Fired. How Do I get rehired?

[pppp87]

It's been 4 long weeks since I lost my job. I was terminated after 15 months working on a step down unit. I had 3 writeups total during my employment all related to not completing education on time. One was a module, one was a skills check off, the last was my BLS card was not renewed on time.

I take full responsibility and have made no excuses in interviews. I talk about how I learned from my mistake and am was actually up to date with all of my education on the day of my termination. I made a binder in November after my last write up and was keeping up with the quizzes and modules. I have never had my marks against me for patient care, have my BLS, ACS, working on step down certification, and just had my annual evaluation in February with nothing but positive remarks about my patient care but unfortunately marks against me keeping up with education.

I graduated with honors, have always been responsible, but for whatever reason just didn't deem the mandated education that important. I studied on my days off, I would always eventually completely the education, but not always on time. I understand where I messed up and willing to change that.

I didn't think this mistake would haunt me as much. But the only other major hospital system in my city is BIG on education. I have interviewed with 3 managers at 3 of their different hospitals and they all have stressed their focus on education. The interview always seems to go downhill after I talk about my termination. I try to present myself as a clinically sound nurse who just was not negligent with the mandatory education on our unit. I am sooo depressed and frustrated!! I miss patient care. I miss working.

3 back to back interviews that all seemed to end on a negative note has deterred my confidence so much! I get so nervous during the interviews, even if I'm well prepared. I feel like I am having to relive the shame of being fired every time I'm interviewed. No manager has seemed to have mercy or understanding. They all look at me like I have a 3rd eye when I bring up my termination.

I have at least one more manager to meet with but I want to try to have this one end positively at least.

Any advice on how I can bounce back from this termination? ::desperate::

[traumagirll99]

Most of us have been in your situation in one way or other during our nursing careers. It hurts to have to admit our mistakes, but you sound like you have taken responsibility for what happened and that in my opinion is the most important step in finding a new place of employment. Good luck and hang in there.

[toomuchbaloney]

Step one: Forgive yourself.

Step two: stand in front of the mirror and practice speaking about your termination everyday. Be snooty about it, be funny about it, be sad about it, be crazy about it, but talk about it until you feel no shame in having the words come out of your mouth.

Step three: forgive yourself again.

Step four: keep applying and interviewing

[Nurse_]

Find the root of the problem. What made you not want to complete a module, do the skills check, or renew your BLS on time? It's easy to say you're taking responsibility but knowing why it happened in the first place will hopefully prevent you from being in the same dilemma.

Don't talk about it. If not ask, don't bring it up.

IF you have to talk about it. Make your answers short. Use "Let go" instead of fired.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hiring managers are more wary of behavioral patterns than 'one of' mistakes because they indicate a larger problem. Failure to meet important deadlines, especially after repeated warnings? Well, that is indicative of some huge baggage that the hiring manager just doesn't want to deal with. It gives the impression that you would have no problems ignoring the rules. They just don't want to take on any more problems.

Non-compliance with mandatory education, especially critical issues such as maintaining BLS - can result in major consequences for both the organization and the individual. If (heaven forbid) you are involved in a clinical incident, the plaintiff's attorney will subpoena training & competency records of all staff involved. If your clinical judgement/performance is ever called into question, a record of non-compliance with job requirements will paint you in a very bad light.

You are probably not going to be able to "bounce back". You may need to earn your way back - probably by accepting a less desirable position and establishing a solid work record to demonstrate your improved reliability.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Find the root of the problem. What made you not want to complete a module, do the skills check, or renew your BLS on time? It's easy to say you're taking responsibility but knowing why it happened in the first place will hopefully prevent you from being in the same dilemma.

I agree: you need to find and fix the problem. Was is a problem with time management? Were you not motivated to do it? Did you dislike the instructor/content/etc? Did you simply forget? Also--and you brought this up in your post--exactly WHY did you feel that the education was not that important?

It's easy to give lip service with the "I take full responsibility..." but employers are going to want to know exactly what changes you've made to ensure that it doesn't happen again. And it looks like just making a binder wasn't enough. So self-assess and see what exactly went wrong and what is your (more) concrete plan to change your behavior.

Also keep in mind that this job market sucks. You're competing against a lot of nurses who don't have a termination on their record, which puts you at some disadvantage. Not necessarily fair, I know...but it is what it is. It's not saying getting a job will be impossible, just a lot tougher.

Good luck.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Agreed. Hopefully, someone will overlook this and give you a chance. Three related write ups in a short period of time does not work in your favour.

Be prepared to discuss why this happened and how you plan to ensure your requirements will be met in the future. In general, how do you plan to demonstrate accountability in your practise?

[nursepenelope]

Ppp87, don't worry about it. That's what u got fired for? Is that really what u got fired for? Keep doing what ur doing. Ull get another job.

[jrt4]

If I am being honest...if I had multiple candidates to choose from and this was discovered on interview or while reviewing the application..I probably would not go there. I agree with a previous poster. You may have to take a less desirable position (clinic, nursing home, home health). It may take a few years of longevity with an employer on your resume for me to call for an interview. One word of advice...do not bounce between jobs after this experience. Take a position and stick with it. If I see termination due to the reasons you stated and job hopping you wouldn't get in the door. Don't give up!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Merged duplicate threads.

Hopefully you've made progress on both addressing this problem and on the job search.

[nursepenelope]

Jrtaylor, are you a nurse manager?

[nursepenelope]

Pppp87, like I said before...you will get another job. Keep applying. You do not have to state that you were fired during your interview. And I don't think the old manager can state that you were fired...just that you worked there.