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So do I currently am not starting Monday, don’t know if the offer is withdrawn or if they’ll come to a conclusion and let me start later (which sucks because I am financially drowning and was counting on starting soon) .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