A question for those who have been fired?

Nurses General Nursing

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I was fired over a year ago. Once you've been fired are you constantly afraid at your new job that you'll get fired? Is it insecurity? Is it because you know the employer knows you were previously fired? How long does the fear of being fired last? Some days it makes me crazy :eek:

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.

I'm glad you are on your way to a better place of work. Being fired... it happens. And I guess people deal with it different ways, but at least you aren't alone. When I was fired, the waterworks wouldn't stop...which made it all the more humiliating. But I did picked myself back up enough and found a better job; this happened in my teen years.

Certain work places are just demoralizing .. sometimes being forced to end things open up a new opportunity that, you eventually found out to be better. Then you wonder why you were crazy enough to even have worked for the previous place that fired you. ;)

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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.

Sometimes the answers aren't always that simple. And sometimes people go through huge denial about their patterns before they are able to accept it enough to seek help. It isn't clear cut.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU, Pediatrics, some ER.

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?

This sounds like there is definitely something going on, not sure what. I think before you make a big decision to enter a career as stressful and often dog-eat-dog as nursing, you may want to step back, maybe speak to a counselor of some sort, and figure out what is going on. I hope you can work this out.

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When I'd been a nurse for about 18 months, I was left on an acute neuro floor (acute care hospital- no hospital rehab/LTACs then) with a CNA (who was VERY good- and a nursing student, so she could anticipate some things- BUT I had all of the MD calls- and it had been a BAD night- one little old guy on heparin, started bleeding from everywhere- ever seen an eye ooze blood from the corners? MD wouldn't return call (turned off the heparin anyway); down the hall a lady's BP went psycho high- doc was MIA for a while.....ICU was full, and the supervisor answered NO pages, overhead or otherwise). And I was the only license on the floor. :down:

SO...... I wrote up the entire nursing office for not staffing the shift correctly-:eek: knowing about it in advance, and doing nothing. Not a good way to buddy up to the brass :D. After that, no matter what happened on that floor (they moved me to days :barf01:), somehow, I was at fault :confused: Didn't even have to be my patient....

I was terrified of being terminated after several write ups for things I had no answer for- not my stuff- which made me look even more stupid. I was given the option of resigning (not knowing anything about unemployment). A friend of mine had the job of telling me that it was going to be my last day. I signed the resignation forms. It hurt a LOT. I loved my coworkers and immediate supervisors. I really liked neuro, and the docs were SO good at teaching the nurses.

I still think about it now and then (happened in 1987- and after a traumatic assault w/a head injury- so a lot blamed on memory issues- which were there- but my 'cheat sheet'/"brain" helped a lot- and I felt safe w/my assignments). It wasn't fair. But it was what it was. NOW, it would be a situation for FMLA, to get some neuro rehab for myself ( LOL). That wasn't an option back then.

BUT, I ended up working in head injury rehab (3 patients max...1 if ya got the vent patient- even back in 1987, when hospital nursing was usually 7-9 patients at night, and LTC was 30-40 on days, up to 60 at night- all of this in TX). Later, I worked in some other areas of nursing- and gained more insight to other types of nursing. I'm thankful for that :) Jobs were so easy to get, that I didn't have the problems that nurses are having now.

It wasn't fair- but one of the ones who had to deal with the write ups was also a friend (VERY rare re: my gradual learning that making friends out of co-workers isn't often a good thing- especially if one is a supervisor)..... I still am in contact with her.

Mostly, it was a learning experience- and didn't kill me, or ruin any future employment. That was the last time I got bad feedback.

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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?

This sounds like a good start :) Can you identify any patterns in the types of jobs? Specific tasks that you were written up about? It's good you're pursuing some evaluation to see what may be going on. :up: But also be REALLY honest with yourself....how do you contribute to the poor performance? Or is it a matter of not fully understanding what is expected? If you are looking at neuropsych evaluation, my first thought is head injury of some sort. (no need to disclose if you don't care to :)) Are there issues with auditory comprehension? Sequencing of tasks?

It sounds like a REALLY good idea to figure this out before nursing school. Nursing school is not forgiving - and if you have some neuorbiological problems going on, that needs to be a priority..... good luck :hug:

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I highly doubt that I will seek a hospital job. I am in the fortunate position of not having to rely on this income as my sole financial support. So if it doesn't work out, I'm not going to be homeless. All I can do is give it my best and hope everything works out. I will, however, go through with the neuropsych eval. Maybe that will be revelatory. Maybe I do have a learning issue. I can't see that it could be auditory processing since I am a classical musician. More later.

Thanks for your helpful input.

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I highly doubt that I will seek a hospital job. I am in the fortunate position of not having to rely on this income as my sole financial support. So if it doesn't work out, I'm not going to be homeless. All I can do is give it my best and hope everything works out. I will, however, go through with the neuropsych eval. Maybe that will be revelatory. Maybe I do have a learning issue. I can't see that it could be auditory processing since I am a classical musician. More later.

Thanks for your helpful input.

The parts of the brain that deal with creativity (such as music) aren't the same as the sequencing for tasks or memory... you never know !! It might help you a lot in figuring out what has been a problem. I wish you the best with this :)

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Specializes in ED/ICU/TELEMETRY/LTC.

First, I would think carefully about the statement you made:

" I have been fired from almost every job I've ever had, which is numerous. I don't really know why either."

If you have even heard of the nursing field in general you must be familiar with the term " critical thinking."

It means "if then, then that" or "accomplishing the desired results with the information and resources on hand". In nursing you have to apply this to your scope of practice.

IF you have been fired from almost all of the jobs you have had, THEN the problem must lie within you.

I sincerely urge you to rethink nursing as a career for you.

Let me leave you with this: If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.

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It might be up to the person to decide. and to answer the question, "Despite my x issue, can I still do it?"

I had a similar problem, where there were people (not everyone) tell me that nursing isn't for me. All of them ended up being half-right, but the ones ended up telling me that I couldn't do it, won. They did not say it out of cruelty, but rather, did not advise it because they felt it was not a good fit. Sometimes, the self needs to find out for himself or herself. I still don't regret finding out the hard way...I'd do it again, too. Otherwise, I would have been more depressed for at least not attempting.

As long as one knows the sacrifices to answer the question.

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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?

you have no idea as to why you've been fired from "almost every job"??

i am incredulous, sitting here with my mouth hung open.

it's equally as frightening (to me) that you're going to nursing school...

because any errors can involve your patients safety.

i'll stop here, but truly hope you can get this worked out.

accountability is big in nursing.

leslie

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

Good for you!

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