So I am a new nurse and I was fired from my first job after a month. My preceptor and I didn't get a long and as much as I tried to figure out ways, we clashed a lot. I didn't want to get my manager involved just yet, but by the time I felt it was necessary, it was too late. I know I can come off strong, and when I am confused about something, or felt that it was unsafe, it was easy to question my preceptor because I didn't feel comfortable. My preceptor had a few times went outside the scope of practice and that ruined my faith in them, and often times would force me to change my assessment to something that I felt was an inaccurate picture or left things out that I felt were necessary to give a bigger and more accurate picture of the patient. In addition, I felt I was scolded from checking my patient too often (who were kids btw) when the alarm would sound, and then I erred by not checking them enough and couldn't seem to find balance to them. Also, I felt I was misaccurately represented to my manager, and when I would explain what happened they would say, "that doesn't sound like so and so" and I realize that human nature tends to trust those who know in longer, but it sucked. Another instances, I had checked the a pt who needed more O2, because O2 was low, and I stimulated them by tapping on their chest ( as shown to do) and checked their mask and it didn't increase their stats so I increased the O2, but was then told I didn't assess enough before deciding to increase O2, and should have called my preceptor before doing that, when it felt that my preceptor had put me in charge of this particular patient when a friend went on lunch and did what I was instructed to. I was told I was being confrontational when I said, "I was doing what I was instructed to do to keep their sats up" too loud when my preceptor scolded me from doing that...and now I find myself without a job, and it was already hard to find a job as a new nurse, now even more difficult for being let go from my first job....I am not even sure how to recover from this or anything...
First and foremost, do NOT put this job on a resume. You were hired as a new grad and you are better off applying to future jobs with no experience than with getting fired on your first job. Secondly, as a new grad nurse, you need to change your "woe is me" attitude. I am a nurse preceptor at my current job. Keep in mind, not all nurses are offered preceptorship titles, so a nurse who is is seasoned and well versed on the ins-and-outs of their particular unit. As a new grad, you are there to learn how to do your job. Nursing school teaches us how to pass the NCLEX, our first nursing job teaches us how to be nurses! You may not have seen eye-to-eye with your preceptor, but in that case, why didn't you speak to your supervisor? Perhaps change preceptors? It seems that instead of being productive, proactive and explaining yourself like an adult you were demeaning which, as a new grad, you have no place to be. It is VERY hard to get fired from a job in healthcare, keep that in mind. Best of luck to you at your next job...please take your mistakes from this one as a learning experience.
Real world nursing is not the same as the ideal, theoretical world you learn at school. It sounds as though you may have been overly inquisitive and possibly judgmental (perhaps without realizing this) with your preceptor.
Your preceptor likely questioned your assessments and provided feedback that you chose not to implement. Very unwise.
Working outside her scope? Possibly, although unlikely. That's your perception. Many nurses have implemented treatments or administered medications while waiting on an order, especially if that nurse has a good working relationship with the physician (myself included).
Hopefully you have learned from this going forward. Establishing positive relationships with your co-workers is important.
nurseredd
36 Posts
First and foremost, do NOT put this job on a resume. You were hired as a new grad and you are better off applying to future jobs with no experience than with getting fired on your first job. Secondly, as a new grad nurse, you need to change your "woe is me" attitude. I am a nurse preceptor at my current job. Keep in mind, not all nurses are offered preceptorship titles, so a nurse who is is seasoned and well versed on the ins-and-outs of their particular unit. As a new grad, you are there to learn how to do your job. Nursing school teaches us how to pass the NCLEX, our first nursing job teaches us how to be nurses! You may not have seen eye-to-eye with your preceptor, but in that case, why didn't you speak to your supervisor? Perhaps change preceptors? It seems that instead of being productive, proactive and explaining yourself like an adult you were demeaning which, as a new grad, you have no place to be. It is VERY hard to get fired from a job in healthcare, keep that in mind. Best of luck to you at your next job...please take your mistakes from this one as a learning experience.