interviewing after assaulted by patient

Nurses Relations

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I have been waiting a while to feel safe enough to be able to seek support from all of you at Allnurses and it is still too soon for me to divulge everything, but I need your help.

Over the last eight months I have been going through the worst time of my life. I was assaulted by a patient and rendered temporarily disabled and was treated very poorly in the process. I have been staying current by studying for the CCRN and although I am not yet ready to go back to work, I will be well enough soon (God willing).

In the interim, I had to settle for the worker's comp lawsuit (I did not want to have to sue but was being treated very poorly). Consequently, I had to resign from my position when I accepted the settlement. The settlement is very modest and only will help me survive the next couple months until I can get back on my feet.

Where you come in

I am very anxious about how it will go for me when I start applying for jobs. I am afraid to disclose the real reason for my previous resignation because of the stigma of back injuries & worker's comp in nursing.

As I understand it, if a future employer checked with HR, they would only be able to say the dates I began work and resigned (and that they won't rehire me) and they would have no way of sharing my disability.

I need your advice on how I should explain why I resigned instead of continuing to work like I assume most people would do in this economy before being hired elsewhere. I want to tell the truth, but I know how nursing is now and I need to look after myself.

I am so upset over all this. Critical Care/Nursing has always been my passion. I worked so hard to get where I am and I just want my career and my health back. I am having difficulty recovering because I am so stressed about my financial future. The last few months have been a struggle with absolutely no income (not even WC benefits or disability) and I can't imagine more months of unemployment ahead.

I am really looking for your support and guidance. Any help or words of encouragement is appreciated (Job leads are great too ;) ). I have been wanting to share my troubles with you all for so long but didn't feel safe doing so, until now and I am sorry for how vague I am being, but I am still very paranoid after everything that happened to me.

Thank you so much in advance.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

OP do you have to tell your next employer re all this? Or will the previous nursing HR people disclose it all?

Honesty is the best policy. I would tell them exactly what happened. If they aren't satisfied, they will send you for a physical assessment anyway, I presume. If you lie & are caught out, it won't go well for you.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I am always telling other nurses/students who don't life properly or whatever, that nobody will give a shite once you hurt your back, and the visitors will stop coming after a while. It is up to every single one of us to care for OUR OWN BACK, it is not anyone elses responsibility.

Write a journal everyday, that will help ease your fears - will help your brain process it, and also if you can maybe do something to ease anxiety - do yoga, pilates, burn lavender oil. Counselling if not too expensive is a good idea.

You need to get your confidence back. What about contacting all the nursing agencies near you, & they can give you shifts that aren't in really stressful care areas? I'd be re-vamping my CV if I were you and just be honest re what happened. Surely someone will give you a chance - I know I would.

Good luck, hope it all works out & let us know how u get on.

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

I just wanted to give everyone a mini update.

I have started applying for jobs for about a week and havn't gotten any calls. I am going to do a whole bunch of follow up calls on Monday to the places I have applied at. I also applied for some registry positions.

I am just feeling so depressed and discouraged. I feel completely inert most days and paralyzed by my stress. I don't want to be around anyone and I don't leave the house. My back has been worse lately but financially I need to go back to work so I am just resigning myself to the fact that I am going to have to work with some type of pain for the rest of my life.

I feel like my life is on hold and things have been so bad for me the past couple years that I really have no hope or faith that things will turn around because I tried hard or life should be fair. I know I need to see a counselor and I need to get out and be social and exercise but like I said I feel paralyzed. Ugh. I'm miserable. I keep telling myself that once I get a job I will feel better and start doing things because I will be happy and have purpose again.

I've just been off work for so long and I associate nursing with my identity so deeply. I have tried to do other things. I even wrote a whole novel while I've been off and I'm working on editing it but for the last few weeks I can't bring myself to look at it. Ugh.

I hope I will have more positive updates soon like "Hey! I got a job!"

Keep the applications going. In this economy, high numbers of submissions will help you get some interviews. Pounce on new announcements as soon as they are posted. December can be a good time as new budgets may be approved for the coming year --but you also have to factor in the holidays and realize that decision-makers may be on vacation.

Carolmaccas66 had some good suggestions... Here's another one...write down some of the goals you wish to achieve and steps you must take to achieve them. Spend a certain number of hours job hunting each day...

Are you walking outside and/or going to the gym to do therapy exercises? That's important. Exercise (weights, stretching, and cardio) is usually important to people with injuries. Exercise helps release endorphins, lubricate joints, etc. It's good for stress and depression.

One day at a time. Keep going. And keep us updated.

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Yeah. I know I need to exercise. I know I need to. It's just that I seriously cannot bring myself to do it.

Im joining a staffing agency and it looks like I'll be back to work right away (God willing) so I hope that will get me back to normal.

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

UPDATE

I just wanted to come in and update you all.

I have been back to work at the new ICU job for the last few weeks and am having no back pain and am in such good spirits.

This unit is really healthy and the acuity is much lower.

The lower acuity is good on my back and my brain. I feel like I have much more of a chance to really think about my patients and their needs than just try to meet the endless tasks at my old ICU while trying to keep everyone alive.

I really enjoy my patient population and find myself having the time and emotional stamina to really put in extra effort with my patients.

Thanks everyone for the support. I just wanted to share my success story with you. I know the potential for reinjury is there, and I am being very careful, but I just wanted to show you all that there is life after back injury.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

:hug: I am SOOOOOOOOOO Happy for you!!!! I too returned to work after an on the job injury. I got hurt when hoyer lift broke with a patient in it and required surgery 6 months after graduation.......that was 33 years ago.

Be careful and Good luck!:loveya:

Specializes in Emergency Department.

Fiveofpeep,

I just wanted to tell you that I'm SO happy you found a place that is in your passion for critical care but also is good for you!! Like others said, I think you are such an inspiration. Clearly, you are very passionate about nursing, and you are a strong, compassionate person.

All the best to you! And congratulations! :yeah:

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