Surviving a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)??

[sofpet]

hi ladies and gents. I'm a December 2023 bsn grad now 5 months in to what's supposed to be a 6 month PICU orientation. I really like this job and the patients and most of my coworkers. but after some issues with having preceptors that weren't a good fit (bullying), and not getting unstable kids for long stretches, I haven't progressed as much as management would like to have seen by now (still needing to be prompted by preceptor with unstable kids, things like that). I haven't made any errors that affected anyone and they didn't bring up anything like that. the biggest mistake I've made unfortunately is waiting so long to stand up for myself to get a preceptor that would help me learn instead of berate me.
anyway... they're putting me on a pip. they didn't make it seem like they're giving up on me, but I'm not stupid and I know pips are usually a pretty bad sign. I'm looking into applying to new jobs to be safe but I'm not sure how to go about it. despite what my managers might think, I think I've grown a lot with this experience and would be ready to be independent at a place that supported their nurses more, especially if it was IMU. should I just not mention this 6 months to new jobs, or is there a way that I can still include it? if I don't, are they going to question why I'm now 7 months out of school still looking for a job? for anyone with any pip experience, even if I survive the PIP at this job, is it worth it, or should I still try to leave as soon as I can? this was my dream job, I really at least wanted some type of ICU setting. I'm willing to relocate, my confidence is just super shaken. 😞 I'd appreciate any advice, thank you!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

PIPs when done right for someone who is on orientation are not meant to be punitive but to outline steps that will help you succeed. For example, an orientation PIP I wrote for an orientee provided specifics of what was observed, including dates and times, to identify concrete examples for improvement. The plan then identified policies for required review, goals that needed to be met, and a timeline for the goals.

This is actually fairly common as documenting a reason for why someone is given an extended orientation when questioned by others like HR. It is not an attempt to make you fail. No one wants to invest months into an orientee just to get rid of them - that damages morale because a lot of staff invested in the new person and is a cost with no return on the investment. Rather, it's a way to help you be successful by guiding a way forward.

[FancyCactus]

I am in the same boat.  

Preceptor who would bully/gaslight me, set me up to fail, and shook my confidence.  When I went to night time orientation, I did much better and felt better.  

I have made some silly errors (NOT any dangerous patient care errors, no med errors, not charting errors.)- Things such as: forgetting to hit "accept" on a Urine Dip or Blood Glucose and then it doesnt entered into chart. Or secure chatting a doctor instead of calling them or going to find them face to face.  Or not telliing the charge RN face to face off a critical lab value . The "major infraction" was that I attended a mandatory workshop on a work day. (SMH)

Backstory: During the orientation, and through Sept 2, we do not make or choose our schedules.  We get them assigned about six weeks in advance.  In May, we were given a list of dates from which to choose to take said instruction (its a 4+ Hour in person class with skills). I chose July 18, which was the second to last day (the other being the 22nd), so that it would be easiest for the manager to arrange my schedules. 

Lo and behold, scheduling manager scheduled me for the night of the 18th to work.  As a new grad/employee, I just accepted that as what was required for the staffing and I didn't complain or even say anything to anyone about the fact that I had a skills class scheduled more than six weeks in advance and they then added a NOC shift on that date in Early July.  

Flash forward, one of the issues in my PIP was that I went to the class on a day that I was scheduled, which apparently is against policy.  I got chastised and reprimanded because I didn't "Speak up." I couldnt have done the 22nd either, for same reason, except I also would have worked the night of the 21st, then the class from 14:00-18:30, then worked again that night.  

So I went along to get along, to make it easy for everyone's schedule.  Yet in my PIP I got written up as taking a class which they perceived as "milking overtime."  I was scolded for not speaking up that the scheduler had "Violated the policy" and that I should have "Done something or said something."  

IDK -- felt like they were/are looking to blame me for things to Cover their behinds. There were a couple other things that were again, not significant (ie wearing a "Nurses inspire nurses" shirt that isn't "Corporate approved.") The irony is that it was day shift mentors/supervisors who wrote me up, based on what ever story or feedback garnered from day shift.  I asked to have a 360 about things and I was told "No, 360 is for everyone to reflect on what they did right and wrong in a situation. This is about you and your taking accountability for you and not using the situation as an explanation for behavior."  I felt so defeated, and felt myself withdraw.  

I think I am still reeling from the toxicity of it all.  A charge, a mentor and a supervisor called me into the office with the PIP which outlined things included in said PIP, and then being penalized for being flexible and accommodating; with specific instructions to not defend myself or explain my actions at the time.  

 

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Agree with Rose Queen, for the most part, PIPs are not there to get rid of you, they are there to guide your manager, preceptor and you on what you need to do to improve.

