Thinking of quitting my new job.

[studiousnurse]

Hello. Let me just being with that I am a med/surg nurse, and have been for six years. I'm going back to school for MSN Nurse Educator and switched my good job of six years (where I started) to another hospital for the part time hours. I'm still in orientation (the last week of it, actually) and the nurse manager has up and given me a final written warning (already?!). Her statement was that I charted inaccurately and "falsified" the medical record, when I told her I had nobody to teach me how to document the shift assessments at the very beginning. By the way, my preceptor only started to audit my charting on the 3rd and 4th week of orientation. She continued that my preceptor felt I was a "know it all, can't handle or receive criticism, and is brash". I know who I am, and I am headstrong and hot blooded. That's my personality. I am anything but those negative things. How is it OK for HR to give the okay on a final written warning like this? ESPECIALLY that I am in orientation? My manager went on to say that she no longer trusts me and "should've fired me on the spot" but believes there is another chance. She then rebuffed that statement saying that because of my experience that I "Probably won't change"... I'm really thinking of leaving that company. What do you think?

[JKL33]

Well all of that is quite a mixed-bag situation. Ordinarily there's zero way I would advise putting up with exaggerated accusations like that ("falsified charting" in the circumstances of learning/knowledge deficit), because that behavior signifies someone who is a liar in both fact and spirit. Lying is bad enough, but lying when there is no sensible reason to even be tempted to lie is another deal. Manipulative.

But then there's the problem of you likely having an attitude that comes off as not being workable too much of the time. All different kinds of personalities can effect positivity, including strong-willed and passionate ones - but you can't go about "being yourself" without taking account of how reasonable people will receive your words, tone, and body language. Although there's the possibility that your preceptor has actually misrepresented and maligned you purposely, I still say this calls for serious personal self-reflection. If your new peers genuinely interpret your actions this way, there's a decent chance there's something to it. In the future you will run into this same thing; reasonable people will rightfully not tolerate unchecked headstrong and hotblooded behavior.

My guess is that the discussion with your manager and their overall opinion of you is directly due to the persona you are projecting. It's up to you to change that.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

" I know who I am, and I am headstrong and hot blooded. "

You are also in a probationary period. This is the time where you prove your skills and how well you will work with the team.

Might as well quit, before they can you.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

'Headstrong and hot blooded' isn't that far from 'brash and can't handle criticism'.

Especially for someone still on orientation.

If you have the insight to realize the former about yourself, can you take it the extra step and perhaps see where those qualities might be hurting you professionally?

[cleback]

I am quiet and laid back but at work I have to be more outspoken and assertive. Sometimes we do have to tweak our personalities to fit the job. Food for thought.

What are they saying you falsified? Can you provide evidence that you didn't?

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

I would quit

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

How is it OK for HR to give the okay on a final written warning like this? ESPECIALLY that I am in orientation?

The fact that you are still in orientation is exactly why this is ok. You are in the probationary period. Your employer can simply decide that it's not working out and let you go. You are free to make the same decision.

[TriciaJ, RN]

It speaks well of you that you were in your last job for six years. You likely developed a lot of self confidence in that time and your coworkers appreciated and valued you, hot blood and all. Now you are in a new situation and have yet to prove yourself. Your new coworkers might be misreading your headstrong ways as being unreceptive.

See if you can have another talk with your manager. Tell her that you would never knowingly falsify charting, and that you are open to feedback. You can still be who you are, but sometimes you need to dial it back until you establish yourself. That's not being untrue to yourself, that's being adaptive to a change in circumstance. Good luck.

[Ddestiny, BSN, RN]

Sounds like your boss has put a huge target on your back. The way she processed out loud, waffling back and forth, suggests that if she's in the right mood then the tiniest slight could shift her over the edge to fire you. If you leave now of your own free will, you can say it wasn't a good fit (which is true).

Then take the lessons from this job, evaluate what you could have done differently, and do better in your next position.

Good luck moving forward.

[imenid37]

As someone who has been a preceptor, clinical educator and a college instructor you might want to rethink being an educator. Being brash and headstrong won't be an advantage as an educator. You gotta be firm, but flexible. Your orientation may not have been great, but you should have tactfully spoken up. You have experience and you know what you need out of orientation. There is a way to ask for what you that is thoughtful and appropriate. Good luck, but it doesn't sound like a good fit for you.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

You did leave your other 6 year position for personal reasons,so kudos for lasting as long as you did being hot blooded and all.By the way what does that mean? Hot temper?Stubborn?That area needs some polishing up so you do not come across as what they called you a "know it all".

Your new mgr and the preceptor sound like real POS. They do not want to help you,what they said to you and about you is not constructive and that is their personality. It will not mesh with yours ,it is like water and oil.

For a part time job it is a lot of orientation ,considering you have experience.

Go someplace else,you do not have to give more notice than a day since you are still in orientation.Leave and express mail them back the ID badge.

[Southpawdown]

I'm curious as to why if you didn't know how to correctly document and you said no one showed you, why didn't you ask? It sounds like part of the problem is the staff there but it also sounds like an equal part is you. As a professional and a not so new nurse, it would seem reasonable that you would ask questions about how something is done at a new job if not shown. It's not just about accountability but about protecting yourself against accusations like those that you said have been made against you (falsifying records). Sounds like your personality and the personality of the staff at this job just don't mesh. If you have other options I'd go with what a few others have said, resign and move on while you have the choice because it sounds like if you don't, your manager will be making the decision for you.