I’m looking to get advice from nurses this may have happened to because I’m feeling especially blue at the time being. OK, so little backstory - I graduated in December ‘19 with my ADN and got hired at my areas bigger hospital for a new grad position in the mother/baby unit. I was also offered a peds position as well as on oncology. However, I took the MBU because my passion is to be in LDR one day.
The first week went well, it consisted of class time and learning the hospital. The second week consisted of a class and two shifts in which I was placed with a preceptor. This is the where my first bad incident took place - I didn’t make it to the 6:45 huddle because my badge wouldn’t let me in through the employee door by the employee parking lot so I had to walk around the building to get in.
I made it in by 6:55 before report was given on our patients but that was considered late (which at the time they were sympathetic, but later used it against me.) I spent the two days learning my preceptors routine, figuring how to do the charting, and going solo on the steps she had taught me to do on the mommies and newborn babies. This preceptor was awesome and I appreciated how she was patient with me and helped me find my own way while teaching me.
That was about the extent of my “good” experience because the following week, I made the rather unfortunate mistake of oversleeping for a required class. I text a classmate to let her know of my plunder and that I was on the way. The text I received in return stated that they had decided to shorten the class and that the teacher claimed it wouldn’t be an issue for me to reschedule if I so chose to do. I agreed and went about my day until it was time for me to come in to shadow my charge nurse at 4:30.
That’s when I received the call from my clinical coordinator wondering why I wasn’t at the class and why hadn’t I told them about it. My exact words to her was that at the cost of sounding ignorant, I simply wasn’t aware that it was necessary to inform them and that I was told I could reschedule the class within a few weeks. I was told not to come in for the shadow and to expect a call from the clinical coordinator as well as my manager the following day. I get that dreaded call and they proceed to tell me that I cannot come to work till after they speak with HR because 1. I was late the first day, 2. I didn’t let them know I missed the class, 3. I “lied” by telling them I was told I could reschedule the class because it wasn’t the teacher who told me that but rather a fellow friend/co-worker.
It took them a week to get back to me, they ended up telling me I wasn’t a good “fit” for them, and they cut up my badge in front of me. Now, I am well beyond aware of my mishaps and what I should have done differently - I should’ve set aside time to make sure I could get in and out of the building before my scheduled shift, I should’ve set 5 alarms if that was what it would’ve take to ensure I didn’t oversleep, and I should’ve contacted my employer rather than my co-worker about the blunder. I am taking these unfortunate happenings and 100% learning from them so as to be the best nurse I can.
That being said, it’s been a week and I’m terrified I’m blacklisted from this hospital since I have been applying for other positions and have yet to hear anything. Should I wait it out? I was offered interviews at another hospital, however it’s an hour away so I’m hesitant to accept. Do I have to list this on future resumes? I don’t feel as if I got to truly “nurse” and I’m discouraged my skills will atrophy if I don’t use them. I’m also concerned that that was the only time I will ever get to experience my “dream job” as this manager is over both the MBU as well as LDR. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
You may be on an unofficial blacklist at their HR's office. Give it at least seven years before you reapply again with them.
Tough break with this job. The first "mistake" was bogus. Could you have arrived earlier? Yeah, but, IMO, part of the reason you were late was the badge not working, and that is on them; it was their equipment that they loaned to you. Should they not have tested their equipment before passing it off to you? Were you supposed to anticipate your badge not working? Were their signs of your badge not working before then? Does anyone actually think "Oh, my. MY badge might suddenly stop work with no warning what so ever. It would take "x" time to go the HR office to get a new one. I should leave extra early today, and even earlier to account for the possibility of a car accident!"
Well, that's nursing. At times, it feels the games Ace Attorney and Adventure Island, or an episode of Gravity Falls - a great show with one of the greatest life lessons of all time - "Trust no one."
Get the "OK" from the boss, not from another henchman like you but the boss, and get it in writing if possible.
It has been less than 1 year since you graduated; you are still a new grad.
Be open to relocating, get that 1 year, and then go where you want to go. Do not apply to the same organization, and do not apply to the same type of unit you left from (I.e. if you left the ICU unit, don't go apply at another ICU unit nearby - there is a chance of the two units knowing each other).
