Could the reason I got fired from my last job affect becoming a nurse

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Okay...so last year I worked at an assisted living center. I'm young, I was 21 at the time and made a very very very poor choice of being intimate with a fellow co worker while at work. Long story short, we got caught and were fired. I'm worried that when I start to apply for a nursing position and they call former employee's, they will find out from my ex employer that whole story. I've read that former employers can say anything about you, but usually choose what they say wisely due to defamation. Should I be worried that I'll never get hired??? I am guilty of overthinking things and this is a worry I can't seem to shake. I don't want a potential employer to think they will have to worry about my shacking up with a co worker in an on call room. I don't think my former boss would say the reason I was fired, but you can never be to sure. I really hope this did not ruine my chances of finding a nursing position! Does anyone have any words that could put my mind at ease? It would be much appreciated!

Specializes in NICU.
That's fine. Your opinion on my integrity means nothing to me. But I am curious, what would you say in my position during an interview? Would you willingly say "I had sex at work?" I'm sure you won't answer because you some like the type of person to reply..."I would never put myself in that position because I have such high integrity." If you have never made a poor decision in your life espiecally while young, congrats to you!

Ah, here comes the attitude.

OP, it was a year ago. You were 21. You're not going to get very far playing this "I was so much younger then" card. And frankly? When I was 21, I was working nights as a CNA, and no, I would never have done anything like this. 21 is plenty old enough to have a sense of professionalism and responsibility. And in fact, it should matter to you what other people think of your integrity. Nurses consistently rank high or highest in public polls of trustworthy professionals, so like it or not, integrity is going to be something that is expected of you as a nurse.

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Specializes in Case manager, float pool, and more.
it should matter to you what other people think of your integrity. Nurses consistently rank high or highest in public polls of trustworthy professionals, so like it or not, integrity is going to be something that is expected of you as a nurse.

Absolutely. While you can say you have learned and grown from this, honesty and integrity matter. As RubyVee said, not really lying is also not really honest either.

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So explain to me what you would expect me to say in an interview? Are you saying you believe I will never get a nursing position because of this mistake?

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I agree. Honesty and integrity is important. Along with many other things. I made a poor choice and I cannot take it back. What I am asking is what you think is expected. I do not believe this ruined my chances of being a nurse. It very well may cause issues with some employers depending on how far they look into references.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Just a couple thoughts:

1. I really hope you learned from this lesson and I'm not sure you have. I say this because of your response to other posters that kind of comes off as... immature. Please really take that into consideration.

2. Many hospital systems have applications that allow you to fill in who can be contacted. Do you have somebody who can serve as a reference from this company despite what happened? I left a job suddenly (same day notice) and certainly couldn't use any manager as a reference but I did use another RN (who I trusted) as a reference. The last company I worked for also had a policy of no references from managers and HR would literally only verify employment dates. However, the hospital system I work for sends out those emailed employee surveys and I had to have two responses from my current job, so I ended up using a fellow RN and a MD.

3. Like I said before, I left a position same day and I haven't had a problem finding employment. However, it wasn't ever discussed in my interview. However, keep in mind that the nursing world can be a small world and managers may know each other and talk amongst themselves. I don't know if that is legal or not, but I know it happens. If it does come up, honesty is the best policy, but think about your language describing the event. If anything, you can even write out a statement ahead of time and reheorifice your response.

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Thank you. I appreciate your advice! There is one supervisor I could list but they do not work there anymore and they were not able to fire anyone, so wouldn't it be wrong to use them as a reference?

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Most places ask you to list at least two direct supervisors so could you use two from another job? Have you had a job since then? If not, start working on that. I had to put down five for my last application and only three were direct supervisors. Usually it'll ask who the reference was to you, i.e. subordinate, peer, supervisor, etc.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
So explain to me what you would expect me to say in an interview? Are you saying you believe I will never get a nursing position because of this mistake?

MISTAKE? A mistake is when you pick up the pepper shaker rather than the salt shaker and use it on your grapefruit. A mistake is when you put the ice cream in the microwave and the popcorn in the freezer. "Mistake" trivializes what you've done. "Bad judgement" or "Poor choice" covers the situation better than "mistake."

I'm not saying that you'll never et a nursing job. Someone somewhere may be desperate enough to hire you. Someone may decide to give you another chance. What I am saying is that integrity doesn't seem to be your strong suit. Nurses ought to have integrity.

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Specializes in ER.

Anyone who says that blurting out the uncensored truth about past transgressions in our lives is a good idea, is not giving wise advice.

And, 21 is very young. I never would have committed this particular transgression, but I was fairly foolish at that age.

The OP has admitted her guilt, I agree with trying to move on and put as positive of a spin on this as possible. Don't confide in ANYONE about this. Keep on accruing a solid work history and definitely clean up your act and become an upstanding citizen.

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I currently work at a facility where we take care of kids who have developmental disabilities. I have been here a little over a year. I've only had 3 jobs. Dollar General (while in high school), the place I got fired from I worked there for 6 months. The job I am currently at has been my longest. I do not worry about them contacting this company because I have been nothing but a great employee and never made the poor choice I made that costed me my last job. I feel I should use the supervisor who fired me considering the other supervisor did not have that authority. I know I'd get a good reference from them because I have stayed in contact since the incident. The supervisor who fired me did whoever say nice things and hated that she had terminate me BUT I know when they call she is obligated to tell whatvever she wants. Especially if they ask if I'm eligible for rehire. If she says no and they want her to elaborate I know she has the right to do so.

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I currently work at a facility where we take care of kids who have developmental disabilities. I have been here a little over a year. I've only had 3 jobs. Dollar General (while in high school), the place I got fired from I worked there for 6 months. The job I am currently at has been my longest. I do not worry about them contacting this company because I have been nothing but a great employee and never made the poor choice I made that costed me my last job. I feel I should use the supervisor who fired me considering the other supervisor did not have that authority. I know I'd get a good reference from them because I have stayed in contact since the incident. The supervisor who fired me did whoever say nice things and hated that she had terminate me BUT I know when they call she is obligated to tell whatvever she wants. Especially if they ask if I'm eligible for rehire. If she says no and they want her to elaborate I know she has the right to do so.

You need to realize that you are obsessing over a hypothetical situation in the future. This thread is actually allowing you to continue obsessing. You should speak with your provider about your state of mind.

Work on getting accepted to nursing school and move forward.

Best wishes.

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Just to add to the PM I sent you...

The job you have right now certainly checked your references, and you were hired. So you already know that they didn't say anything bad!

Everywhere I know of only answers the question of dates of employment and title held. Except...if the hospital or NH is part of a larger healthcare corporation, and you apply at an affiliated organization within the same system. That is the only time I know of when they will answer the "are you rehireable" question. As long as you apply elsewhere, you should be good.

Even if you put your old manager as a reference, they almost always have a policy to immediately direct the call to HR, who then only confirms dates and titles held. They are all so afraid of being sued by old employees.

And yes you can put an old supervisor on as a reference even if they don't work there anymore.

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