This happened a couple of months ago but I've finally got the time and am less upset about what happened.
I was 10.5 weeks into an 18 week internship in maternity which I worked hard to attain. I'm in Endo finishing up my IV certification when I get a call to come down to education (which is where my internship is through) when I get all my sticks. I go down and they inform me that I will no longer be finishing out my maternity internship. I feel myself flush and the room spins. I was devastated and immediately though that something tragic had happened to my preceptor. They said they expected my reaction and tell me that yearly they boot one intern from their program (which maternity denied) and that their excuse was that I wasn't "meshing well" with the rest of the staff. I was like WHAT???? I had never had a curt word towards ANYONE, never refused to help anyone - in fact often offered to help other nurses if I had a free moment and really couldn't think of anything that would give them cause to say that. I was devastated. All through school all I wanted was to do maternity at this hospital. We were treated terribly by the nurses there when I was in school, so I wanted to get in, infiltrate and then when my alma mater showed up, give them the experiences they refused to give us. Make a difference sort of thing. I LOVED the patients and just looked forward to going to work every day and didn't mind the days that I stayed late or even clocked out and continued to work because interns can't work OT. I put my heart into that unit and they essentially booted me. Education offered for me to go talk to the director and the clinical coordinator which I did do a couple of weeks later.
When I met with them I told them of my dissapointment and they said that they were taking a chance on 5 interns and that none of us were guaranteed a spot in maternity (which we weren't aware of). I told her that I couldn't think of anything that would give them just cause to end my maternity internship - that I'd never had a problem with anyone and everyone was nice to my face (which actually wasn't true - some of them were aloof, never bothered to get to know me and some barely said 2 words to me since my first day there, but the majority was nice). The director looked me square in the face and said "if you can't think of any reason then you need to think critically about yourself." OMG I could have slapped her in that momenet. That was incredibly rude and unprofessional. I then asked her what were some of the things said about me. Her reply: "What is said to me is said in confidence." I told her that I wasn't asking WHO said what about me I was asking WHAT was said about me. She said that people on different shifts had made similar comments. Ok.......and? After some more goading she said that some people felt I had an attitude and lacked initiative. WTH??? I was shocked and I knew that she had pulled it out of thin air because she had absolutely nothing on me. Unhappy with the result of the meeting, I left.
On my way out I ran into a nurse who always has a lot of complaints about the unfairness of the unit and it's nepotism. I told her what had happened and she said that she thought it was the work of 4 different nurses who are very close with the director. After she prattled off the names and I really gave it thought, the 4 she mentioned were the main 4 who never bothered to get to know me and one always had an attitude around me like she was holier than everyone. I can't believe that the opinions of 4 nurses that I didn't spend a lot of time with made my fate in this whole thing. The nurse I ran into suspected that they wanted to bring in another nurse and needed an open position and it was me.
Since then I've really thought about it. The rest of the hospital calls them the "pretty pretty princesses" of the hospital. Most of them are thin and blonde. They often vacation together and spend time talking about their Longaberger baskets, new cars and vactation homes. I'm not thin and was really the only overweight on the unit. I feel somewhat discriminated against. Many people have said I should file a grievance against the unit - not to get my position back because I'm now doing orthopedics with MUCH friendlier people whom are just great and welcomed me with open arms - but just to bring light about the way that they treat people over there.
So now that you've read through my lenthy novel, what would you do? Maternity is my 1st love and I WILL go back to it in time and probably at another hospital which saddens me, but just not right now as a new grad finishing my internship which was extended because of the circumstances. Thanks in advance!
I, too, had to investigate what the heck a longaberger basket was! IMO, they aren't even pretty for the most part so what the heck is it about them these skinny blond "in" nurses think is so great? Is it just a designer collectable that young upwardly mobiles are into these days? I'm a bit out of the loop as I'm not in OB/GYN nursing...and I've digressed from the seriousness of how you were mistreated by these monsters!
I, too, have been ridden out on a rail for no good reason before simply because I didn't "fit" the (desired) mold for the particular unit and also, in a privately owned LTC for the rampant nepotistic environmental politics.
It sucks, but I've learned from these experiences as I'm sure you, too, will benefit in the long run after the sting of the afterburn dissipates. Much better luck in the newly acquired ortho "family" and maybe it did happen for a reason. Sometimes fate has a way of looking out for our long term best interests even tho' we cannot see it as such at the time the change occurs.
Your wounded pride and hurt feelings will mend as will your young spirit.
Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.
I LOVE Longaberger baskets, although I've never actually purchased any myself. My step-mom buys them for me, LOL. They're great hiding spots for my junk.
I, too, had to investigate what the heck a longaberger basket was! IMO, they aren't even pretty for the most part so what the heck is it about them these skinny blond "in" nurses think is so great? Is it just a designer collectable that young upwardly mobiles are into these days? I'm a bit out of the loop as I'm not in OB/GYN nursing...and I've digressed from the seriousness of how you were mistreated by these monsters!
I, too, have been ridden out on a rail for no good reason before simply because I didn't "fit" the (desired) mold for the particular unit and also, in a privately owned LTC for the rampant nepotistic environmental politics.
It sucks, but I've learned from these experiences as I'm sure you, too, will benefit in the long run after the sting of the afterburn dissipates. Much better luck in the newly acquired ortho "family" and maybe it did happen for a reason. Sometimes fate has a way of looking out for our long term best interests even tho' we cannot see it as such at the time the change occurs.
Your wounded pride and hurt feelings will mend as will your young spirit.
Thanks for such an uplifting post. My new co-workers have been very supportive and they're very much like family there. It's a total team effort and we're going to a brand new wing which is opening this spring which I'm absolutely excited about as they're all private rooms. Ortho as a specialty isn't totally my cup of tea, but it's great experience overall. Eventually I will get back to maternity, just not now - not as a total newbie.
nurseangel47
594 Posts
I, too, had to investigate what the heck a longaberger basket was! IMO, they aren't even pretty for the most part so what the heck is it about them these skinny blond "in" nurses think is so great? Is it just a designer collectable that young upwardly mobiles are into these days? I'm a bit out of the loop as I'm not in OB/GYN nursing...and I've digressed from the seriousness of how you were mistreated by these monsters!
I, too, have been ridden out on a rail for no good reason before simply because I didn't "fit" the (desired) mold for the particular unit and also, in a privately owned LTC for the rampant nepotistic environmental politics.
It sucks, but I've learned from these experiences as I'm sure you, too, will benefit in the long run after the sting of the afterburn dissipates. Much better luck in the newly acquired ortho "family" and maybe it did happen for a reason. Sometimes fate has a way of looking out for our long term best interests even tho' we cannot see it as such at the time the change occurs.
Your wounded pride and hurt feelings will mend as will your young spirit.