Read the PIP. Is it reasonable? Do you mostly agree about the stuff you need to improve? Is it written in a way that gives you enough time to get it done? If not, communicate what you think needs to be different in your PIP. 

Is the PIP full of threats? Was it handed over with a condescending or angry tone? If not, try to get it done. You can still leave later, but it's better to be able to keep this job on your resume and stick it out here at least a year post graduation. It is after all, your dream job. 

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

FancyCactus said:

I am in the same boat.  

Preceptor who would bully/gaslight me, set me up to fail, and shook my confidence.  When I went to night time orientation, I did much better and felt better.  

I have made some silly errors (NOT any dangerous patient care errors, no med errors, not charting errors.)- Things such as: forgetting to hit "accept" on a Urine Dip or Blood Glucose and then it doesnt entered into chart. Or secure chatting a doctor instead of calling them or going to find them face to face.  Or not telliing the charge RN face to face off a critical lab value . The "major infraction" was that I attended a mandatory workshop on a work day. (SMH)

Backstory: During the orientation, and through Sept 2, we do not make or choose our schedules.  We get them assigned about six weeks in advance.  In May, we were given a list of dates from which to choose to take said instruction (its a 4+ Hour in person class with skills). I chose July 18, which was the second to last day (the other being the 22nd), so that it would be easiest for the manager to arrange my schedules. 

Lo and behold, scheduling manager scheduled me for the night of the 18th to work.  As a new grad/employee, I just accepted that as what was required for the staffing and I didn't complain or even say anything to anyone about the fact that I had a skills class scheduled more than six weeks in advance and they then added a NOC shift on that date in Early July.  

Flash forward, one of the issues in my PIP was that I went to the class on a day that I was scheduled, which apparently is against policy.  I got chastised and reprimanded because I didn't "Speak up." I couldnt have done the 22nd either, for same reason, except I also would have worked the night of the 21st, then the class from 14:00-18:30, then worked again that night.  

So I went along to get along, to make it easy for everyone's schedule.  Yet in my PIP I got written up as taking a class which they perceived as "milking overtime."  I was scolded for not speaking up that the scheduler had "Violated the policy" and that I should have "Done something or said something."  

IDK -- felt like they were/are looking to blame me for things to Cover their behinds. There were a couple other things that were again, not significant (ie wearing a "Nurses inspire nurses" shirt that isn't "Corporate approved.") The irony is that it was day shift mentors/supervisors who wrote me up, based on what ever story or feedback garnered from day shift.  I asked to have a 360 about things and I was told "No, 360 is for everyone to reflect on what they did right and wrong in a situation. This is about you and your taking accountability for you and not using the situation as an explanation for behavior."  I felt so defeated, and felt myself withdraw.  

I think I am still reeling from the toxicity of it all.  A charge, a mentor and a supervisor called me into the office with the PIP which outlined things included in said PIP, and then being penalized for being flexible and accommodating; with specific instructions to not defend myself or explain my actions at the time.  

 

That just sounds petty and mean spirited to me.  I would start looking for other jobs and probably at another hospital system.  But you should include this place as you do have experience and the worst they can say is they wouldn't rehire you.  They might not even say that.  If asked you can say it wasn't a good fit, but you want to take what you have learned and move in a new direction.

Now think about do you still want to do the same type of nursing or do you want to look outside the hospital entirely.  You can try outpatient surgery centers or clinics.  Clinics are probably the least stressful.

As to the PIPs are meant to help you succeed in orientation, I don't know about that.  When they say you can't speak up or defend yourself that sounds pretty toxic to me.  It is ridiculous to write up over OT but you will find most hospitals will ride nurses over clocking out even a little late and they will deny switching shifts with another nurse if it puts one of you in OT.  Yet they don't mind if you are in OT if it benefits them when they call you non-stop to pick up at the last minute because they are short!  Or when you are in OT because they mandate you 16 plus hours at the last minute due to a known shortage!  Some places will not even count classroom hours as OT and the policy will be OT won't start unless you are over 40 hours unless you are in a state like CA.

I spent my whole career bedside, stepdown tele, and it was stressful and physically difficult as well.  We didn't get lift equipment till the end of my career so now I found out I have spinal stenosis, only cure is surgery.  At the beginning my preceptor told me I was doing great, but the first week I overheard her tell my manager who hired me how I didn't know anything so I spent my orientation afraid I would be fired.  I survived and wasn't put on a PIP, but I learned not to trust my preceptor who was also the educator in my unit.  On top of that dealt with an insane bully, pathologically jealous that I was an RN and she was only an LPN, and a few cliques.  If I had to do it all over again, I wish I would have left and done something less stressful like clinics and then maybe my back wouldn't be trashed now!

Do what is best for you!  You don't owe them anything!  You don't have to prove yourself to them.  If it is toxic and doesn't feel right listen to your gut and leave.