Rn grad as of May 2019

[Fly-High, ASN, LVN]

I graduated from clinicals, jumped right into a management position in a nursing home. I was seriously eaten by a DON that I admired and one of my closest friends agreed with her unjust comment about my critical thinking skills. I had no training and I was only in the position for 1 week, in that time she could evaluate my critical thinking skills? On top of that a day later I failed boards receiving 265q. The DON told many coworkers that she told me so and my so called friend asked me what I got on the Hesi critical thinking part of the test, as if that could really give an accurate gauge of my knowledge base. Also, I took hesi to get in the nursing program, which I completed with a 3.00, so I failed to see the relevance in that question. I'm slighty depressed but I'm still reviewing and trying to keep my head up. Just needed to vent.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I'm going to sound sour, and sorry, BUT...a new grad-especially one who hasn't passed boards/have a license in hand-should NEVER be in a management position. As a new grad, you will be developing critical thinking skills as you learn time management and fine tuning assessment skills, which will increase the critical thinking and learning to look at the bigger picture. A new grad doesn't have those critical thinking skills built yet, they just have the basics taught in school, and it takes about a year-give or take-to build. To me, that speaks volumes about the facility that you were hired to...#1-RUN!!!

That aside, the DON sounds like a piece of work, and not very worthy of your admiration. Your friend doesn't sound like much of a friend either. Things like this shouldn't be discussed openly in front of staff. Should have been behind closed doors, with the DON acknowledging that maybe a management placement was not the best thing, but giving a plan to help you grow and develop...#2-RUN!!!

Good luck, I hope things turn around for you. Pass the boards, and move on

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

That is a very rough start.

But that is also a position you should not have had as a brand new nurse. Have you left the position now? Is it something you can keep having failed NCLEX? If you have not left already, I recommend that you leave immediately. Don't respond to their comments or get dragged through the mud, just say, "I'm sorry, this position is just not a good fit for me."

Leave this off your resume. Apply to new grad positions. Do not apply to management or supervisory positions.

For what it's worth, I have noticed that nurses who complain about the critical thinking skills of other nurses usually don't really have any idea what critical thinking skills are. Just an observation.

Be polite with these people because it is a small world. But I think this situation justifies leaving without 2 weeks notice.

[Fly-High, ASN, LVN]

Yes, I left after that week. I was severely broken and I feel that came with me in the testing center. I really appreciate the support and I agree about critical thinking skills of others. I bowed out gracefully, but I weeped for days afterwards.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

26 minutes ago, Fly-High said:

Yes, I left after that week. I was severely broken and I feel that came with me in the testing center. I really appreciate the support and I agree about critical thinking skills of others. I bowed out gracefully, but I weeped for days afterwards.

you did the right thing by getting out of there...don't weep, look at it as a learning experience about how not to have management treat you. Again, it speaks volumes about that facility and management team. The way you handle it going forward will speak volumes about you. As mentioned, leave this off of your resume, but never speak badly about the facility. Nursing is a very small world!