welcomed back to the real "work world" with a bang

Published

I'm a newly graduated LVN just recently re-entering the work force after 2yrs away. So 3ms ago I started my very first nursing job :). I was excited!:nurse: Well, it ended up being the worst experience as a new nurse job by far! I was one of only 3 nurses in the department and the head was not a nurse! In fact I began to wonder if she maybe hated nurses. She quickly began chipping away at my new nurse self esteem and informed me that its best if I don't think I'm all that. For the whole 3ms she basically had me as a front desk clerk as well as being trained by one. I was never put with the nurse to train other than here and there to administer Tb tests, never allowed to administer immunizations. I wad told I needed to learn the immunization schedule which I did..., was cool with coworkers...no problems noted. My 90 day mark hit and I am with out a job...? The first reason given was that I was not comfortable giving the injections (which I was never even allowed to give so idk how that judgement came about) and that I couldn't handle the children (bold faced lie...I have 2 very active lil ones of my own)...after I defended those two excuses I was given some bogus test over a catch up schedule concockted of made up questions by her about bs she knew I hadn't been trained or taught and deced to use it as why she couldn't keep me: my lack of knowledge on the "catch-up" immunization schedule. She (not a nurse I remind) seemed to make it a point to make me feel like I did not measure up and to her standards and said she only produces super nurses! Woww! She said, and I quote, "Anyone can give shots. I can go give shots all day." I don't kniw what to think nor how to feel about this nightmare. She has somewhat dimmed my excitement of getting out there. I have that feeling you get about driving after a bad accident. I'm there for another week because the lady over her likes me and wasn't fully on board with how she did things yet still lets her make the decisions in the department. Should I let this get to me? I have a gray cloud now... What are some of your thoughts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to Nursing Career Advice for better response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was fired from my very first nursing job within my 90-day period too, so don't feel too badly. I was told that "it just wasn't working out" but on my separation paper it said I was unable to perform the job. In a nutshell, I was brand new, out of nursing school 2 months, and had questions about the facility and operations in general. The nursing supervisor was promoted to clinical director, leaving us with no nursing supervisor. The full-time RN that had been there the longest had just reached her 6-month mark (warning flag right there) and HATED people talking. She'd move to another desk to get away from a chatty MA. I was assigned phone triage and got screamed at by a pt when I told pt I couldn't page her personal doc out of heart surgery but pt could come in and see any other doc or go to the ER and her doc would round on her there. She called me everything but my name and hung up on me repeatedly and finally started asking to speak to someone else. No other nurse would take her call. I asked the head doc of the group and he said I was doing the right thing and verified our policy. Well, pt filed a complaint against me and I was fired a week later. I'd had no help, no back up, nothing. I'm glad I got out of there and have a much better job now--you'll get better things too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's too much craziness to face right out of school alone. I'm praying tomorrows interview goes well. Thank you, and I'm glad you got out! Gives me hope. Lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

So sorry that your first LVN job was such a bad experience. However, there would appear to be something seriously wrong with that setting... I assume you are in either Tx or Ca & both NPAs require LVNs to practice under the direct supervision of an RN or physician. If that supervisor was not a nurse, who was supervising the clinical services??? This is a very serious violation of acceptable clinical practice & should be reported to the state BON.

I wish you much better luck on your next job so that you can quickly overcome such a bad experience. Best of luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Really? I am in Tx, and if this is true then they are surely in violation. Nope, she is not a nurse at all nor is a physician on site. There are only 2 other LVNs and neither of them really even trained me. I was primarily supervised by a clerk...but clerical is pretty much all I was taught and allowed. Are there steps I should take with this coming to my attention?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion