job after HIPAA violation

[keyaira]

Hi. I have a very important question. I'm soon to be graduating from an ADN program in December. I'm wanting to start looking for a job and get one lined up for when I graduate. However, I have a problem. About 5 years ago when I worked as a patient care tech at a hospital, I got fired for a HIPAA violation. The details about this are: I would read the H&P of trauma pts out of curiousity and people on the unit I worked looked up their lab results under my name. They told me I would be eligible for rehire after 1 year but when I tried to go back to work there the HR director said I wasn't eligible (even though the director of the dept. I worked for wanted me badly.) I applied for a Student Nurse Extern position at a different hospital and was denied. They ask if you have ever been fired and what for. I explained to them what I did and how I have taken classes in HIPAA since then and realize what a huge mistake I made and after being in nursing school, I realize the importance of HIPAA. I'm pretty sure this was why I was turned down for the position even though I have recommendations from instructors and a 3.7 GPA. Do you think it will be like this when I try to get a job in the hospital? And was the last 3 1/2 years of nursing school and stress and giving up my social life a big waste of time and money? My dream is to be a CCRN and I'm afraid that dream is shattered because of a lapse in judgement I made almost 5 years ago. Any advice on what to say or do would be extremely helpful! Thanks!