Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

[greenclover]

I have signed up with a nationally known agency to be placed in various jobs. I am an LNA. My first contact was with the recruiter who seems quite nice and straightforward.

I went in earlier this week for orientation. The HR person comes in and is pleasant. Ok, fine. Then the director/RN comes in and tells the group that "I am the person you see when you mess up" and proceeds to vent for several minutes about several LNAs who have simply not shown up for the shifts/properly call in. While I can certainly understand her frustration, I thought the tirade to be rather odd. There was nothing remotely positive or welcoming in her tone.

Yesterday I went in for the remainder of orientation. I showed up on time and waited 20 minutes to be seen. As I waited, I saw the other RN pull one of the recruiters into her office and loudly saying to her, "I am very upset..." before closing the door and having a heated conversation. Now granted..maybe the recruiter messed up..but there just seems to be a pattern of ugliness and negativity here...am I setting myself up for failure???

[4theBetterGetter, RN]

RUN.............FAST!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Perhaps you're seeing some negativity because, well, the facility has likely had multiple negative experiences with the employees who have been sent from that particular agency. It has nothing to do with you personally, trust me.

If you report for your shifts in a timely manner, perform your job with competence, show some pride in your work, and act professionally, then I think that you might have very little to worry about.

Then again, this place simply might have a toxic working environment that drives people away. You won't be certain unless you try it out.

[stellina615]

One of the important lessons I've learned from more seasoned nurses is to go with my gut feelings. It seems like you're already leaning towards trying to get yourself out of this negative environment. If you're feeling a bad vibe and you've only just finished orientation, maybe you should get while the getting is good! Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

[blamejoe]

I agree with going with the gut instinct. At the least, you can be certain that the level of discretion with personnel issues is "questionable." I wish you the best of luck in your decision, but I would encourage you, if you choose to leave (whether this job, or any other job), to honestly express to whomever your real reasons for leaving (i.e. "the director chastised other new LNAs when I feel she should have been setting a positive tone, etc...") Sometimes the toxic work environment is created by one bad manager, and while you are saving yourself, you may also save the employees who choose to remain with a little "sunshine therapy."

[caliotter3]

If this had just been a situation that you witnessed because you happened to come into the office at an inopportune moment, I would say, chalk it up to "stuff happens" and everything isn't hunky dory 200% of the time. But the Director went out of her way to act like that toward a new employee at orientation. Did she really expect to make a point? Does she expect you to stick around with a positive attitude after that? What did you do to deserve the negativity? If I were you, I would seriously consider alternative employment. Nobody says they have to be warm and coddling when they hire you, but a little common courtesy goes a long way. If this is the agency that I seem to recall you speaking about before, you already have your answer. Get away from them. Good luck.

[sunnycalifRN]

I agree with other posters who said "go with your gut feeling". Exit, stage left!!

[thehipcrip]

Even if the RN/Director is having her own week from hell (with multiple staff going AWOL and leaving her, and the patients, without coverage), her inability to keep her personal frustrations out of a new employee orientation or realize that such negativity during a first meeting is counterproductive, is a warning you shouldn't ignore.

Don't second guess your instincts.

[S.Gettes]

Maybe it isn't as bad as it may appear to you at the moment, you are only seeing a little of the story and goings on, not the whole picture, and there is probably much more to it than what you have seen and heard. They may have simply had a large number of people decide it's not for them and just leave without telling anyone, or just not bother showing up at all, and they may have had some trouble with that particular company in the mix as well. Stick it out, see how it goes, and do not let anyone get to you or get you down. If after a while it turns out to be as bad as you assumed it would be then consider trying somewhere else, but at the very least just give it a chance, it may turn out to be really good and surprise you. Her speech may have simply been a way to weed out those who aren't strong enough, who can't stand taking orders etc, those who aren't serious about the job wouldn't stick around after a lecture like that, so it's a god way to weed these not so desirable employees out of the group.