recently let go of a job

[Starseed6389]

hello everyone, my name is jonathan. recently i graduated nursing school as an LPN and landed a great job at an asthma allergy and immunology clinic. from the start during my hiring interview i was told that the job was very demanding. and it was. however i learned a lot in the last 6 months and wanted to continue growing. unfortunately i was let go in the last week because i was not able to keep up with the Dr's knowledge and i was not fit for how demanding the job really was. and now i am searching for a new job. i wanted to make at least one year in this clinic. i know that a lot of new nurses quit but i was let go. i was wondering if you guys had any advice? i do want to go back to nursing school to finish my RN, and i am already looking into a program. this job was great but it was very tiring and at times i thought that maybe i was not a good enough nurse. i find myself sad and a little depressed. as a nurse do you guys have any advice for me?

[Alex_RN, BSN]

I have always considered myself smart, fast on my feet, naturally efficient, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...and my first 6 months as an RN were BRUTAL. I would sit in my car after work, dazed by how my shift went. Then everything began to fall into place and everything has been fine since. I still work hard but not deer-in-headlights hard.

I would think a specialty clinic would be especially hard due to the specific practice knowledge required, plus the personalities of your MD bosses. Also, it is a much smaller business unit so they are much more focused on profit and loss.

I wonder if they would be interested in using you per diem? You know the job and they would not have to commit to your ongoing employment and benefits. The plus side for you is that you could then tell future employers that you went per diem, not that they fired you.

[LessValuableNinja]

Obviously you have not been in this field long enough to see that it truly is all about money, any way you choose to fry it. I have seen and heard thousands of stories and examples of great nurses getting fired, and stripped of their confidence for no reason whatsoever. I have seen troublemakers and bullies stay in their jobs without any fear of being let go. The reasons for this are simple. A toxic nurse creates a toxic environment, and a toxic environment creates constant revolving doors of nurses quitting or getting fired. A constantly revolving door relieves the employer of giving raises, accruing benefits, accruing FMLA time, worker's comp, and all those other goodies that get in the way of a big fat profit. This profession bleeds people of their sanity on a regular basis, and holds nurses to levels of perfection found only in well programmed robots. Its sad, and its getting worse.

I agree with others that it is wise to ignore this line of thinking. While it is true that financial reasons may play into decisions, assuming that the reasons for personnel decisions are always/usually someone else's fault isn't helpful in your personal or professional growth, and creates a toxic attitude that is not likely to lead to happiness or the career outcomes you desire.

You have the right attitude of understanding that while it may not have been a perfect work environment, you were also not cut out for that environment based on your current experience and/or capabilities.

As others have also said, this would be a good time to start doing prerequisites and/or applying to nursing schools. However, it's also a good time to try to secure another position quickly. Whether this position/these positions are part or full-time, they will prevent a large gap in your resume.

Keep in mind that when people offer negative attitudes about your experiences, it is often related to their personal dissatisfaction with their life and/or career, and that most people who are consistently negative are not good sources of advice if it's your desire to be happy. Just let their personal perception of their own experiences roll of their shoulder, because if you have a good attitude, those perceptions will not apply to you.

[SeasonedOne, RN]

Good point! Full names on posts are not a good idea. Very few things are private anymore!

[SeasonedOne, RN]

If you work long enough in nursing, an employer may not see you as the 'right fit' or you them. Many states have "Right to Work" statutes as well. You must have interviewed well, since they picked you over other applicants. Maybe next time you will ask more questions about the details of the job or expectations.

In nursing we try things out and occasionally it doesn't work out. The process has given you knowledge about your work style, strengths, weaknesses. You have gained valuable experience about the employers' environment, office staff, support or lack there of. And you have gained experience and knowledge.

Now reflect on....

Why you were successful in some things and not others.

How the employer saw you and your efforts.

Why you felt tired.

What are the local options.

And so on.

Be honest with your next prospective employer. Using the word "Discharged" rather than fired or terminated is a bit softer. In an interview play up what you loved about the job and what you have learned from the experience. An example of this might be to say...."It was a very busy clinic, and I really didn't know how busy until I got there. I really loved the work and learned so much!" Your enthusiasm may get you the job. If you are the right fit for them, they will understand!

Good Luck!

[Starseed6389]

thanks for the tip i will! c:

[AceOfHearts<3]

Well now that a PP has posted the OP's old username/full name in this thread- since the OP did change his username as suggested- I think it's going to take a Moderator to edit it out

OP- I suggest you ask the Mods to remove your name from the text in the thread