A question for those who have been fired?

allnurses Guide · Nov 15, 2011

I have been fired once many many moons ago, not for cause. Even when interviewing now I imagine what this partitcular manager would look like if they fire me. PTSD of a sort I guess. I am always aware my job could go away at any time.

allnurses Guide · Nov 15, 2011

I have been fired from almost every job I've ever had, which is numerous. I don't really know why either. I am entering the field of nursing in January (school) and hope to break the pattern. I wish I could ascertain the reason for my previous firings. It would sure help to stave off future possible firings. It really is a demoralizing experience. I have been depressed and anxious about it and knew that I had to do something to break the pattern. I plan to get a neuropsychological evaluation (if my insurance covers it - we are still waiting for authorization) to see what can be uncovered about me. Any thoughts?

Yeah, I guess my thoughts are that I hope you get it figured out, because when it is that many employers and that many of the same outcome, it definitely isn't political. There's something wrong. :uhoh3:

roofrn · Nov 15, 2011

Being partly responsible for being fired (e.g. making a mistake even if it does not lead to harm, e.g. in documentation or not correcting mistakes of others, forgetting to write something down or depending on bad advice from a charge nurse, blah-blah-blah) has initially the same effect as having injured a patient. Not only do you lose your job, but a complaint goes to the Board even when it does not lead to harm which leads to defending your license and being in bureaucratic and legal hell for as long as it takes to take remedial courses and get the investigation closed.

Having too many patients and not enough support in your job and making a mistake is YOUR problem as long as punitive, corporate-driven healthcare dominates and employment law does not protect employees. This is what drives otherwise effective, ethical nurses to hate hospital work and quit.

Get good Liability Insurance from the start and make sure it covers license defense. If you get terminated, you'll have to scrounge for awhile with per diems and eventually maybe get a full time position again.

FLmomof5 · Nov 15, 2011

For the PP who mentioned "terminated", if you are laid off, your records will show "terminated"....and if you were fired, it would say "terminated"....so when you are fired, put "terminated". I often put "contract terminated" for my contract positions. (And, yes, it was the contract that was terminated.)

I went to nursing because I was sick of being terminated every time my job got outsourced. Then I join AN and realize there is no security here either. Oh well, at least I have more choices! LOL :lol2:

I was fired for cause once. At the termination interview, HR told me explicitly that they never give more than: Yes, she worked here from this date to that date and her pay was....no we don't give more information than that. I still lived with fear for many years, but in the end, it was a good thing. I hated that career and found another one that got me through 18 yrs with decent pay.

Just close your eyes, take a deep breath and remember......this too shall pass.

VivaRN · Nov 15, 2011

I was fired nearly a year ago and, while it still impacts me in my weaker moments I can honestly look back and say it was a positive. It got me out of a job I was clinging to more for stability than because I enjoyed it. I was completely open about being fired in interviews (although it was very difficult) and ended up getting an even better job than the one I was fired from!

I'm a manager now and looking back, I can see how different I am (in a good way) from the manager who fired me. It was such an awful work environment. I felt very anxious about being fired again at first, then I met MY new boss and saw that she would never target me the way that old manager had. Working with good people goes a long way.

To the OP: you will be fine. Being fired is more common than you think. If your new job is good and you're supported, it shouldn't happen again.

bigeyes4 · Nov 16, 2011

Being fired so many times has definitely left scars on me. I feel as though I have PTSD from it. I'm actually afraid to re-enter the work force. Hopefully, that fear will be gone by the time I graduate from nursing school. It's easy to say that I don't think I could take another firing - that I would kill myself or have a nervous breakdown if it happens again, but it's really not worth it to do either of those. At the age of 23 or so, I was fired from a job while on a business trip in Madrid, Spain. That was a low blow. I was a paralegal/translator at the time. The office manager was very overbearing and intolerant. I made, in my opinion, a small mistake. So she told one of the attorneys to tell me that I was fired. I don't think I've ever gotten over any of this.

NocturneNrse · Nov 16, 2011

I was fired nearly one near ago. I've tried to get over it, and have for the most part, but I'm still p.o.'d at those who'd betrayed me. Strangely I'm not as insecure as I was, but perhaps I'm now much more careful and forge ahead w/the belief that anyone can turn on you and will eventually.

This profession has taught me just how rotten some people can be. Strange that it happens in a career with "Care" at it's core.

bluemanfb · Nov 16, 2011

I was fired about 2 years ago. I then sued my former employer.

