we often see threads with the title "fired for no reason," or "new grad harassed and fired" or something to that effect. and i always feel at least a little sympathy for the individual involved, if only because i can clearly see by reading between the lines of their self-justifying post that there was a reason for their termination, even if they just don't get it. (there are always a few posts every year from a new grad who is convinced that the reason she's not getting along with her co-workers is that she's just so beautiful they're all jealous, that crowds of mean people are following her around, that she's so wonderful she's going to rock the er or icu or nicu or or and no one sees her wonderfulness clearly, or that some mean, tired, old nurse who ought to retire and get out of the way is targeting her for no good reason.)
i worked with a new grad who was recently terminated for, as she puts it, totally bogus reasons. evidently seeing mine as a sympathetic ear, she went on and on and on about how unfair it was that management expected her to get her act together and actually understand what was going on with her patients. "i've got the time management thing down pat," she said. "i don't know what else they want. they're just picking on me for no good reason." i liked sal, i really did. she was interesting and entertaining and really, really nice. she was also smart, hard-working (when she was at work) and well-educated. but she didn't study outside of work, and really didn't understand what was going on with her patients. i participated in several meetings with her in which it was pointed out that it's not enough to do the tasks, you have to understand why you're doing them. it's not enough to draw the labs. you have to understand what the results mean and then address them. for instance, if the inr is 9, it might explain the nosebleed, the cherry red urine and the fact that the hemoglobin is now 6. giving the coumadin at 6pm as scheduled is not a good thing, even if you gave it right on time and were able to explain to the patient that "it's a blood thinner." i could go on and on.
i got a call from sal today, complaining that she knows she's blackballed for no good reason because she just can't get another job. she wanted me to give her a reference. did she just not get it?
all you new grads out there who are convinced that you're being picked on for no reason, that your more experienced colleagues are just out to get you, and that you're being unfairly targeting, harassed, or picked on, hear this: it may be something you're doing (or not doing) and all those "mean people" are trying to explain it to you so you catch on, learn your job and succeed. we all tried over and over with sal, and she still doesn't get it. are you guilty of the same thing? if your preceptor says you lack critical thinking skills, do you take it to heart, think about it and learn from it? or are you convinced that the entire issue is that she's jealous of your extreme good looks? if your charge nurse charges you with a deficit in your time management skills do you spend time figuring out where you could speed things up a bit? or do you dismiss her as a tired old dog who can't learn a new trick and ought to retire anyway? are you taking to heart and benefitting from any negative feedback you're getting, however poorly given it is? or are you obsessing about how "mean" that nurse was to you and totally overlooking the message?
i wish sal would have "gotten it." she would have been delightful to work with if she had. but right now she's focused on badmouthing her preceptors and the charge nurse, and she still doesn't understand what she did wrong. don't make the same mistakes.
Nurses in mgmt are like arsonists working at the fire dept. At least if you arent a nurse, you can pretend like you dont understand our issues. But when you have walked in our shoes, and then have to sit there and pretend like you dont get it, it is simply implausible. Nurses in mgmt are such great actors, but ive seen movies before.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
LMAO, now there are some "critical thinking" skills. OMG if thats what it was lol:rotfl:
Yep. It is. I just checked. If you click "remove update" at the top right of the thread page it will unsubscribe you and you will not get any more4 e-mails when new posts get posted.
Sadly erik - I unsubscribed myself int he process!
I think that most everyone wants to do a good job, and most of the time when they do not it is because the system failed them. Firing a person ruins their life. It should be a last resort. Coaching, supervision, better orientation, and problem solving for what caused the event are much more effective. I have seen new nurses horribly bullied with unfair expectations. It takes years to be a good nurse, not a few weeks.
Everyone I work with seemed to be trying to get our LPN fired her first year. I suggested they assign one person to be her resource person, and after working with her and getting to know her, and giving her time she has blossomed and we all adore her. You have to support each other and quit looking for someone to blame for system failures. Not all nurses are equal. Not all nurses learn new jobs at the same rate. Recognize the individual's limitations and work with them. Help them to learn and grow. That is supposed to be what nurses DO!!!
I hope the poster of the original commentary recognizes that there but for the grace of God goes she. ANY ONE of us could make a dangerous mistake at any time. It is the nature of our work. ANY ONE of us could **** off the wrong new manager at any time and get fired. No one is irreplaceable. You may be brilliant and at the top of your game now, but how about as you get older or have a health problem, or life circumstances that make you sleep deprived or stressed. It takes very little to lose your focus and make a mistake. I hope the girl who lost her job finds another that she is great at.
Ruby is a 100% correct in her assessment of attitudes, however it doesn't only affect new graduates. In the ER we have a fairly long orientation 20-24 weeks for new grads and 6 weeks for experienced RNs. No one can be expected to just "get it". My nursing school was rough but there is nothing like actually having to use what you have learned, stand up to doctors about tests and medications and advocate for patient care and staffing!
