Can not even express how greatful I would be for some input. My livelyhood depends on it.

Specialties Management

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I want to try to keep this brief because I don't want anyone to lose interest and not answer.

I'm not a manager but I really need help from some of you who are managers. I was at the same acute care inpatient hospital job for the last 20 years. I made 3 med errors in a short period of time. None of them brought harm to a patient, but I'm not attempting to minimize my errors. I was put on adminsitrative leave for a day and was being brought in for a meeting the following day. I knew they were planning to terminate me, so I resigned.

I really need to work. I'm am the sole provider in my family and now I don't know how I'm going to get another job. I'm seriously having a nervous breakdown over this. I really am a good nurse. Can anyone tell me how to get another job when I did not leave on good terms, as in (not eligible for rehire)? How do I get another manager to hire me?

With the exception of several years experience in home care- that position I held spanned my entire career. I can't not put it on an application.

Any advice? Honestly, I'm desperate and would be so greatful for any input. Thank you.

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As a hiring manager, I am not going to lie to you...it might be tough to get what you are wanting. 20 years of experience holds a lot of weight but I do not know your educational background or what kind of errors you made. I find it hard to believe that an organization would let an experienced RN go over unintentional med errors unless there was a pattern of negligent behavior or other circumstances. Do not get me wrong, I am not accusing you of anything...just trying to give you some insight as to how a manager thinks.

If you get an interview it is likely that the organization for which you are applying will call the HR department to ask 1. How long were you employed, 2. Are you eligible for rehire. If you do not put down your manager as a reference, it is unlikely they will contact that person directly.

My advice would be to be open and honest about what happened and your plan to make things better in the future. Do not mention that you thought you would be "fired" unless it is brought up in the interview. When asked why you are leaving your current organization make sure you have an answer that is non judgmental of the previous organization and does not paint you in a bad light. Always focus on what you learned. Most organizations are moving away from the disciplinary approach because that encourages people to not speak up when they make a mistake. Fostering a non-punitive just culture allows for people to be open and honest about the mistakes they make so everyone can learn. However, there is a difference between a unintentional oversight and a blatant disregard for policy and procedure.

You may want to consider looking at less desirable career options such as a nursing home or home health if you need an income immediately. Good luck!

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I really appreciate your feedback. Everything you said is what I figured. I'm just nervous about the "not eligible for rehire". That kind of says it all. I would think any hiring manager would not need details after that. I mean, if someone is not eligible for rehire, they must have done something seriously wrong. I just want to get past all of it. I really did learn from the experience and nothing of the kind will happen again. The director of another department that was formally my manager 10 years ago said I could give her name and she would give my a good reference. So, I'm just hoping they would call her and not HR.

I sincerely believe that if I wasn't at the top of the pay scale and receiving benefits based on my 20 years with the hospital, that my mistakes would not have caused the same results. I am not minimizing my mistakes, but I just wish I could have had another chance. I am a good nurse and I know I can prove it.

Thank you for responding.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

My old hospital had a policy where if you left for whatever reason: fired, quit, retired, etc you were listed as DNR. It's not always a death sentence. If you look on threads here so so so many nurses have been fired, some multiple times. It's not the end of your nursing career. Just hang in there!

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Thank you so much! I needed to hear that. I hope you're right.

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There is life after being a clinician. I too found myself making mistakes and was "let go" several weeks ago. After coming to terms with this I utilized the local employment office resources to "rebrand" myself and was recently offered a position as a manager. I don't want to say more in order to protect all, but look in different places. Rebrand yourself to use your knowledge in other areas. I started looking at the insurance industry and then clicking on everything non-clinical. There are unusual sources out their that we never knew existed. Good luck. I look forward to hearing your about your success. In the meantime I have homework to do, which is why I'm on this blog. Merry Christmas & a prosperous New 2015.

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Thank You. I'm going to do home care for now. The pay is almost half of what I was making, but it is a job.

So, you mean you got a job as a manager outside the healthcare field?

Thanks for replying to my post. I hope I can share a success story with you in the near future. Thanks.

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I'm just nervous about the "not eligible for rehire". That kind of says it all. I would think any hiring manager would not need details after that. I mean, if someone is not eligible for rehire, they must have done something seriously wrong. I just want to get past all of it. I really did learn from the experience and nothing of the kind will happen again. The director of another department that was formally my manager 10 years ago said I could give her name and she would give my a good reference.

RN94, as you've stated, you have learned a lot from this experience. That is what a prospective employer wants to here, that you made a mistake and have grown from it and will work not to make the same mistakes at their organization. Regarding the "do not rehire", I was told that the company policy at my last job was for anyone leaving who did not give a full 2weeks notice would not be eligible to return. Just an example of something that is not "seriously wrong" as you stated.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to put your 20 year career on your resume! Just be prepared to answer questions in a way that puts you in a positive light and doesn't point fingers/speak negatively about your previous employment.

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Specializes in hospice.

When asked why you left your previous job, say you found yourself in need of a change. After 20 years in the same place, it's certainly believable, and I'm sure that that sudden pattern of errors could be an indicator that it was true. Not a lie, not full of details.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I cannot say that I would or would not hire you because I have no idea what happened, what your role in the error was, and what the outcome for you as a profession was (outside of employment change).

None of us is perfect and shizzle happens sometimes, that is why we have .

Build your resume. Focus on your strengths. Contemplate the specifics of what happened and find the "story" that will represent you best when you tell it to prospective employers while still being honest about the events.

Many of us have been on DNR lists and manage to have long, productive, and enjoyable careers regardless.

Good luck.

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