[Side note: The time to worry is when you are more than 2 years out, but, for RNs who have not worked for 2+ years, there are refresher courses.]
On 3/4/2020 at 10:35 PM, HeartbrokenBabyNurse said:
I’d have to agree with you in this. There are circumstances that I left out that caused me to oversleep, after my first two weeks, I would be flipping my schedule to nights by my fourth week which I’ve never done before so I “practiced” staying up all night to see how I would fare and it messed up my schedule.
I didn’t want to use that as an excuse however, I just wanted to own up to my mistakes and see what I could do to recover gracefully from them.
I have my phone alarm and my Alexa that I use as alarms but I also unfortunately co-sleep with my 3 year old who had my phone that night and it died. My Alexa was also mysteriously unplugged. It was just a series of unfortunate events.
I don’t want to use those excuses as a crutch, I just want to learn from the experience and do better. I think it’s awesome that you have supplied your grandson with the tools to do just that. The rest is on him. Thanks for your feedback!
Move on. Take whatever job you can get/stomach, get some experience, try later for baby work if you don't find something equally interesting and fulfilling. Drive an hour or move if you have to.
Next time, try that badge before work, get 97 alarms, call the person you know you should call, not your friend, if you are late or absent.
Curious as to why you didn't call the right person.
Best wishes.
I think you may have missed the previous 20+ comments ?
I think you may have missed the previous 20+ comments ?
No, I read most of them.
But I really don't appreciate you not appreciating me. You make me feel foolish for changing my original comment. Do you have a lack of appreciation for people who take the time to try to help you?
But I really don't appreciate you not appreciating me. You make me feel foolish for changing my original comment. Do you have a lack of appreciation for people who take the time to try to help you?
I can’t tell if you’re messing with me or not LOL as I literally just stated in the comment after how much I appreciated everyone
...I have very high anxiety over my plunder for being late which is why I am hesitant to take the job that is over an hour away, I Don’t ever want to make that mistake again.
Don't let the commute scare you if it is a job you want. You can control whether or not you are late by changing your habits just a little bit. We live in the middle of nowhere. My job is 50 minutes away on a good day, and where I live weather can be a huge factor. You get up earlier than you "have to" and build 20-30 minutes extra into your trip. Do not hit the sleep alarm, do not stay up late the night before, don't linger over coffee. Get up early each and every day until it is a habit.
Sounds like wasting a lot of extra time but it does cover any incidental traffic messes, etc. you may encounter. So you arrive early for your shift, so what? Get a cup of coffee, climb the stairs a few times, get some extra steps in, sit down and read a book, check you email, put your makeup on...etc. When I worked in the hospital I always stressed about being late. By arriving early, I found it set a good "tone" for the shift and helped my anxiety. Time well spent if it is the job you want or need.
I set all my clocks 15-30 minutes ahead of time, even in my car, to make sure I'm not late. Also, if I snooze my alarm I'm still early. Just my $0.02 though.
Ever come across job applications that ask for the last 7 years of employment? HR can verify your previous employment for up to 7 years.
Why? Employers usually hold onto former employees' records for up to 7 years; part of the reason is for tax purposes.
Henchman...jk with that one. But, in reality, we all work under someone. Trucking along with our lives...enjoying what little time we have on this planet before the next phase in our journies...Life is too short to be miserable.
8 hours ago, HeartbrokenBabyNurse said:
Interesting info you’ve given me. 7 years!? That’s tough.. is that normal? I can’t iterate enough how many people have reached out to me and told me what a bullet I dodged working on this unit with this particular manager. Could they have been just being nice to me? Sure. But it came from people that work within that hospital so they have more experience with this person than I do. I certainly wish they had shown me an ounce of leniency and given me the opportunity to remedy my mistake. Alas, I know there are a dime a dozen yearning for the spot I achieved.
And no I did not get it in writing, it was verbally said to me but I did have a witness on the phone during the termination because I felt it was in my best interest to have a witness.
Hi-five for having a witness present but writing is better. Harder to dispute what is in writing. A witness can be dismissed, especially if that person is a friend.
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
Henchman?
Why 7 years?