Definitely made mistake, now paying for it...

sweetnurse63, BSN, RN · May 5, 2011

Defeat is not an option!!!!!!! Although you are going through a storm right now 1996RN, remember the rain will end!!!! First of all, you must ask God to take over this burden for you and have faith and confidence that he will. Next, keep applying for jobs and accentuate your strengths and your positive qualities, because inspite of the negative, you can blow employers away with confidence and a great attitude. I know it is hard in this economy right now, but you have fifteen years of RN experience, someone will hire you!!! stay focused and I wish you the best. Med-surgical nursing and home health seem to have a lot of positions available.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · May 5, 2011

I've been a RN for 15 yrs and have been in the same specialty for 12 yrs. I've never had a problem getting a job, did travel nursing for a few years, and was at a day job for the past year. things got bad there- the management totally lost control and the ship was spiraling down the drain, so i jumped ship to the first thing i could get, which was a night shift. i've done years of night shifts, but now i have young children, and for some reason, my body and mind could not handle night shift anymore. i started getting physically ill due to the schedule. one day, i acted very stupidly and called and quit the job on the spot. i didn't even think i could do a final 2 weeks. first time i'd ever done that or left a job under bad terms. well this is a very large national corporation and i found out today that i'm not eligible for rehire. i understand that, but certainly nobody would understand my inability to work night shift anymore. day shift was not a possibility at this job. so i've been out of work for over a month now. i thought i would be able to immediately or soon find another job.
i feel just horrible about my stupid mistake. my specialty has always been in high demand but it's slowing down right now, and the few jobs that are out there are night shift. i'm behind on my bills, i'm super stressed, i am a single mom. please don't barrade me with criticism for being irresponsible. yes, i was and i know it. i've been on interviews for office jobs but not been hired. most jobs i apply for (which are out of my specialty because they are day shift) dont even call me for an interview. times are really getting bad. somebody help me out! there's a lot more to my story but i know from personal experience that coworkers or former coworkers have figured me out from this site and i've gotten in trouble for what i've said. so i hate to withold prime info, but i will be having stipulations on my license within the next couple of months for a one-time horribly bad event that i just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and i've been blamed for by the board of nursing. i am also awaiting my punishment.
so is that enough bad decision-making and a bad enough predicament for one person???
help.

I don't really have anything to add, but want to thank you for sharing your story. So many very young nurses do this and then are shocked to find out later that they cannot find work.

We work too hard at our careers to be out of work ....so please folks, head the experiences like the OP and work out your notice...some facilities may REQUIRE longer than a 2-week notice...mine actually requires 4 weeks if you want to be on rehire status unless you have a major life change that requires otherwise.

netglow, ASN, RN · May 5, 2011

I agree with what others have offered. I think all nurses should consider non bedside as much as bedside. Just with so many networks in my area at least, going through major merger/takeovers, that right there puts us on the chopping block. As they say, new national health plan or not, hospital nursing is jeopardy, and you think patients are being kicked out of the hospital quick now? Well, so much is moving to outpatient as reimbursement will continue to lessen, while, the hospital corporate owners want to see increase in revenue. I see major moves by some networks in my area laying the infrastructure to take in all that external revenue that is not inpatient related!!! That means a large scale navigation away from acute care inpatient nurse support. So consider all and every possible option where your RN might have use. Don't be afraid to get the heck out of the sinking ship too!

Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN · May 5, 2011

My heart goes out to your current predicament. *Though I can not offer any advice about the current situation with your license, I can provide some input with your job situation.
I'm sure that you're doing everything you can think but I just want to make sure you're exhausting all of your options.
I live in Middle Tennessee and as my username states I'm a LPN. The city I live in the majority of the hospitals no longer hire LPNs. So I have to look beyond the hospital setting for employment.
Sometimes I feel too many nurses develop tunnel vision when it comes to nursing and only look towards hospitals for employment.
Make sure you're exhausting all your options. Look to long term care facilities (which are plentiful and always need people), home health (with the growing cost of healthcare , this setting is currently booming), Hospice, Doctors offices and clinics (don't pay much but offer mon-fri day schedules with weekends and holidays off), mental health facilities, agency work, PRN jobs.
I can go on and on. *I know here in TN most LTC if you walk in off the street and ask if they are hiring the DON or whomever does the hiring will interview you on the spot. It's just up to you to followup. The most important thing is to keep an positive attitude and everything will work out in the end.
Good Luck!

