Definitely made mistake, now paying for it...

[1996RN]

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.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

You did what you had to do for your sanity.

Re-vamp your CV and contact all the nursing agnecies around you. You will get something I'm sure. And you can work your own hours, days, etc, not be so stressed and spend time for urself and ur kids.

Call all ur creditors and explain ur situation. They should negotiate a payment plan with you, and take if from there. Apply for any job even if you do not think you are completely eligible.

Let us know how you get on and stay positive!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Agree with the poster that advised contacting a lawyer. You are very wise not to disclose details on the Internet.

[NurseHopefulInOH]

I just wanted to say I totally understand what you mean about the night shift. I worked nights PRN for a little while so I thought I could handle them when I got changed from seconds to 12 hrs nights. I became depressed and found myself working slower and taking longer to figure things out. I was worn out and cranky even on my days off. Nights just arent for everyone! I too am now looking for work. I have had some luck getting PRN jobs but nothing days and full time yet. Good luck!

[DH.nurse]

I think you should research what financial support / services you may be eligible for in your state because you have children and are unemployed. At the same time, keep looking for a job... not necessarily in nursing right now. I'm sure that no nurse could ever imagine herself/himself ever being in the position of needing assistance, foodstamps, whatever, but things happen. You've got kids and you have to pull yourself up and do what needs to be done! Things will work out and things will get better! Please keep us posted....

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

I am sorry you are going through this. I work nights and have worked with many people over the years who could not adjust to the schedule. It was much more difficult for me when my (now 20 year old) child was small. At least back then I was still married. I could not have done it as a single parent.

I too know all too well about making impulsive decisions about my career. I was down-sized out of my job a few years ago and had to take a transfer I didn't want. I was not happy and looked for another job with a different hospital...big mistake. I HATED that job. I was miserable and was contemplating just quitting when my current job just sort of fell in my lap. I now work in a prison. I never ever thought about corrections nursing but one day I ran into an old acquaintance who was a prison DON and was looking for a nurse. She begged me to come work for her and I was so miserable at my job that I thought "Why not?"

The acuity is pretty low most of the time although every once in a while you get a true medical emergency. For me it was the perfect job to have while I was going through my divorce. You have to be professional at all times but you do not have to worry about Press-Ganey scores and getting dinged for not having a smile on your face as you hold someone's emesis basin.

I do not plan on staying in corrections forever but it is a comfortable enough job to stay in while I look for a job in my preferred area of nursing. You might check local jails or prisons and see if they have any openings.

Good luck. I hope you land a job soon.

[caliotter3]

Can't emphasize enough that you need legal help. Since you will not be able to get hired with your license in question, best to start looking for anything to keep the wolf from the door. Best wishes.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Ok, I am going to play Devil's Advocate here...

Nowhere in the Nurse Practice Act of any state, does it state you have to give a notice or cannot just up and quit a job as long as you have NOT accepted a patient assignment and you are not abandoning a patient.

That is not recommended if you want to be rehired at your current employer or if you want a good reference, but there is no law in any state requiring any nurse to do so.

With that said, employers have other rights, they have the LEGAL right to pass along any FACTUAL, OBJECTIVE information to your future employer if they call for a reference.

Now, people are going to post, "Oh, they can't in my state!"

I can assure you, THEY CAN!! Don't confuse common, employer pratice to reduce personal liability, with what is legal or illegal.

If you cannot find a job because they are sharing that information with employers that calls for a reference, that is not illegal folks!

Example:

General Hospital Calling Memorial Hospital for a reference on Jane Doe:

General: We are calling to verify dates of employment for Jane Doe.

Memoral: Sure...can you please fax over her authorization to our HR Dept? (here is where Memorial may ask for documentation that Jane signed during her application with General that gives General permission to check her references).

General: We have that Jane worked from 1/1/2000 to 5/1/2011 and had a position as a Registered Nurse?

Memorial: Yes, we can verify those dates and position as accurate.

General: Is Jane eligibile for rehire?

Memorial: No, she is not.

General: Could you please state the reason?

Memorial: Yes, according to our records, Jane submitted a two-week WRITTEN notice on 4/30/11 to terminate her employment effective 5/15/11. Jane voluntarily terminated her employment on 5/1/11. It is our policy that if a notice is submitted and not worked, employee is not eligible for rehire.

General: Ok, thank you.

Memorial: You are welcome

*****************

That is how it works. 100% Legal. 100% Factual.

Jane cannot sue Memorial Hospital for anything because Memorial DID NOT slander Jane. They stated truthful facts. The facts of the case that she gave a notice and then quit the next day and they can PROVE those events happened in that exact order. Memorial shared that information with someone that Jane gave authorization to in order to check her references, which Memorial can also prove.

No grounds for a lawsuit.

That is why I posted earlier that you have to think long and hard about quitting a job without working out your notice, because what happened to the OP can happen to you.