Feeling Reprimanded Unfairly

[tinybbynurse]

When I was 24 and barely starting out as a new RN, let alone in home health (terrible place to start out as an new nurse imo due to lack of experienced nurses nearby as on a unit/ dr office) , I ended up receiving a public reprimand as a result of that job. For privacy issues I wont dive in but I will say that I received the least amount of “punishment” possible, and it had nothing to do with stealing drugs or abusing a patient or anything like a felony. Truth is I worked for a crappy company whose mgmt used new nurses then threw them under the bus if it served them.

I was able to go on and work nursing jobs after that with no problem. If you don’t okie already, the BON takes YEARS to resolve your case. So I didn’t receive my “reprimand” until a few years later. When it did come to pass, my employer at the time was notified via nursys updates I believe, addressed the situation with me and I was allowed to continue to work, in the NICU, no problem whatsoever. It’s never affected my employment.

now I’m FOUR years out from the start of this horrific experience, a different person in my late 20’s, nursing experience under my belt - and upon moving to a new state last year, I had obtained a job and then lost it Bc my license hadn’t gone thru yet. Bc of the previous discipline, it took MONTHS to make it to the board meeting and be approved.

fast forward several months later, I literally land the SAME job, license in hand this time!! All to find out, just a few days before my start date, that they put my start date on hold, with possibility of rescinding my offer due to the results of the background check. I met all the conditions of my reprimand. My licenses were put in good standing. My new state license that id use to work here was completely free of any discipline hx since it’s a completely new license.

Not knowing whether this can resolved before Monday, I tried to return the NM phone call when she left a voicemail asking to speak to me, but over the course of two days, several calls, a couple voicemails and an email, she can’t be reached. Same with my local HR, until I finally got an email back with some vague explanation and passing me off to HR headquarters which I had previously called and were rude and passed me off to my local HR.

So do I currently am not starting Monday, don’t know if the offer is withdrawn or if they’ll come to a conclusion and let me start later (which sucks because I am financially drowning and was counting on starting soon) .

I have taken responsibility for my actions and even though I feel that my situation was unfair, I learned what I could from that reprimand. I do NOT think that I should still be “reprimanded” years later, especially when there are people who have done far worse and still manage to start working again!! How is this fair? Is this current employer being ridiculous or is it worth me applying to other hospitals? I’m considering a career change and am so lost.

Makes no sense that I was able to continue working with my previous employer without issue, without it affecting my employment but can’t get hired now.

I would appreciate any insight - thank you so much if you got this far in reading.

[Emergent, RN]

How frustrating. As my mother used to say to me: "Nobody promised you a fair world". (((hugs)))

[tinybbynurse]

I don’t need fair, I just need just. I try to remain positive about the nursing profession but I keep seeing all the things that are wrong with it at times like these...

[Emergent, RN]

2 minutes ago, tinybbynurse said:

I don’t need fair, I just need just. I try to remain positive about the nursing profession but I keep seeing all the things that are wrong with it at times like these...

It never hurts to apply elsewhere. Probably being prepared to explain the situation in the interview would be wise. Plenty of nurses with marks on their records are able to stay gainfully employed.

[tinybbynurse]

While I was previously awaiting licensure, I had communicated to the NM and HR the reason why ... (that I was waiting for my case to be sent to the board to approve my licensure) . There’s been a turnover of NM, so maybe the new one wasn’t aware like the last? But HR was, the same person I corresponded with previously is the one I’ve corresponded with this go around of hiring - and they are the ones who ultimately deal with the politics and rules and regulations of hiring.

Ive heard of people with DUIs on their record getting jobs... those with past narcotic stealing getting jobs... so I’m wondering if it could just be this hospital’s system as opposed to another’s, but I don’t know.

[TriciaJ, RN]

You have to realize that this isn't based on a formal decision by any human person. The info gets plugged into the system, and the system does its thing. Communicating with actual people is marginally effective, because they can't alter the "system" and they rarely communicate with one another.

The new nurse manager is likely unaware of what is happening and is probably getting up to speed on a hundred other things. HR won't stir themselves; they're not personally affected by your financial situation or a unit working short.

