How to explain being fired??

[barbarake21]

I worked at a LTC facility for 21 months until I was fired last week. For the first 19 months, everything was all right - wonderful evaluations, no write-ups, etc. Then two months ago, happened (more on that in a minute). Since then I've been written up 3 times and fired.

The ? I work nights and I sent a nurse home (with my supervisor's approval). Needless to say, narcotics turned up missing and - somehow - the DEA has become involved.

(When I first heard this, it struck me as strange. Does the DEA normally investigate something like this?)

Anyway, I heard recently (within the past two weeks) that the investigation has expanded and the DEA is now investigating (more people/the facility itself). I'm not exactly sure what's going on but rumors are running wild.

I suspect that this investigation is the real reason I was fired. Of course I have no proof.

How do I handle this topic in an interview?? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

PS - I'd like to reiterate that *I* did not have the missing narcotics, it was the nurse I sent home.

PPS - Regarding the three write-ups - I have documentation and/or witnesses supporting my version of events for each one. And I added that information to the write-ups. But evidently that doesn't matter.

PPPS - My unit supervisor only found out I had been fired two days after it happened. She knew nothing about it.

PPPPS - I find the whole situation so depressing and frustrating. I'm not perfect but I really did try to do my best. Four nurses from the facility have called me and offered to give me references. I never thought something like this would happen to me.

Again, thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Wise Woman RN]

I am so sorry this happened to you.. thoughts and prayers for good things are coming your way.

Best,

Wise Woman RN

[serious75]

sorry for your predicament unfortunately in nursing firing and hiring is like the norm especially in ltc.pray at all times for Gods protection,anyway DEA could get involved at times if such cases are reported to them and especially now when many nurses have been reported to abuse drugs at work places.anyhow you do not have to tell your employer details that only make you questionable(TMI) .use the work place as a ref if you care but HR is limited in the amount of details that they can release about an employee.i wouldnt use them if i though they would affect my next employment but again you can tell them that you worked there but use your coworkers who want to help you as your ref.thats who they will call..best of luck

[Feistn]

What about asking your supervisor to provide you with a recommendation?

[mikimoto]

If applicable to your situation, I'd be looking into employment agencies.

They usually weed out the applicants for the employers.

WHen they are sent to the employers for testing and interviews, most often these

interviews are focused on skills

and knowledge because the employment agency already did the personal background, employment background up to checking of references.

The assumption is that these applicants sent to them are the best match for their company/hospital and all they have to do

is to really test the skills/knowledge of these people.

You do not have to say that you were fired. They won't ask you anyway if you got fired.

What I suggest is that you construct a spiel answering questions like

What's the reason you left your job?

You can answer without even mentioning that you got fired.

I am sorry you're going through this, but all these shall pass.

I will say a prayer for you tonight and wish you success on your

future interviews.

P.s.

I meant to write you a personal message, but I think I'm not yet qualified to

receive/send personal messages.

[barbarake21]

Thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement. This whole situation really blind-sided me.

I don't think I can get away with simply not mentioning that I was fired. Yet I don't want to get into the 'other nurse' and 'narcotics missing' and 'DEA investigation' either. So I'm not sure what to do.

Oh well, I'm sure things will work out eventually.