Rejected after 8 years of working for the company

[oliviabel]

Sad and embarracing to admit, but It just happened last friday. Manager said I need to find a different enviroment where I would be a better fit. Friends recommend start looking for a job agressively and I feel so defeated. How do you find courage and strength, not to mention another job, after you had been let go? What do you say on the interview when they ask what happened? I almost don't want to be a nurse anymore as I feel so unappreciated..

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Why were you let go? I am cognizant that you might be uncomfortable with revealing more details, but without them, your questions will be difficult to answer.

I wish you the very best of luck with this difficult situation.

[oliviabel]

TheCommuter, thank you for your comment, during the last 2 months I made two med errors, incomplete charting and, manager said, I need more confidence, also she said she really thinks I need a different enviroment (I worked in nursing home)

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

I am really surprised that the manager did not come up with some kind of action plan to help you improve in an areas in which you had a deficiency. I am assuming you have been a good employee for 8 years now and the recent mistakes are out of character for you..am I right? Sometimes mistakes and even medication mistakes are a system problem and usually are a series of errors causing the end user to make the final mistake. Your medication errors should have been examined carefully to see the root cause b/c just writing up a nurse does little to solve the problem. The cause has to be determined and then you can get a a plan. Yes ! many times it is just human error but even then you can develop your own strategies to solve it. For example, you can decide to double check your MARS halfway through your shift and at the end of your shift.

Lets review your options,you can feel bad and give up on your profession OR you can pick yourself up and go look for other employment that will meet YOUR needs. You need o shift your focus so that you will learn to appreciate yourself and the contribution you make to your profession and to those you serve daily. DO NOT ever depend on your employer to make you feel appreciated b/c then you are giving them the power and you will need to keep your power and have control of your self-worth and your professional value. If you do ever have an employer that appreciates you then consider that a bonus,but never expect it. You have a license..that you earned....you get paid to provide the nursing care that the law allows..so look at as a business agreement.

So get strong and remember all the strengths what you have to bring to a workplace..they lost a great employee bc they no longer wanted to invest in YOU.......so do not join them..brush up on anything you need to and get back out there. It may lead you to something much better...Change is scary so be kind to yourself but STRONG and tell yourself you can deal with it.

[Psychcns]

Aggressively interview. Tell them you are looking for a change, different shift, shorter commute, or something neutral. Have at least two references from your current facility-charge nurses or supervisors. See if they will give you a severance, apply for unemployment.

Focus on your strengths and what you can bring to a new position..These are some ideas.. Good luck!!

[oliviabel]

Iluvivt, thank you. I guess what scares me is an interview and what to say after being fired, I never had to hunt for a jobs, or at least forgot how to do it after all this time. I applied for one position yesterday, they had a link "reason for leaving", I put down "let go", how do i get interview like that? I guess I have t learn

[morte, LPN, LVN]

if this was a new problem for you, you need to figure out why it is happening now. good luck

[artsmom, BSN, LPN]

These are tough times in nursing- I hope they weren't just trying to throw you out to save some money. Was there any disciplinary action prior to your being fired? Maybe before you start applying you could take some refresher courses about documentation and safe med administration- this will show potential employers that you recognize your errors and are working diligently towards not repeating them? Best of luck to you.

[oliviabel]

I didnt get any warnings, its felt like a total backstab. I will look into refreasher course on meds and charting, won't hurt to do that..

[Bella'sMyBaby]

Working in LTC explains it all...

Stop beating yourself up.

Your issue is a common one in LTC.

I've seen this happen over & over again.

There's usually constant turn over in LTC & with turn over comes new management who have their own ideas & many times want to bring in their own staff.

There's something to be said for working there 8 years....that's a long time in LTC.

[oliviabel]

Thanks, Bella

[JBudd, MSN]

Don't let them talk you into a letter of resignation; keep your doors open for unemployment.

If manager is "suggesting" you find another department, ask her which ones? Did she actually fire you, or are you still on the schedule? Have others been disciplined for the same type of errors, or you are being singled out for punishment? Did she not offer any remediation or corrective measures you can do?