There is some great advice in this post. I once lived in an area where there were 2 major hospital corporations and it seemed liked they owned everything, from nursing homes to speciality offices and they were everywhere! I remember quitting one (although I put in a 2week notice) and didnt feel management would be to polite with me, and I was fearful that I couldnt work for any of their facilities. The other large corp I worked for while I was in nursing school and I didnt want to go back there. I found the VA Hospital and the benefits and pay were excellent and they were huge! I have a friend who only works agencies. Another option was a Catholic hospital in the area (do you have any small private own hospitals in your area)? Have you tried governmentjobs.org (I think thats the webpage, if not google government jobs). Look into agencies, some LTCs, research centers, just apply everywhere you can, and pray. You may have to add some travel time to your commute, even an hour is worth it IMO. Something will come about. I wish you much luck and success!! :redpinkhe

trinarn94 · May 5, 2011

Hi!

I definitely agree with the last poster, in his recommendations....all good options...and as a nurse for 17 years, I have gone through both of the traumatic episodes that you are currently enduring. I made a fool of myself in a number of ways at several large facilities in my town. I was basically (at least I felt that way) blacklisted from being hired in my acute care specialty. I did exactly what the previous poster suggested. I took whatever I could find. I worked at several long term care facilities (sadly, I must say, that although I really enjoyed the geriatric population, that work as an RN for me was very difficult i.e. med nurse called in so I was med nurse and charge, being in "charge" of an entire facility on PM shift, poor CNA work performance, voluminous paperwork, etc, etc). However, it did keep the paychecks coming in. I eventually found a job I loved working at a residential treatment center for kids. The job was awesome fun (pay, not so much), but I really enjoyed it. I was hired on the spot without a look back at my previous job performance, and spotty job record. That job led to my current position which is as a behavioral health case manager. I have the most awesome job now, and have been here 6+ years. Pay and benefits are fabulous. Only down side is I'm really out of clinical nursing, so it makes it harder as I return to school for my MSN/DNP. I've also got experience with legal issues and diversion, and successfully concurred that several years ago. It's a long road, but just keep plugging away. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Trina

Old.Timer · May 5, 2011

had i continued on nights, i can assure you that i would have eventually reached the point of picking up the phone one day to announce that i could not continue to do it even for one more day. do not beat yourself up over that!!!

as we all would be, you are in emotional crisis right now. you know that, which is why you have reached out.

- contact your local community services board or similar provision for funded counseling in your area.

- make an appointment to see your pcp.

- contact, speak with, and attempt to make payment arrangements with an attorney specializing in board of nursing actions. now.

as silentfades suggested, "professional misplacement" can cause extreme emotional damage. it is appropriate to seek counseling services. if you need additional assistance in making your point re need for community counseling services, we can point you to some other threads on this board that will clearly do that.

personally, i am sick to death of hearing about this intimidating, life destroying, power that most bons seem to possess. obviously, some cases are very legitimate with regard to unsafe practices and there is absolutely a need to regulate practice. however, there are no restraints that i am aware of, on their ability to initiate investigations.

i swear, i am about one step away from becoming an active advocate for the provision of counseling services for all nurses undergoing investigation and/or action against their license. can we not at least provide that to our own colleagues; regardless of alleged culpability? i don't care how it is done, hell, add it as an option to contribute to a fund when paying to renew your license. kinda like they do when paying taxes and you're asked if wish to contribute to election fund or whatever it is called.

79Tango · May 5, 2011

I hate to say this but: Even if you found a job today, the pending board action will most likely delay your start date. We cannot hire anyone with an open/pending BON case. Its almost as if you are guilty until proven innocent.

Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN · May 5, 2011

OP - keep your head up. I totally understand the night shift thing - I worked it happily for years until I got pregnant with my second child. I found myself nodding off in those wee hours of the night - I was working home care so the pace was much slower than it was when I worked nights in the hospital. I did everything I could think of to stay awake, but knew I had to get off nights. Then I got rid of my abusive husband and was on my own with 3 small children - and knew then for sure I couldn't do nights anymore because there was no day care options for me. I would have taken a job at Walmart if I had to. There are times when I am so sick of nursing that that option comes to mind again :)

I was able to switch to day shift in home health, and then to school nursing. I would have been happy in an office or nursing home too. I had even thought of opening a day care for medically fragile children. Think outside the box. Anything to keep the bill collectors at bay.

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · May 5, 2011

I've been a RN for 15 yrs and have been in the same specialty for 12 yrs. I've never had a problem getting a job, did travel nursing for a few years, and was at a day job for the past year. things got bad there- the management totally lost control and the ship was spiraling down the drain, so i jumped ship to the first thing i could get, which was a night shift. i've done years of night shifts, but now i have young children, and for some reason, my body and mind could not handle night shift anymore. i started getting physically ill due to the schedule. one day, i acted very stupidly and called and quit the job on the spot. i didn't even think i could do a final 2 weeks. first time i'd ever done that or left a job under bad terms. well this is a very large national corporation and i found out today that i'm not eligible for rehire. i understand that, but certainly nobody would understand my inability to work night shift anymore. day shift was not a possibility at this job. so i've been out of work for over a month now. i thought i would be able to immediately or soon find another job.
i feel just horrible about my stupid mistake. my specialty has always been in high demand but it's slowing down right now, and the few jobs that are out there are night shift. i'm behind on my bills, i'm super stressed, i am a single mom. please don't barrade me with criticism for being irresponsible. yes, i was and i know it. i've been on interviews for office jobs but not been hired. most jobs i apply for (which are out of my specialty because they are day shift) dont even call me for an interview. times are really getting bad. somebody help me out! there's a lot more to my story but i know from personal experience that coworkers or former coworkers have figured me out from this site and i've gotten in trouble for what i've said. so i hate to withold prime info, but i will be having stipulations on my license within the next couple of months for a one-time horribly bad event that i just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and i've been blamed for by the board of nursing. i am also awaiting my punishment.
so is that enough bad decision-making and a bad enough predicament for one person???
help.

If you're looking for more specific advice, contact help desk to change your personal details and remove all posts under your former username. It seems disgusting to me that people cannot post anonymously on a forum, in which real names are not used, without being hounded for it. Where is the freedom of expression?

I cannot comment on the predicament you find yourself in; as you say, you cannot tell the whole story here, but have all my sympathies. One post has suggested you seek legal assistance, and I think that might be your best option. Good luck :)

noahsmama · May 5, 2011

One post has suggested you seek legal assistance, and I think that might be your best option. Good luck :)

I agree with this too -- if you haven't already done so, contact a lawyer!

Best of luck to you!

alphabetsoup · May 5, 2011

The golden question is, have you violated your state's Nurse Practice Act or any of the rules regarding your licensure? If so, you will have some consequences. If there are consequences, is there any chance for remediation? Not giving adequate notice is unprofessional, but I am not sure if it is cause for action against your license. Walking off the shift and abandoning patients however, is a different story. I think you need to speak with someone.

No Stars In My Eyes · May 6, 2011

I'm with you in spirit and can only offer that there are others of us here with you. The nsg. market pretty much tanks right now ; it's more like a nursing JOB shortage. I also have been searching and have received ZERO call-backs for ANY interviews. Working as a CNA; don't have kids, but do have bills that aren't getting enough attention, as my income suffers with my change in job status. Oh, if I had a magic wand. And oddly I'm thinking of those old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney where someone says "I know.....LET'S PUT ON A SHOW!" Meaning, wouldn't it be nice if we could band together a start a facility strictly for employing nurses working off their Board induced probation?