So I'm fired. Again.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I must be the worst nurse in the world.

Now I need to figure out my next step. And it isn't nursing.

No specific reason. They think I "could" be unsafe.

Pffft.

Really? Is that ethical? I didn't know people could get away with that. Wow.

I was fired once . . . from a law firm no less, and they were more than happy to confirm my dates of employment, provide leads, references, etc. They paid me through a notice and allowed me to job hunt at the office instead of working. They were panic-stricken over a possible unemployment claim (which I ultimately drew for all of one week before finding a new job - for double the money).

I was fired because one of the partners did not like me. I've never been fired before or since and have heard many, many times in the various careers I've had that hiring me was "the best decision the boss ever made."

Sue, it can happen to anyone. There's a great book called Fired for Success. Has pointers on how to land on your feet. Came in handy.

Really? Is that ethical? I didn't know people could get away with that. Wow.

Is what ethical? My not telling them? I believe so.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Really? Is that ethical? I didn't know people could get away with that. Wow.

Whether it's ethical and whether people can get away with it are two separate questions. What's unethical about focusing on what she didn't like about a job instead of what they didn't like about her? Unless she's specifically asked if she'd been terminated, there is no lack of ethics. The reason for leaving is "not a good fit" regardless of who declared that to be so.

To the poster who asked about how one gets job opportunities after a termination, we do ask about being fired at my job. I was on an interview panel where someone told us about why she'd been fired and we still chose to hire her. A lot of factors go into making a decision about how much weight to give to a previous termination.

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

So, they didn't actually ask you a direct question "were you fired?". I guess that's different. It definately wasn't a 'good fit', that's for sure.

So, they didn't actually ask you a direct question "were you fired?". I guess that's different. It definately wasn't a 'good fit', that's for sure.

*snort*

I do not lie if asked directly and, on an application that asks if you've ever left for other than quit or "lack of work" I am honest.

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
*snort*

I do not lie if asked directly and, on an application that asks if you've ever left for other than quit or "lack of work" I am honest.

LOL, your *snort* cracks me up for some reason. :lol2:

LOL, your *snort* cracks me up for some reason. :lol2:

That's that choking laugh snort that sometimes gets fizzies up your nose or on your screen.

It was evoked by, "I guess it wasn't a good fit is true."

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
That's that choking laugh snort that sometimes gets fizzies up your nose or on your screen.

It was evoked by, "I guess it wasn't a good fit is true."

:lol2:*snort*:lol2:

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC.
Thanks, all.

Maureen, they gave me no reason other than I wasn't fitting in, I could be unsafe, I said weird things (I called someone a "poor old thing"), and I wasn't picking up quickly enough.

Heather, I have no doubt at all that I am a flawed individual and nurse. I do not, however, plan to keep explaining myself to you or those who have thanked you for questioning me. Believe me or not.

Regarding "fitting in"; that is a very dangerous requirement in a job I think. You are well out of there, in my humble opinion.

Well why are they saying you "could" be unsafe. You probably need to find another profession. Safety is the most important part of nursing. How would you like if an unsafe nurse was taking care of you or your family member? Were you given examples of why you are considered to be unsafe? If so you could try to work on it for your next nursing job.

Specializes in Utilization Management.
Well why are they saying you "could" be unsafe. You probably need to find another profession. Safety is the most important part of nursing. How would you like if an unsafe nurse was taking care of you or your family member? Were you given examples of why you are considered to be unsafe? If so you could try to work on it for your next nursing job.

Did you read the entire thread? She answered all those questions and more.

Sue, as you have noted before ....

Consider the source.

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC.
Well why are they saying you "could" be unsafe. You probably need to find another profession. Safety is the most important part of nursing. How would you like if an unsafe nurse was taking care of you or your family member? Were you given examples of why you are considered to be unsafe? If so you could try to work on it for your next nursing job.

Whoa whoa whoa there, cowboy.

Firing someone and telling them they "could be" unsafe says to me that this is a euphemism for something else. If the person was unsafe, that would be documented and the evidence given. Either there is a real reason or not.

In this case, I think it was more likely some sort of personality problem, or something along those lines having little to do with performance.

Having several people within one department be critical doesn't mean a lot, sometimes there is a cliquey nature to a department and their tolerance for another point of view is nil. Everyone else is in lock step and intolerance of another point of view is a red flag.

It takes all kinds of people to run a floor and teamwork is very important. Helping one another and approaching challenges as something to be solved as a group gets the most cooperation from everyone.

Rooting people out that don't agree with you without any evidence of malfeasance or safety violations simply maintains the status quo; which could be dysfunctional.

I am not saying this is specific to this circumstance entirely, however a generality.

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