So I'm fired. Again.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I must be the worst nurse in the world.

Now I need to figure out my next step. And it isn't nursing.

No specific reason. They think I "could" be unsafe.

Pffft.

Dear recently fired,

I think maybe you were working in a facility that could not appreciate what you brought to the table; sometimes they want you to suck up to keep your job. I find that sometimes the more you do, the more they expect from you, or as a new nurse, they put you in the hardest assignments and are not willing to answer questions. Hang in there. Much love to you

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I got the idea from your post that said you hated it from job one, day one.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

This is what I meant. Thanks

Thanks, all. It's just hard to type through the tears. I've been crying off and on since I got the news.

I didn't "do" anything. A couple of preceptors gave me a hard time, told the manager that I wasn't "open to learning" and that they "felt" I "could be" unsafe, so I was given to another preceptor who apparently agreed.

Anyway. I actually hated what I was doing, since day one, job one. Now I need to figure out what's next.

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I'm not sure I even know what I meant by that. As I said, I was typing through tears, and was a little overwhelmed and emotional. But by all means build your comments around it.

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Specializes in psych nursing.
Why are we all assuming that she did not do something that warranted her firing? If 3 preceptors agreed that she could be unsafe, maybe she is. No offense. Maybe you could put some thought into that. Were you giving attitude because you did not like what you were doing? Not all of nursing is fun, but we do what we need to do for the patients. That is just my opinion.

I'm all for constructive criticism but I think's it's important to show support for other nurses. We all go through rough times, it's apart of human process.

Ps-I'm really sorry about the firing Sue. Good luck with the RN!

Jennifer LPN

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Specializes in Geriatrics,AL,Psych,Detox.
I'm all for constructive criticism but I think's it's important to show support for other nurses. We all go through rough times, it's apart of human process.

Ps-I'm really sorry about the firing Sue. Good luck with the RN!

Jennifer LPN

Hey! We have the same first name and title! Jennifer LPN(duelly licensed in Wa. and Or.)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC.
Diane, my first firing was purely political. Following is the short version. I was at work with another nurse, who happened to be the DON's DIL. This is a very small town. A resident complained that she had something stuck in her throat but, since she was talking and obviously had a patent airway, I did not suction. The other nurse did. She then sent her to the ER for a CXR. The ER sent her back. She died on the evening shift. In NYS it is automatic that there is an investigation if someone dies within 24 hours of being released from the ER. Rather than target a relative (i.e. most of the facility) I was scapegoated.

This one? No. Not my fault. I was given 5 preceptors in 10 days and had the p/t charge lying to my face when I told her I was uncomfortable with how I was doing and then her butt buddy sabotaging me. Other nurses and employees - several - went to the manager to complain about how I was being treated, and encouraged me to file a formal complaint. The manager just didn't want grief.

Believe me, I am well aware of my shortcomings. I often talk so much that I can't listen, I have a wicked, sarcastic sense of humor that doesn't always translate when out if NYC, and I am too familiar too quickly. I also come from a big city and move at a quick pace. This is interpreted, here in Turkey Droppings, USA, where a nurse will spend 15 minutes debating whether to readjust an NG tube, as overconfidence and cockiness.

I just registered here today solely to respond to you.

It's like I could have written your post!

I just passed my RN boards this year, Feb; and was a med-surg extern at the local hospital in this one horse town. I was let go and the reason was "too many write ups and incidents". I asked to see the write ups because I knew nothing about them they were not shared with me, and I asked about these 'incidents' which I knew nothing about, and they refused to share the information with me.

This happened a year ago. I am still hurt by it. The woman running the extern program had been a clinical instructor who tried to fail me from her clinical (I was a 4th semester A student) and the people she liked had all failed a semester. I think I rubbed her the wrong way because I was a strong person and wouldn't grovel. I was given an award for being near the top of my class, I wound up with a 3.7 GPA in my program. Oh, and while I was in school, BOTH of my parents died and I was their caregiver in hospice; I had moved here from another state and left my career to help them.

I, too, am sarcastic, sometimes overly familiar, etc etc and it is true that can be construed as arrogant. I was told that they have had problems with the preceptor I was stuck with, but I could not get away from her. She was very friendly with the clinical instructor who did not like me. I asked how I was doing and I was always told I was fine. I think they wrote something different on my evaluations (which I never saw) and built up enough manufactured evidence to convince the department head to let me go.

The school moved me to another clinical group, would not let this woman fail me, and I got top grades from my other instructor in another hospital 50 miles away and they wanted to hire me straight away. They told me I was with their most anal nurse and she said I was doing great.

***************************

Sorry for the length of this, I just wanted you to know you are not alone.

I now work LTC, I am a BSN senior, I'll graduate my BSN in May 08. There is going to be a new hospital here opening in a couple years, and I hope to work there. The LTC facility is very happy with me. I love my patients (all 35 of them) and they like having me as their nurse.

So I guess it is all about finding a fit.

I hear Mayo in Scottsdale is fantastic, they don't tolerate this type of stuff on novice nurses. Just a thought.

Keep your chin up, dear.

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Well, thank you, nursey. I was giggling at your user name - I like it.

I can't go to Scottsdale, though - I'm in upstate NY, near the Canadian border.

I spoke to the DON at my prior facility, LTC, and she said my timing is lousy but to keep in touch because she'll hire me back in a heartbeat when she has an opening.

I miss my residents, and they miss me.

:)

Again, thank you for your input. You have no idea how much it helps.

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Specializes in Rehab, LTC, Peds, Hospice.

Sue, I am so sorry! Just proves why not every nurse should precept. You should know how you are doing from the get go and all along. But, I do think the fact that you did not like it from the start was not a very good sign. I think that it might very well be for the best for that reason. I just know that you will find your nitch and don't rule out other med-surg or ltc units because it could very well be the culture of the places that were the problem, not you. Keep us posted and don't lose faith!

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awww - Good luck to you Sue - I know this all must still be very hard on you. :icon_hug:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC.

My Dad used to say "Mercy, mercy me" sometimes and I thought it would be a cute play on words if anyone else is familiar with the phrase...thanks!

Well if you're too far away for Scottsdale, it still might be a good idea to keep Mayo in mind. It's probably a company wide policy and there are other Mayo facilities.

Things can chance fast sometimes, you never know. I was told on my job that they had no openings and a week later they were rearranging several positions. It's just timing. Be polite but persistent with your old facility!

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Specializes in med/surg, SNF.

I, too, registered today just to respond to this site!! I was let go from 2 positions and it really hit me hard!!! I thought I was was doing a great job at the first job...5 years med/surg. The patients loved me. But, apparently I just couldn't keep up with all the demands. I never took breaks, had to stay late to chart. New equipment and systems and protocols kept changing. I thought I was a real trooper!!! I was devastated and thought that with the current nursing shortage...how could they let ME go? I must be a terrible nurse!!! The second postion was as an RN/Supervisor for a SNF. Lasted 4 months, but it was not a match. I've really, seriously considered leaving healthcare behind altogether. Thought I should resign myself to low stress, low wage retail. But, today I read each and every one of the responses to Susquatch and have a new sense of hope for my future. I don't know what niche is mine, but I intend to look for it rather than bail. Today is my birthday, I can't thank you all enough for MAKING MY DAY!!!

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