Any advice is appreciated

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hello everyone. Getting right to the point, I was terminated from my first nursing job a few months ago. The reason why is pretty is minor in the grand scheme of things, did not involve medications or theft, has not affected my license and is not something that I agree with. Nor do more than a few of my former coworkers, who have all agreed to be references for me. My problem, aside from being unemployed, is that when I was terminated I only had 4 months of experience. Currently I am stuck in the loop of "We will not hire you since you do not have enough experience", but I cannot acquire enough experience unless someone will hire me and repeat ad infinitum. I have been applying everywhere and the above is the usual response that I get. There are a few hospitals in my area, but they are grouped into two health systems. The hospital I was terminated from is part of one of these health systems. The other health system includes the premier local magnet hospital and is closely affiliated with the premier university in the area that also has its own nursing program, which, in my opinion, means that the hospitals in this system do not need to look "out of house" for new, entry level nurses.

I currently have my ADN and some of the advice I am seeking is is it worth it to go back for my BSN? While I certainly agree with furthering ones education, is it worth going through if I am viewed as "damaged goods" and put on the "Do Not Hire" list? As you can see from my name I am from New York state, Western/Upstate New York specifically. All local colleges, with one exception, in my area have a nursing program. I realize that there may be a glut of new grads in my area, but I am willing to take the less glamorous jobs that are out there (i.e. LTC, SNF, homecare, etc.). I am willing to work "below my grade" as a an LPN or PCT, provided that that is legal. Before I was a nurse I was a PCT in a hospital for over three years, so "tech" work is familiar to me. To answer the question ahead of time I worked as a PCT in the same hospital that I was terminated from.

The other piece of advice that I am looking for is simply suggestions for what to do in terms of acquiring employment. I currently feel lost and it seems that all doors are closed to me. Thank God that I do not have any debt or large bills, yet, to pay off. I need to work, I cannot stand to sit around. As the above title says any advice is appreciated.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading and I apologize for rambling on. If nothing else this was good to get off my chest. Thank you.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Are you willing to locate to an area that hires ADN nurses?

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That is a little complicated by whether or not to go back to school. There is a local program that I could try to get into to earn my BSN in about one year if I go full time. I would like to try and earn my BSN before moving anywhere, if this is still worthwhile. Thank you for responding.

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Also, degree considerations aside, relocating is something that I am willing to do.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you don't mind me asking, what happened that made you get terminated? This may impact your future Job Search as well.

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I prefer not to say as it is somewhat embarrassing and dumb. However, no laws were broken, my license is still intact and I feel that it requires a bit of a long winded explanation to set the tableau of what went down. Not really sure how this works, but if you wish to contact me in a non-public manner, I will be happy to tell the whole story. Thank you for responding.

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I would say yes it's worth going forward in terms of getting your BSN. You could also move forward with your BSN and get a job though too. I live in New York State too. For those of us with less than one year of experience, it takes a while to hear back but don't consider yourself "damaged goods." I'm not sure why you were terminated and understand you not wanting to post it here, but that also makes it harder to give advice. What I do know is that you will have to be prepared to explain what happened and it may be harder to find a new job, but it can be done. Some interviewers don't even ask about what happened, others will. Keep it short and to the point and then try to redirect the conversation to something more positive (if you say your last job didn't work out because it wasn't a good fit, then say how the job your applying for is a good fit).

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I have decided to go forward with earning my BSN locally. So, as far as LadyFree28s suggestion to going to where the jobs are if they are not in my locale, I am more than willing to, after I have earned my BSN. As far as not getting into details behind my termination, after talking with someone about it, whose opinion I highly value, I am more willing to talk about it, but I am reluctant to do it here. This is in no small part due to the anonymity of the Internet. You can never be sure totally sure who you are talking to. I am trying not sound like I am paranoid, but you never know. Thank you for responding.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I have decided to go forward with earning my BSN locally. So, as far as LadyFree28s suggestion to going to where the jobs are if they are not in my locale, I am more than willing to, after I have earned my BSN. As far as not getting into details behind my termination, after talking with someone about it, whose opinion I highly value, I am more willing to talk about it, but I am reluctant to do it here. This is in no small part due to the anonymity of the Internet. You can never be sure totally sure who you are talking to. I am trying not sound like I am paranoid, but you never know. Thank you for responding.

If it's a unique situation, then you are smart to not divulge too much here. If it's a common situation, there is less risk such as "I was fired because I called out for nausea and vomiting but my friend tagged me in a FB status so it looked like I was out partying and now hungover. Another coworker saw the post and then left it on my manager's desk. Nice huh?"

Anything online, especially in a public forum is up for discovery by others. If its a unique situation you do run the risk of being identified.

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I agree. That is one of the reasons why I seem to be one of the few people under 85 who is not on FB or Twitter. I am one of the even rarer people who does not own a cellphone, by choice. I am embracing 21st century technology very reluctantly. Thank you for responding.

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