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

[Allie94]

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!

[Lisacar130]

I wouldn't have someone pose as an old manager because when they do a reference check they will call the NH directly either way, and could easily figure out that the name you gave them was not actually ever a manager. Even if you say they no longer work there, they will call the NH anyway in addition to whatever number you give them for the old manager. If you give them a friend's number as the NH's number, they would easily figure that out. NH phone numbers are easy to google and I'm pretty sure that would be found out. I'm pretty sure you would not get into any legal trouble, but you would have any job offer rescinded and if that organization is affiliated with other healthcare organizations, you could get blacklisted for that.

[Lisacar130]

Your employment history stays at the NH under your employee file, and that is what the reference check will be after, and that is why they will always call the NH directly. Managers come and go.

[caliotter3]

Who you list as your reference is your choice. Don't confuse that choice with the listing of former supervisors for each job entry. When they call to check with the employers, they might ask for the supervisor of the unit anyway. When they call your references, they know that they are going to talk to someone of your choosing. You can't 'choose' who the supervisor of the unit is going to be at the time the call is made. Don't overthink all of this.

[Daisy Joyce]

Why can't I find a job where I have that much downtime?

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

It happened. But the co worker didn't see actual intercourse. Therefore she'd be lying as well. Sure, she saw the putting of the shirts back on and of course that gave it away but to say she saw us in the act would be a LIE.

I think you should consider a legal career! (Based on the comment above)

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

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?

Whenever you list someone as a reference, you should always contact them to ask permission to list them as a reference and give them a heads up a call will be coming. You made a dumb mistake. Just don't ever do anything like that again. However, it should not prevent you from becoming a nurse. Why don't you contact your supervisor from that job and ask her how to handle this - would she be a reference, what she will say, etc? it sure doesn't hurt to ask. I think most of us have done dumb things when we were young. Learn from this and don't do it again.