Fired. How Do I get rehired?

[pppp87]

It's been 4 long weeks since I lost my job. I was terminated after 15 months working on a step down unit. I had 3 writeups total during my employment all related to not completing education on time. One was a module, one was a skills check off, the last was my BLS card was not renewed on time.

I take full responsibility and have made no excuses in interviews. I talk about how I learned from my mistake and am was actually up to date with all of my education on the day of my termination. I made a binder in November after my last write up and was keeping up with the quizzes and modules. I have never had my marks against me for patient care, have my BLS, ACS, working on step down certification, and just had my annual evaluation in February with nothing but positive remarks about my patient care but unfortunately marks against me keeping up with education.

I graduated with honors, have always been responsible, but for whatever reason just didn't deem the mandated education that important. I studied on my days off, I would always eventually completely the education, but not always on time. I understand where I messed up and willing to change that.

I didn't think this mistake would haunt me as much. But the only other major hospital system in my city is BIG on education. I have interviewed with 3 managers at 3 of their different hospitals and they all have stressed their focus on education. The interview always seems to go downhill after I talk about my termination. I try to present myself as a clinically sound nurse who just was not negligent with the mandatory education on our unit. I am sooo depressed and frustrated!! I miss patient care. I miss working.

3 back to back interviews that all seemed to end on a negative note has deterred my confidence so much! I get so nervous during the interviews, even if I'm well prepared. I feel like I am having to relive the shame of being fired every time I'm interviewed. No manager has seemed to have mercy or understanding. They all look at me like I have a 3rd eye when I bring up my termination.

I have at least one more manager to meet with but I want to try to have this one end positively at least.

Any advice on how I can bounce back from this termination? ::desperate::

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

And I don't think the old manager can state that you were fired...just that you worked there.

Incorrect.

An employer can legally say anything they want about your time there as long as it's factual. So yes, this job can tell the next job that the OP was fired and exactly why, as long as they stick to reporting the facts.

Of course, state laws can and do influence this, so check the laws in your state: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/employee-rights-book/chapter9-6.html

The whole "only dates of employment and rehire status" is a persistent myth. A lot of employers do stick to that policy to keep things simple. But they don't have to.

And don't forget that information can be passed along informally by word-of-mouth. Nursing is a small world: you'd be surprised who knows who and where. And someone at your old job may happen to be friends with someone at your potential new job...

[TriciaJ, RN]

Non-compliance with mandatory education, especially critical issues such as maintaining BLS - can result in major consequences for both the organization and the individual. If (heaven forbid) you are involved in a clinical incident, the plaintiff's attorney will subpoena training & competency records of all staff involved. If your clinical judgement/performance is ever called into question, a record of non-compliance with job requirements will paint you in a very bad light.

You may want to tell your interviewers that you didn't properly appreciate the preceding information. Stress that you now fully understand why it is so important to maintain the timely education requirements. Tell them you get that if something bad ever happened, and hospital records showed poor compliance, it could create a huge expensive problem for them and for you. Hopefully, someone is willing to give you a second chance.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Wow, text speak aside (Seriously, it's part of the TOS and your peers DO draw conclusions about professionalism on posts like this), YES, the OP was fired for failure to complete her education in the manner required by her employer. THREE times. You don't think this is a reason for termination? Doing what she was doing was clearly not working and has to be some of the worst advice I've ever seen given in this forum. Yes, eventually the OP will get another position, but right now her lapse in judgment has created a huge hurdle to getting that next job.

Ppp87, don't worry about it. That's what u got fired for? Is that really what u got fired for? Keep doing what ur doing. Ull get another job.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Actually, her old manager CAN say she was terminated. Most choose to confirm or deny that someone worked at their facility and if they are or are not eligible for rehire and that is it, but they certainly can say more as long as its truthful.

Pppp87, like I said before...you will get another job. Keep applying. You do not have to state that you were fired during your interview. And I don't think the old manager can state that you were fired...just that you worked there.

[jrt4]

Jrtaylor, are you a nurse manager?

Yes, a unit director

[Victor Wu]

I think honesty will be punished but cleverness will be encouraged in any jobs. Only those VERY wise managers will take time to find and listen to your voice. They trust charge RNs who they selected. The policies are the frame made with knives monitoring you all the time. You are inside this frame. Go to get your master degree and become a manager or educator. you will no longer be in this frame any more. Then use your power to stress new graduates and staff nurses. Smile at them but use your knife-like eyes monitor them --NO MERCY!!!