Either you can do it or you can't. I have seen every aged/experience nurses and new grads alike in the last 3 years say the same things your new grad did when it didn't work in the ER. There is a job for everyone, not everyone fits a job. The same thing holds true for preceptors. If you don't enjoy teaching, you shouldn't.
I seem to get the very green new grads or the ones coming off orientation for preceptoring. My advice to the very new-learn every way you are taught, know why you are doing something, then practice safely when you are on your own-never be proud and always double check. To those almost ready to practice on their own: ask me anything any time, don't sink ask for a lifeline, no question is ever stupid. To those who are afraid of some of our preceptors: tough luck on those preceptors-they have to help you and if they don't replace them!
The advice here is always great, and comes from so many different viewpoints. I love this website.
Oh, I'm not saying she will be good at it. Just, well, if thats how you end up in management then it explains a lot about a few managers I've known. Making 5 or 6 times what we do for "not getting it", they've figured something out.
Do you really think that most managers make 5 or 6 times as much as an average staff nurse? In what universe is that? Many managers make less than the more experienced nurses on their staff. The pay scale for management is higher, but usually not a whole lot higher -- and when you take away all the differentials and the possibility of earning overtime pay, a lot of new managers take a pay cut to get out of their staff positions.
It's especially bad when you consider all of the unpaid overtime worked by many managers and educators. They are paid $0 per hour for the hours worked above 40 per week. So their average hoursly wage as stated $/hours worked is often far less than that of their staff.
Do you really think that most managers make 5 or 6 times as much as an average staff nurse? In what universe is that? Many managers make less than the more experienced nurses on their staff. The pay scale for management is higher, but usually not a whole lot higher -- and when you take away all the differentials and the possibility of earning overtime pay, a lot of new managers take a pay cut to get out of their staff positions.
It's especially bad when you consider all of the unpaid overtime worked by many managers and educators. They are paid $0 per hour for the hours worked above 40 per week. So their average hoursly wage as stated $/hours worked is often far less than that of their staff.
If you see managers doing OT, we are definately in different universes.
It's really refreshing to know that there are so many nurses out there who have never made a mistake! I really want all of you as my nurse!!!!! I ran into a lot of ruthless preceptors when I first started and it got so bad that I got out of nursing for 4 years-I to was working with only perfect nurses who never make mistakes. I was convinced they were out to get me and I'm have never convinced myself otherwise-I've been a nurse for 16 years now and can work anywhere in any hospital including ICU, CVICU, neuro ICU, etc. I found that the only protection that a new nurse has is knowledge and, until then, other nurses will eat you alive. I am a male nurse and think it's especially tough to fit in. The female nurse seems to have this thing to prove with the male nurse and, if they are recently divorced, they especially are out to chop your head off. All of this and we wonder why there is a nursing shortage!!! We run ourselves to death from under staffing and then turn around and run off a new grad. instead of helping them learn from their mistakes. You nurses really need to get a clue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i disagree. if a nurse can make it thru nursing school and pass nclex then who is to say that nurse is in the wrong profession? perhaps on the wrong floor! that ding-bat of a nurse might do better in clinic work? or somewhere?
sorry but i don't think that a nurse who can't get "it" with all that help is safe in any setting in which she is recognized as a nurse. if you are practicing as a nurse, you are expected to exhibit critical thinking skills that this woman clearly has not got. consider the clinic setting: a patient has an inr drawn and the results of 9 are called to the clinic. the physician should be immediately notified so that the patient can be called and steps taken but judging by what the op wrote that would not happen. i certainly wouldn't want this woman working in my doctor's office.
If you see managers doing OT, we are definitely in different universes.
OMG!!! Where do you work? I want to be a manager there because everywhere else they stay late, come in early, get calls at night, and so on. All without pay!!! And, they have the constant threat of being canned if their department loses money!!! Fun!!!
...i've been a nurse for 16 years now and can work anywhere in any hospital including icu, cvicu, neuro icu, etc. i found that the only protection that a new nurse has is knowledge and, until then, other nurses will eat you alive. i am a male nurse and think it's especially tough to fit in. the female nurse seems to have this thing to prove with the male nurse and, if they are recently divorced, they especially are out to chop your head off.
ok johnny, good to know that you think so much of yourself. personally, speaking as a female nurse with a little experience in the field, i've never felt i had anything to prove to other nurses male or female. and whether i was single or married made absolutely no difference in how i related to the male nurses i worked with...nor any of the other nurses i knew. did you ever consider that it might have a little to do with your own attitude to them? just wondering...
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eriksoln, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
I've seen charge nurses who were put in their position to get them away from the patients. Same thing I guess.