Will I be fired?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi

I am new grad nurse in ICU. my first job as nurse in ICU, I got fired because I didn't like the toxic environment. it wasn't really  ICU. most patient was alert and oriented X4. no intubation. been there for 4 month no blue code. I moved to different state, the hospital I am in, CVICU and ICU. I had two months of orientation. the manager told need to extended for another month. One of the reason she said I am not friendly or approachable. Also, my manager  said that my preceptor said I complain about  how this hospital running  but I never did. I am introvert, I don't like talking to strangers, I smile and say hello and that is it. I notice other nurses don't find me friendly. but I do help other nurses when admission or turning patients but not starting conversation. Other nurses think I have mood swing because sometime I am nice and sometime my body language (unaware)  give vibe that leave me alone. because I get drained when talking to people, sometime, I cant fake smile pretend that I am bubbly person when two my patients died and getting two admission. I am doing everything on my own now. my preceptor doesn't do anything expect talk in break room with other nurses.  the manager tone was like I might get fired If I don't get along with everyone? I don't know what to do? any advice? 

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 I started a new job with 25 years experience. I could run circles around any nurse on that unit. I got fired after 2 weeks because... "I was not smiling enough". I had just lost my dog and 2 family members. 

My advice is fake it.. till you make it. Smile,smile , smile... and ask questions to your co- workers as to their outside life. It's all in the game.

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3 minutes ago, Been there,done that said:

 I started a new job with 25 years experience. I could run circles around any nurse on that unit. I got fired after 2 weeks because... "I was not smiling enough". I had just lost my dog and 2 family members. 

My advice is fake it.. till you make it. Smile,smile , smile... and ask questions to your co- workers as to their outside life. It's all in the game.

I will, Sorry for your loss.Thank you for replying 

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"Bubbly" is asking a lot for a sustained effort. How about "kind"? Your perception of how coworkers see you might not be accurate unless they are actually telling you that they think you are unfriendly. Most people are too busy taking care of their own work to really notice. If you work with bubbly extroverts, enjoy the energy, ask to see a picture of their pets. If you pay attention, there are other introverts working. 

I wonder if you are having the new nurse slump. The slump happens to many of us once the honeymoon phase of a new job wears off, orientation is ending and the work is hard and wearing you down. It can affect how you see things. 

Just keep being kind, take good care of your patients, and keep learning.  Most managers don't like to fire nurses for small things. It means they have to hire all over again and spend the money on orienting a new hire. 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

It can be challenging for more introverted nurses coming into the profession and being expected to "perform" constantly. I'm sure that you're dealing with a lot in these transitions. I'm sorry it's been a tough start to your career, I hope that you can find a way to be open that isn't emotionally draining for you. 

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Specializes in oncology.
On 10/27/2022 at 10:00 AM, Rin nohara said:

I am new grad nurse in ICU. my first job as nurse in ICU, I got fired because I didn't like the toxic environment. it wasn't really  ICU. most patient was alert and oriented X4. no intubation. been there for 4 month no blue code.

Your name sounded familiar to me and then I remembered your question a couple of months ago asking if you should go back after being fired to complete your charting (actually I think you said you hadn't charted at all yet that shift).  You were at the end of 16 weeks of orientation in an ICU setting. 

I am glad you were able to find another job, but are the same problems happening again? such as difficulty with preceptor? The same problem occurred at your last position and in your school nurse externship.

I just wonder if the patient specialty area you are choosing to work in may not be your forte. You did cardiac stepdown in your nurse externship, a community ICU in your first 16 week position and now another ICU with 8 weeks orientation. I hope you won't interpret this as me being mean. I just see a caring nurse struggling to get comfortable in a position and wondering if a different setting would be better. 

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14 hours ago, londonflo said:

Your name sounded familiar to me and then I remembered your question a couple of months ago asking if you should go back after being fired to complete your charting (actually I think you said you hadn't charted at all yet that shift).  You were at the end of 16 weeks of orientation in an ICU setting. 

I am glad you were able to find another job, but are the same problems happening again? such as difficulty with preceptor? The same problem occurred at your last position and in your school nurse externship.

I just wonder if the patient specialty area you are choosing to work in may not be your forte. You did cardiac stepdown in your nurse externship, a community ICU in your first 16 week position and now another ICU with 8 weeks orientation. I hope you won't interpret this as me being mean. I just see a caring nurse struggling to get comfortable in a position and wondering if a different setting would be better. 

you are right, I don't know what to do. (it was typo, the question was if you get fired same day, do you still stay and chart or leave?) I asked my preceptor and my preceptor she keep assuring me that I am not getting fired. Just be more friendly. should I quit nursing and go back to college?

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Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, Rin nohara said:

 should I quit nursing and go back to college?

No, NO and another no. You have the education, skills and the attitude for nursing. You just have not found the job that suits your knowledge and talents. Whether you keep trying to be bubbly with co workers is your choice but the manager is the WORST at giving direction, advice, guidance to a probationary employee. Keep looking for a better job that may be isn't ICU. 

Do you think you are ICU material? Frankly ICU nurses believe they have this halo over their heads. ICU nurses just keep them alive with a whole lot of support people (residents, med students, in place respiratory therapist etc).   The real work in the care of patients happens when the patient comes to a med-surg floor.  These med-surg nurses have a goal to have the patient return to there home with adjustments to their health activities/ADLs. Med-surg has real nursing patient- based interventions  where we provide education on home medications, dressing changes, nutritional strategies for healing, the need for ambulation, hygiene care, wound care ..you name it. 

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I will try to find different job. maybe different unit. Thank you for replying 

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Here goes, Rin.  You have not posted anything as to your background, certs, length of experience, types of experience, etc, basically no bio to give an idea of who you are.  You were a new grad nurse, got fired, and then rehired into another ICU within 2 months?  Does your experience/resume support working in an ICU?  And given that you're an introvert and don't seem to really bond with your fellow nurses and don't like strangers, why did you choose nursing?  And the way you write, no offense intended, seems that English might not be your first language, so are there any cultural issues here? 

Perhaps a remote nursing job, or a different field, might be apropos.

 

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On 11/2/2022 at 6:28 PM, GURF said:

Here goes, Rin.  You have not posted anything as to your background, certs, length of experience, types of experience, etc, basically no bio to give an idea of who you are.  You were a new grad nurse, got fired, and then rehired into another ICU within 2 months?  Does your experience/resume support working in an ICU?  And given that you're an introvert and don't seem to really bond with your fellow nurses and don't like strangers, why did you choose nursing?  And the way you write, no offense intended, seems that English might not be your first language, so are there any cultural issues here? 

Perhaps a remote nursing job, or a different field, might be apropos.

 

You don't have to be racist. my culture has nothing to do with it.  if you don't have anything nice to say. just don't say anything. 

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
1 hour ago, Rin nohara said:

You don't have to be racist. my culture has nothing to do with it.  if you don't have anything nice to say. just don't say anything. 

I did not interpret that as racist. I think they bring up a good point. Based on your writing, and your username, I am guessing that you were not born here in the US (I am assuming you are in the US, I apologize if that is an incorrect assumption). There is nothing wrong with acknowledging different cultures and different ways of interacting with people that are informed by your culture and how you were raised, as well as language differences/barriers. That is not racist.

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