Advice for after termination

[munchkins88]

Hello there,

I am new LPN grad. I was recently terminated from my job at a hospital. I was terminated due medication errors and charting.As per my governing body policy, the hospital reported me that organization. All other issues were not discussed to me. I was deemed unsafe and unfit for medicine. I can't go into too much detail regarding it due to fear of it affecting future employment if it were posted on here.

My questions are;

I worked at this place for 3 months under probation. Do i have to put it on my resume?

What is a way i can make a cover letter that is honest but can still get me noticed for the right reasons?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Okay. A few things stand out here. Not only is it possible to terminate someone without cause during their probationary period, it's very well articulated in the majority of union contracts across the country as to how and when it may occur. The wording usually looks something like this: "if an employee is unsuitable in the opinion of the employer, such employee may be terminated at any time during the probationary period without recourse to the grievance process'. The fact that a learning plan was established and probation extended indicates there were a number of problems in the OP's practice. Attempting to excuse those concerns by invoking "stress from gossip and bullying" raises red flags for me that the OP doesn't want to be held accountable for those concerns.

The OP mentions "the company" and multiple associated sites. This suggests to me that s/he works for a private provider like Bayshore, Revera or WeCare. Those companies' employees typically don't have union representation and are basically at-will employees. The chain of events is difficult to follow - one sentence says, "decided to resign" and then the next says, "terminated for refusing to resign".

As far as the complaint to the regulatory body, it's pro forma when someone is suspended or terminated for the employer to be required to notify the regulatory body. In this situation the complaint would be along the line of unskilled practice (medication errors and charting deficiencies) and may include unprofessional conduct (accountability). Once the regulatory body has the complaint, they investigate the complaint. This involves interviewing all pertinent parties, gathering documentation, re-interviewing if necessary and then interviewing the nurse involved. All of this takes a long time. Some investigations take 2 years to get to the hearing phase. For union members, assistance from their labour relations advisor begins with the initial suspension/termination. LRAs usually have a background in law and are quite adept at handling the entire matter.

The Canadian Nurses' Protective Society is a non-profit organization that most provinces have an arrangement with to provide professional liability protection - malpractice insurance, if you will. It doesn't cover LPNs, only RNs and NPs; Ontario and Québec nurses are not covered through their regulatory bodies but are eligible to obtain private coverage. Generally speaking, LPNs' malpractice insurance is provided by the Colleges of Licensed Practical Nurses and provides similar coverage. BUT! Liability Insurance doesn't cover termination, with or without cause. The OP will have to find a labour lawyer willing to take the case, and pay for it out of pocket, if s/he plans to dispute the termination.

It would be unethical to leave this job off a résumé, and so would concealing a termination. That would be pouring gas on a fire. Not a good idea. Most employers want a reference from management with the most recent employer so it would come out anyway. The only way I can see out of this mess is to take steps NOW to overcome the knowledge deficits leading the the med errors and charting deficiencies, and to be able to prove that it's been done. So when asked about what led to the termination there's documentation that those reasons no longer exist.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

If you were within your probationary period and they placed you on a learning plan, the organization may have just cause for probationary termination.

However, you should speak with your union representative at the very least. You will need to disclose the fact that you are under investigation to potential employers. Most employers ask during the interview.

[loriangel14, RN]

Okay. A few things stand out here. Not only is it possible to terminate someone without cause during their probationary period, it's very well articulated in the majority of union contracts across the country as to how and when it may occur. The wording usually looks something like this: "if an employee is unsuitable in the opinion of the employer, such employee may be terminated at any time during the probationary period without recourse to the grievance process'. The fact that a learning plan was established and probation extended indicates there were a number of problems in the OP's practice. Attempting to excuse those concerns by invoking "stress from gossip and bullying" raises red flags for me that the OP doesn't want to be held accountable for those concerns.

The OP mentions "the company" and multiple associated sites. This suggests to me that s/he works for a private provider like Bayshore, Revera or WeCare. Those companies' employees typically don't have union representation and are basically at-will employees. The chain of events is difficult to follow - one sentence says, "decided to resign" and then the next says, "terminated for refusing to resign".

As far as the complaint to the regulatory body, it's pro forma when someone is suspended or terminated for the employer to be required to notify the regulatory body. In this situation the complaint would be along the line of unskilled practice (medication errors and charting deficiencies) and may include unprofessional conduct (accountability). Once the regulatory body has the complaint, they investigate the complaint. This involves interviewing all pertinent parties, gathering documentation, re-interviewing if necessary and then interviewing the nurse involved. All of this takes a long time. Some investigations take 2 years to get to the hearing phase. For union members, assistance from their labour relations advisor begins with the initial suspension/termination. LRAs usually have a background in law and are quite adept at handling the entire matter.

The Canadian Nurses' Protective Society is a non-profit organization that most provinces have an arrangement with to provide professional liability protection - malpractice insurance, if you will. It doesn't cover LPNs, only RNs and NPs; Ontario and Québec nurses are not covered through their regulatory bodies but are eligible to obtain private coverage. Generally speaking, LPNs' malpractice insurance is provided by the Colleges of Licensed Practical Nurses and provides similar coverage. BUT! Liability insurance doesn't cover termination, with or without cause. The OP will have to find a labour lawyer willing to take the case, and pay for it out of pocket, if s/he plans to dispute the termination.

It would be unethical to leave this job off a résumé, and so would concealing a termination. That would be pouring gas on a fire. Not a good idea. Most employers want a reference from management with the most recent employer so it would come out anyway. The only way I can see out of this mess is to take steps NOW to overcome the knowledge deficits leading the the med errors and charting deficiencies, and to be able to prove that it's been done. So when asked about what led to the termination there's documentation that those reasons no longer exist.

She does state in her original post that she works in a hospital

[munchkins88]

Thank all of you for your advice. I take responsibility for my actions and my mistakes, which I know I had made. I understand I can't completly blame external factors such as bullying for what happened. I feel it did decrease any confidence I had. I felt I could never be good enough, no matter how much I worked on it and I really did try. Stress got the better of me and it screwed me in the end. I have decided to seek mental health treatment in hopes it might help in the future.

I have left out certain aspects of my story out becuase of fear mostly. I have no intentions of trying to blast the place I worked, I posted this for advice on how to move forward. I want to try nursing one more time before I throw in the towel.

I appreciate all the honesty I have received on here even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear. Thank you all. I will mention it in my resume with my most recent job.

[loriangel14, RN]

((((((Hugs)))))))) I hope you can overcome this. Mental health issues can make us do stuff that is hard to explain to others. Own up to your mistakes and take any help you can get. Try and enjoy Christmas.

[munchkins88]

Thank you. I am taking this time to reflect, recover and rediscover myself while I decide to continue practicing or not.

It took getting to this point to admit I needed help with my depression and anxiety. I am glad i have sought help and trying to work on my issues. I have started on an SSRI and hopefully it can help me. I already feel I have a clearer mind and it's only day 2 ☺

Happy holidays ☺