I Thought I Had My Dream Job, but My Past Took It Away...

Nurses General Nursing

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So a really stupid mistake I made 6 years ago came to bite me in the rear yesterday. I was working as an agency nurse staffing in correctional facilities when my NM told me I had to clock out & go home due to the fact my security clearance was revoked. My jaw hit the floor & I was stunned. I didn't completely understand why but on the inside I kinda knew why.

I hadn't told anyone I had worked for this company 6 years previous for about a month or two. Or what had happened when I did work for the company. Obviously I am not about to put my business out here on the interwebs, but if you PM I will tell you.

My NM didn't know why my security clearance was revoked but after I clocked out & got to my car I called my agency & they told me that I was unable to work for this company in *any* capacity. So, blacklisted. I figured if I was blacklisted my application wouldn't go through, I don't understand why it would let my application go through but then reject my security clearance.

When I get home I try to make phone calls to an HR but at 1500 on a Friday it's hard to get ahold of anyone. I finally do & she tells me she will get me an answer next week. I figure it's gonna be that I'm blacklisted & there's nothing I can do about it.

My heart is broken & shattered into a million pieces. I love working as a nurse in corrections, it's where my heart lies. Now that, that has been pretty much ended for me I don't know what else to do. I live in a small town so job opportunities are far & few between. The hospital in my town does hire LVNs occasionally, but I never get interviews. I honestly just can't handle LTC or PDN. The school district doesn't pay enough. Then that's it.

My mother keeps telling me to go back to become an RN but I don't even know if I want to any more. When I was working at the prison, I was so happy just working & being an LVN, I didn't even think about going back to school. I'm so lost right now.

I'm so stressed too because I was making so much money, I knew I could keep us out of the hole we were in, financially. We wouldn't have to live paycheck to paycheck any more. There's no way a family of 4 can live on my husband's small paycheck, we're always broke by the second or third week of the month. But it looks like we are gonna go back to that, especially after October when I lose Medicaid.

I don't know if I just needed to vent or need suggestions. I'm also really devastated right now. I get this awesome job, doing what I love to do, getting paid amazingly & then it gets ripped away. Of course we needed it desperately. I just don't know how we're gonna make ends meet after October.

I've already started looking for a new job because I know I'm not gonna get good news next week. But unfortunately, there's not many jobs available out there.

Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

I work at home and my company office is 100 mikes away. I do remote work for an insurance co.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Well every time I see job postings it's for the city next to me & for RNs.

Specializes in Adult MICU/SICU.

I guess since I can't possibly imagine what happened without more hints I am unable to give advice or thoughts. Is it something you could have expulsed by an attorney?

Specializes in Nursing Education, Public Health, Medical Policy.

I don't know what state you live in, but in California you could apply for disability based on your bi-polar diagnosis. State disability lasts up to 1 year. You might want to look into it as a way to receive some income while you are healing. You have had a terrible blow to your self-esteem and you need to take some time to figure things out. I know this from experience

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

All I can say is it is nothing that has affected my license.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I don't know what state you live in, but in California you could apply for disability based on your bi-polar diagnosis. State disability lasts up to 1 year. You might want to look into it as a way to receive some income while you are healing. You have had a terrible blow to your self-esteem and you need to take some time to figure things out. I know this from experience

Yeah, I could get disability for my bipolar disorder but I don't know if I would qualify. But it couldn't hurt!

If it isn't a felony, you may be able to get whatever it is expunged off your record. Will take a lawyer, but it might be worth it.

I have some "stuff" on my record: attempting to steal a street sign on Halloween when I was 19 (yes, it has come up) and arrested for protesting. I didn't bother to have it expunged, but it might be worthwhile for you.

Good luck.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
If it isn't a felony, you may be able to get whatever it is expunged off your record. Will take a lawyer, but it might be worth it.

I have some "stuff" on my record: attempting to steal a street sign on Halloween when I was 19 (yes, it has come up) and arrested for protesting. I didn't bother to have it expunged, but it might be worthwhile for you.

Good luck.

It's not on my actual record, just on the record with the company so I can no longer work with them. Does that make sense?

