Terminated During Orientation

[seccarrn]

I was just terminated from an ICU at a large pediatric hospital after 4 wks of orientation for issues with time management. I am a second degree BSN RN with one year experience working outpatient pediatrics for the same hospital. I enjoyed what I did working with the pts and families, but the environment in which I worked made it intolerable to bear and going back is not an option. I have no idea of how I am going to get a job, since my last manager was pretty upset I was transferring and made my last couple of weeks miserable. I can't imagine having her write me a recommendation. I additionally turned down a similar job offer at a much smaller hospital for this position and doubt I can try to salvage that.

This has got to be the most horrible feeling I have ever experienced. I am even questioning if I made the right career choice. I feel so many different emotions that I don't know what to do with myself. I posted this to vent and hopefully get some advice.

Thanks.

[ceebeejay]

Why not try the other smaller hospital? What do you have to lose? Don't get down on yourself. Lick your wounds and come out fighting. Take what you learned about yourself from this experience and pull the learning opportunities out of it. Being told we are not "good" enough hurts, but hopefully they gave you constructive criticism and you can find an environment that suits you in your career at this time. In the future, you may have that other chance again, when your experience is up to that position. It just wasn't a good fit at this time. Doesn't mean you are a bad nurse or person.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I was just terminated from an ICU at a large pediatric hospital after 4 wks of orientation for issues with time management. I am a second degree BSN RN with one year experience working outpatient pediatrics for the same hospital. I enjoyed what I did working with the pts and families, but the environment in which I worked made it intolerable to bear and going back is not an option. I have no idea of how I am going to get a job, since my last manager was pretty upset I was transferring and made my last couple of weeks miserable. I can't imagine having her write me a recommendation. I additionally turned down a similar job offer at a much smaller hospital for this position and doubt I can try to salvage that.

This has got to be the most horrible feeling I have ever experienced. I am even questioning if I made the right career choice. I feel so many different emotions that I don't know what to do with myself. I posted this to vent and hopefully get some advice.

Thanks.

I'm sorry you were fired and are going through such a miserable experience.

Take some time to look inside yourself and really think about what may have led to your being fired. DID you have issues with time management? If so, what could prevent you from having the same issues in the future? When you go to interview for a new job you're going to want to be able to discuss a plan to prevent the same issues from popping up again.

Try again at the smaller hospital and see what happens. They may not have hired anyone yet. Good luck!

[seccarrn]

Thank you both for your advice and encouragement, I truly appreciate it. This has been an extremely rough time for me, but I took heed to your advice and called the other hospital and they were still interested and asked if I could come in for another interview. I can't say that I am completely over being let go, so I'm going to try my hardest to show that I am both confident and competent for the position. I am not exactly sure what to expect since I interviewed, shadowed, and was offered the position before. My reasoning for wanting to work for the hospital hasn't changed since then, and the only reason I turned it down the offer was for the sake of convenience. Any ideas of what to expect?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Thank you both for your advice and encouragement, I truly appreciate it. This has been an extremely rough time for me, but I took heed to your advice and called the other hospital and they were still interested and asked if I could come in for another interview. I can't say that I am completely over being let go, so I'm going to try my hardest to show that I am both confident and competent for the position. I am not exactly sure what to expect since I interviewed, shadowed, and was offered the position before. My reasoning for wanting to work for the hospital hasn't changed since then, and the only reason I turned it down the offer was for the sake of convenience. Any ideas of what to expect?

Congratulations on surmounting inertia and going in for another interview. As for what to expect, just keep your fingers crossed and so will we!

[ceebeejay]

Wow, good for you! You took the hardest step. Now, just think about what you would expect from someone in the position that you are applying for. Most of all practice relaxing. Be a person that you would want to work with.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

ICU is not for everyone, and this doesn't mean you aren't a good nurse. Be honest in the interview and tell them you were terminated. What have you learned about the experience, and what will you do to improve? Self awareness is the key.Good luck with the interview and don't stress over your termination too much. Many of us have been terminated or asked to resign from a position.