I personally think state boards of nursing need more oversight than they're getting; they operate as a law unto themselves and their victims have little recourse.

I would keep applying to other jobs and explain the situation in an interview. I would also send an email to the new NM explaining the situation.

Good luck!

[tinybbynurse]

Thanks. I agree with everything you said. I do think the boards of nursing need to be rethought / rearranged, but that’s a whole other post. I wouldn’t be surprised if the NM gets around to returning my calls or e-mail, and I may very well send another email this weekend explaining the situation. Maybe I’ll still be able to start later, but it’s pretty screwed up that no one could answer their phone this week to resolve it now, so I could start orientation on this Monday instead of having to wait another month for a hospital orientation start date.

we’ll see what happens.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

22 hours ago, tinybbynurse said:

I don’t need fair, I just need just. I try to remain positive about the nursing profession but I keep seeing all the things that are wrong with it at times like these...

Never had to do it - but I believe there is a way to get your name taken off the Nursys. Is it possible you are on the OIG Exclusion list? You can also get taken off that list if your case has been resolved. Might be worth looking into before continuing to look for work.

Best of luck

Hppy

[tinybbynurse]

I’ll look into that, thanks!

does anyone have a word on showing up to HR and asking questions? Since I haven’t got a clear answer via email and no one will return my calls. Should I just show up and ask to speak to someone? Not rudely of course, but to get some clarification.

[tinybbynurse]

Update: believe me I’d rather not just walk in but I just called HR almost an hour ago, and someone specific is supposed to call me back but she was with someone, so the person I spoke to left a note/msg for her. I am literally sitting in my car nauseous to my stomach waiting for a call back wondering if I should drive there. Legally they do owe me a written explanation for why they don’t hire me if they choose not to.

Also, I signed the release for the background check as soon as I received the email, which stated it is complete within 7-10 business days. If that’s true, The background check was complete 2 weeks BEFORE I was told last minute that my start date was delayed, leaving me scrambling to resolve things so I could start orientation the following Monday (which here I sit on that Monday. Not at orientation ..seems fishy. )

if this is a bit of a rant I apologize but I do NOT deserve to be denied a job over this. It is NOT right to make a nurse feel like a criminal from a simple minor NON criminal mistake, if you’d even call it that, early in her career. It’s demoralizing and disruptive to her life and I want to advocate for laws being changed to expunge stuff like that from nurses’ records in ALL states.

[joe007]

Medicine and nursing is very corrupt. That's why CYA is always cited. Additionally, never go into a manager's office without your smart phone recording the convo. They like to have a manager and someone else in there as their witness when they do throw you under the bus... your only proof is audio of the convo. Anyhow, sorry that happened to you.

[tinybbynurse]

I appreciate your sentamint so very much. I agree that nursing and medicine are definitely corrupt. I really am not a negative person! I’ve been so happy and excited about getting into this position. I think nursing is great. But I don’t think it’s so great to be disrespected or not allowed a real chance to state your case. Everywhere is supposed to be an “equal opportunity employer” but I’m not so sure.

i finally got in touch with a HELPFUL person from HR HEADQUARTERS. local HR still didn’t return my call. Hm. They actually let me know my options. Multiple parties are the final decision makers on whether this affects my employment or not. I’m allowed to submit extra info / explanation helpful in determining the outcome. So I did. And cced everyone potentially involved. It shouldn’t be a matter of “talking to a friendly helpful person in HR” to find out your rights and options.... I’ve also found that to be the case when corresponding with the BON. If you get the wrong person on the other line, you risk not getting accurate info that is in your favor that affects your career. It shouldn’t be a matter of calling at the right time to get the right person on the line (after being on hold for minutes on end) who actually does their job, ya know?

And honestly once I got a fresh new license in this state, which took me months to get because the BON had to approve it Bc of my discipline hx.... you’d think that’d be enough for an employer. If the BON did the dirty work of scoping me out and approves the issuing of my license, shouldn’t it be a breeze from there to hire me? ?

I truly want to at some point advocate in some way for nurses who undergo unfair scrutiny.