First- I am truly sorry for you! Don't be hard on yourself- our past has formed us into who we are today. If you made a mistake, I hope you have learned from it. So here's the deal with security clearances- you can always appeal them. I am not an expert so I can give you exam forms to file- but if you google the internet you can find the information on how to appear the disposition of your security clearance. I've read about it online in the past. The purpose of a security clearance is to determine your suitability and fitness for certain levels of clearance. I believe with prison jobs you are only required to attain and maintain a Q-clearnance or Secret Clearance, which are the lower brackets of clearances. Do your research- get reference letters ready and appeal your revocation. I know money is tight- but clearances are a HUGR financial ROI, so I would look into hiring a civil/administrative law attorney to help you navigate the ins and outs of clearances and working for the government. The important thing is to be honest! And show how far you have come and how much you have grown as a person.

As far as advancing your credentials to RN- I would suggest this. RNs do receive a certain extra layer of respect among the community. This includes among HR recruiters, Security clearance investigatirs, etc. Plus, the increase in salary, increased autonomy in practice is truly worth it.

I would HIGHLY advise against taking non-nursing jobs in order to make ends meet. If you have to work LTC or skilled nursing or whatever, it will help you more in terms of suitability for your clearance and future job prospects. Any gap in nursing practice is usually looked down upon. So avoid this at all cost. Worst case scenario- get yourself a desk job with an insurance company or do research for a pharma company. I know an LPN who was a research nurse at Johnson and Johnson while she was in RN school. Nursing is HUGE- you can do absolutely anything.

Last piece of advice- please always be honest on job applications, clearance applications, Board of Nursing applications. Honesty is key. Failure to be honest can put your license at risk for revocation and sometimes can put you in legal trouble. So avoid it.

Id be more than willing to help guide you with my own opinions more specific to your situation. If you're still needing guidance, PM me and I'll help as much as I can- but remember, please be honest!

Good of luck with everything and you're an awesome person for doing everything you can to take care of your family :)

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
First- I am truly sorry for you! Don't be hard on yourself- our past has formed us into who we are today. If you made a mistake, I hope you have learned from it. So here's the deal with security clearances- you can always appeal them. I am not an expert so I can give you exam forms to file- but if you google the internet you can find the information on how to appear the disposition of your security clearance. I've read about it online in the past. The purpose of a security clearance is to determine your suitability and fitness for certain levels of clearance. I believe with prison jobs you are only required to attain and maintain a Q-clearnance or Secret Clearance, which are the lower brackets of clearances. Do your research- get reference letters ready and appeal your revocation. I know money is tight- but clearances are a HUGR financial ROI, so I would look into hiring a civil/administrative law attorney to help you navigate the ins and outs of clearances and working for the government. The important thing is to be honest! And show how far you have come and how much you have grown as a person.

As far as advancing your credentials to RN- I would suggest this. RNs do receive a certain extra layer of respect among the community. This includes among HR recruiters, Security clearance investigatirs, etc. Plus, the increase in salary, increased autonomy in practice is truly worth it.

I would HIGHLY advise against taking non-nursing jobs in order to make ends meet. If you have to work LTC or skilled nursing or whatever, it will help you more in terms of suitability for your clearance and future job prospects. Any gap in nursing practice is usually looked down upon. So avoid this at all cost. Worst case scenario- get yourself a desk job with an insurance company or do research for a pharma company. I know an LPN who was a research nurse at Johnson and Johnson while she was in RN school. Nursing is HUGE- you can do absolutely anything.

Last piece of advice- please always be honest on job applications, clearance applications, Board of Nursing applications. Honesty is key. Failure to be honest can put your license at risk for revocation and sometimes can put you in legal trouble. So avoid it.

Id be more than willing to help guide you with my own opinions more specific to your situation. If you're still needing guidance, PM me and I'll help as much as I can- but remember, please be honest!

Good of luck with everything and you're an awesome person for doing everything you can to take care of your family :)

Wow, I didn't know that! But honestly I think I am going to have to take a step back from working. My husband & I have separated so I have had to take a hard look at myself.

My bipolar disorder is honestly not getting any better in terms of me being able to hold down a job, so am I really able to work? Is it worth it to go through all the trouble of what you have stated (although it is really great advice!) or going back to school for me to just quit another job in 6 months or less? The last few jobs I've held I wasn't at for more than 3 months. Of course this one I didn't quit but I did have a melt down & wanted to quit.

I'm in a good place mentally since my husband & I separated. I don't want to mess it up by adding more stress by working. So I have decided to apply for disability. I know it will take awhile but nothing has changed between then & now. Why keep torturing myself?

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I'm so sorry to read about your problem, Chaos! I am hopeful things work out for you! ❤️

Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

My home office is 100 mikes away from my home. LPNs do similar to what I do. Check out united health care and BCBS

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