It is one way of equalizing the situation while costing them money, time, and a few people theirs jobs.

I'm not saying every firing is wrong, but once a lawyer starts going through policies - you'll hear a change in tone.

DeLana_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2011

I have been fired from almost every job I've ever had, which is numerous. I don't really know why either. I am entering the field of nursing in January (school) and hope to break the pattern. I wish I could ascertain the reason for my previous firings. It would sure help to stave off future possible firings. It really is a demoralizing experience. I have been depressed and anxious about it and knew that I had to do something to break the pattern. I plan to get a neuropsychological evaluation (if my insurance covers it - we are still waiting for authorization) to see what can be uncovered about me. Any thoughts?

Hmm... until you figure out what has been happening here, I can't say I would recommend that you go into nursing. Nursing is a field where numerous people who have never been fired for anything in their previous careers (if they had any) find themselves very vulnerable to getting terminated for any or no reason at all. It's just the nature of the field, unfortunately.

Hope you get to the bottom of this pattern and best wishes for the future,

DeLana

Seohyun · Nov 16, 2011

I have been fired from almost every job I've ever had, which is numerous. I don't really know why either. I am entering the field of nursing in January (school) and hope to break the pattern. I wish I could ascertain the reason for my previous firings. It would sure help to stave off future possible firings. It really is a demoralizing experience. I have been depressed and anxious about it and knew that I had to do something to break the pattern. I plan to get a neuropsychological evaluation (if my insurance covers it - we are still waiting for authorization) to see what can be uncovered about me. Any thoughts?

Aww, I am really sorry to hear that. Could it be some sort of a learning problem? I know being anxious, depressed and lacking in confidence won't help. In fact, it is a perpetuating cycle. I am in a similar state.

I would kind of have to agree with the Delana, who said that maybe going into nursing at the present moment may not be a good idea. It isn't to say that you can't do it, but I am suggesting it isn't a good idea until you work out your root issues.

Because, what if you got accepted into nursing? And then failed the labs, or the most important forms of work, you could ever make a mistake on? You can end up getting fired in the future, being pulled out by instructors and be spoken to in public or they say your performance isn't adequate enough and require to discontinue? If that happens... a lot of time and tuition goes out the window; and what would make it worse if you have horrible instructors.

Not to mention the fact that... the self esteem will decrease, because if this happens, you will think and look back at all the other times you've been fired. This can't be good for anyone's self esteem.

I say this... because I wish no ever should go through what I went through. I've also been fired once but felt on the verge of being fired on multiple occasions. In my case, I still have really great (now former) instructors that were support despite having to discontinue me. I consider myself lucky for having supportive people and parents who allot me the money.

For me personally, my biggest regret was not time or tuition wasted. And I don't regret finding out if I could do it or not, but what I regret most was the aftermath.

My confidence in anything, relevant to money and job performance, is beyond shattered to the point where sending out resumes... I find to be an extremely scary and anxiety-inducing tasks. And I consider myself lucky, too...

I do not wish this on anyone that is undeserving of it. Especially those that may have unfortunate circumstances by nature (ie. having a disorder like auditory processing problems) or having a poor family life.

No Stars In My Eyes · Nov 16, 2011

I have been fired from almost every job I've ever had, which is numerous. I don't really know why either. I am entering the field of nursing in January (school) and hope to break the pattern. I wish I could ascertain the reason for my previous firings. It would sure help to stave off future possible firings. It really is a demoralizing experience. I have been depressed and anxious about it and knew that I had to do something to break the pattern. I plan to get a neuropsychological evaluation (if my insurance covers it - we are still waiting for authorization) to see what can be uncovered about me. Any thoughts?

Wait a minute. You have been fired from ALMOST EVERY JOB you have ever had, and you HAVE NO CLUE WHY?

Really? How can that happen? Are you so incredibly UNAWARE? This is unbelievable. What's your best guess?

Seriously.It would behoove you to find out. This post is so flabbergasting I wonder if it is even for real.

JerseyBSN · Nov 16, 2011

Thank You for all of the honest answers. When my new employer hired me they said "we hire a lot of nurses who have been fired, it's common now-a-days". I am definitely in a better place. I guess it will take me more time to get over it. It probably does change who you are. I think the key may be whether or not you deserved to get fired. I didn't. I need to let it go. Thanks.