resources about this? There is a lot of cost associated with hiring someone new - in addition to orientation and training. They have a vested interest and may be able to provide you with additional guidance or options. At any rate, they need to know if you were hired with an 'implied' condition that was not made explicit (limit of 2 weeks of training).

Just curious, what are the outcome measures for the computer systems training? Is it based upon accuracy? Speed? From an educational perspective, accuracy should always come first.

[Howdie]

Yes, it is scary out there right now. I was also told that new grads are only going to have 10 weeks of orientating to the floors, and experienced RN's have 2 weeks.

I think if I had would have known from day one, that I had 6 days then I would have approached the orientation differently. We havent had time to do our check offs or anything.

[zuzi]

Hey... you are just scarred! What about you are scarred? To go alone on the floor? You are nurse from 5 years...you will be ok, if is somenthing that you don't know....ask! Computer... piece of cake.... everyone knows computer...if you forget somenthing they have audit... in 24 hours they will tell you what is missing...

Take notes where how what you need to do write fallow... blah blah.

Nursing is in head not in computer!

Go on the floor, don't quit because you are scarred. Hang up with someone, open you eyes BIIIIIIIIG and GOOOO!

Is like driving on highway....if I did it you could do it! 5 years NURSING exeperinece even on another floor is ok....go and learn working!

They give you a chance take it and do it!

[NewTexasRN]

In a slumping economy that is shedding jobs at an alarming rate, I would try my hardest to find another source of employment before quitting the job that I currently have. Being without a job really stinks.

There is a clear-cut reason why many healthcare facilities are refusing to hire new grads, and instead, preferring to hire experienced nurses. It is all about the almighty dollar, because management regards new grads as "too expensive" to properly train and orient. These places want the experienced nurse who can quickly orient to the unit and be up and running in a very short amount of time.

Good luck to you, and I hope this all works out for the best.

I absolutely agree with you. The new grads are getting shut out because of the almighty dollar. It's sad because it really shows you how corrupt the system is. I'm so discouraged. I've thought about changing professions because of it. There are so many people who are going into nursing now because they think it's recession proof, but little do they know that when they graduate, they won't be able to find a job. It's a sad sad sad situation.

[Howdie]

My heart goes out to you - learning a new computer system is not always easy.

Have you spoken with anyone in Human Resources about this? There is a lot of cost associated with hiring someone new - in addition to orientation and training. They have a vested interest and may be able to provide you with additional guidance or options. At any rate, they need to know if you were hired with an 'implied' condition that was not made explicit (limit of 2 weeks of training).

Just curious, what are the outcome measures for the computer systems training? Is it based upon accuracy? Speed? From an educational perspective, accuracy should always come first.

*No, I havent. I will give them a call today! Thanks for the info. As far as the computer system goes, they havent said anything other then that they are to set me up with a four hour training session, and then if I dont get up to par in a day or two after that I will no longer be working there.

At this time, I would say based on my few discussions with them they are basing everything on speed. Yes, I agree accuracy is extremely important.

[Mulan]

What system are you using, is it Meditech that is used in HCA hospitals?

I think I would stay and let them do what they will.

If they let you go, can you collect unemployment?

Is there any way you can use a practice computer on your own time? Don't they have IT classes

during orientation that teach how to use their system?

Good luck.

[Howdie]

I absolutely agree with you. The new grads are getting shut out because of the almighty dollar. It's sad because it really shows you how corrupt the system is. I'm so discouraged. I've thought about changing professions because of it. There are so many people who are going into nursing now because they think it's recession proof, but little do they know that when they graduate, they won't be able to find a job. It's a sad sad sad situation.

*I remember the days when there where headhunters knocking down my door after nursing school. Now, its like we are begging for jobs. I am not exactly ready to change my profession, but if I loose my job, I might be forced to.

[Mulan]

*No, I havent. I will give them a call today! Thanks for the info. As far as the computer system goes, they havent said anything other then that they are to set me up with a four hour training session, and then if I dont get up to par in a day or two after that I will no longer be working there.

At this time, I would say based on my few discussions with them they are basing everything on speed. Yes, I agree accuracy is extremely important.

You should have had the four hour training session before you were put on the floor.

Wonder if the four hours comes out of your unit manager's budget?

[Howdie]

You should have had the four hour training session before you were put on the floor.

Wonder if the four hours comes out of your unit manager's budget?

We did get computer training in the hospital orientation for a half day. Most of the time was spent getting everyones logins correct, and that required being on the phone forever. Once we got the logins straighten out it went smoother. Once I got to floor they where having me print out my own mars, report sheets, admission forms, you name it. Come to find out I wasnt suppose to be doing that. I was just doing what my orientator had indicated that I needed to do.

I am not sure what budget it comes out of, but they didnt look to happy.

[Mulan]

We did get computer training in the hospital orientation for a half day. Most of the time was spent getting everyones logins correct, and that required being on the phone forever. Once we got the logins straighten out it went smoother. Once I got to floor they where having me print out my own mars, report sheets, admission forms, you name it. Come to find out I wasnt suppose to be doing that. I was just doing what my orientator had indicated that I needed to do.

I am not sure what budget it comes out of, but they didnt look to happy.

I would be sure to bring that up, when you talk to HR, that you weren't oriented properly and were given incorrect info/instructions. Printing out stuff that didn't need to be printed out really cut into your available time.