Fired. How To Get Over It.

Nurses Career Support Nursing Q/A

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.
Fired. How To Get Over It.

I've been an RN for over 30 years. I was terminated for the first time in my nursing career for starting an IV on a patient without having completed the IV competency. Patient was not injured and they even kept my IV site and infusion going after I had left.

I have over 30 years of infusion and hi-tech IV experience. The organization posted a complaint to the Nursing State Board that I had maliciously and incompetently performed these actions. I think this should have been a written disciplinary action.

There was an investigation and the Nursing Board found I did nothing outside the scope of my practice, or dangerous enough to warrant my license being suspended or disciplinary action. I did break policy and it was an error in judgement I admit. 

I have secured another job. There was never anything asked on the employment app about previous terminations. But, I worry that the employer learns of my firing and terminates me. Could they?

How do I get rid of this scared/apprehensive feeling? 

How to I respond if in the future I am asked by an employer?

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

35 Answers

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
rninformatics said:

How do I get rid of this scared/apprehensive feeling? 

When we receive negative ramifications as a result of our actions, no matter the intention of our actions, we often feel as there's something wrong with us. Our perception of ourselves and reality become blurry and clouded and fear sets in.

There are two ways to overcome these feelings of fear. First, we need to believe in ourselves and make our opinion prominent. If we acted with forethought and for the betterment of others and/or the situation, then we did what was right.

Henry David Thoreau said that the one person who was more right than his neighbors represented a majority of one. We who swim against the accepted stream of the majority in numbers have to deal with the ramifications thereof. In the end, it is we who are more comfortable with ourselves while others continue to phrenetically do things like play power games in search of comfort.

The other thing we can do to overcome fear is follow the teaching of Edgar Cayce and "see the ridiculous yet funny side of every situation". Easier said than done, but the method works, and my life and experiences are the proof in the pudding.

Good luck and the best to you, rninformatics.

I told a hiring manager at an interview a few years ago that if they contacted a particular previous employer that they likely wouldn't hear stellar things about me. I also gave a quick description of a few of their practices we didn't see eye to eye on. The manger told me she agreed with my point of view and had no interest in their opinion of me she was happy with her own. 

I think it is likely if you had mentioned this incident at your interview their response would have been something along the lines of "that is ridiculous, but our gain". You'r BON already closed the matter, unless you apply for a job that specifically asks if you have ever been fired I would not mention it, but given what happened I don't think it would be much of an issue if you did disclose it.

You are highly skilled in IV placement. It would come natural to place a  line. Where was your preceptor? If you were going against policy, that would be on them. You have another job. Let it all go... work on that job... or as you have 30 years in our field, might be time to let all the bs go. Retirement is fun.

Best wishes.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Holy cow. I'm so sorry!

I was fired from a management job 2 years ago. I had been there less than 4 months. Was hired by the interim director. Six weeks after I started, they hired a permanent director, who then fired me, saying I wasn't a good fit, and she had someone else in mind for my position.

It was pretty devastating, as it was the first time I had ever been fired in my nursing career. It took getting hired at another management job, and excelling at it (as I had excelled at every leadership job I had held previously) to realize it was them, not me.

I have never been asked if I've ever been terminated from a position when applying for a nursing job. The only thing I've been asked is if I have any sanctions (is that what it's called?) against my license (I don't and never have). And I've just made the decision to erase that 4 month period from my work history. I don't mention it on applications, it's not on my resume. Nobody has asked. It has not hindered me at all. 

You have a new job, so just put it behind you. I'm sorry that happened.

I'm sorry this happened, too. It sounds ridiculous.

rninformatics said:

I did break policy and it was an error in judgement I admit. 

While knowingly going against a policy is not a good idea as a matter of routine, we don't always have to "own up" in this way. It is well within the scope of an RN to initiate an IV when ordered and I get that they had a policy that supercedes or is at least relevant here, but come on. Life's too short to spend any more time worry about this or feeling bad about yourself.

They chose to be petty, who knows why, consider it a blessing.

Take care ~

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I committed a med error that resulted in pt harm, was sued, successfully and have a judgement against me from a malpractice settlement. That occurred in 2007. I still am apprehensive every single time I prescribe this particular med. I ALWAYS look it up just to give me peace of mind. 

Many years later, this extra attention to detail has served me well - I've not made further med errors that I'm aware of. 

So...for me, the moral of the story is that even though I made a very serious error, caused a pt irreparable damage (as well as collateral damage to the family), it made me a much more cautious provider. 

Being more attentive has in the end, helped me. I wish you the best of luck in your new career

 

Specializes in Med-Surg, Developmental Disorders.

I've heard of LVN's having to take a specific IV certification course before the facility lets them start IV's, but I never heard of RN's having to do this. 

In fact, I remember as a new nurse at a SNF and not receiving an orientation to the floor taking the opportunity to also sign up for the IV certification course some of the LVN's were taking since I was bad with IV's. But not going to this course would not have changed my facility's expectation that I start an IV on a dehydrated, combative, elderly resident on the first try with no bruising. 

Your many years of experience tells me that your former workplace just wanted to hire someone new and cheaper. 

Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

So sorry that happened to you! I can't tell you how to get over the feeling, but I think that your opening "I've been an RN for 30 years", says WAY more about you and your competence than the people that decided to fire you for a check box. 

I was fired almost six years ago after less than a month on orientation in my first acute care job. I was told that I didn't have the critical thinking to be an acute care nurse and I should just go back to my long term care facility. I knew I wasn't perfect, but I didn't expect that. My confidence definitely took a hit, and with mine being the sole salary for our family of five at that time, I was a little panicked for a few days. But, within two weeks I was offered another position and it was the best move I ever made.

I'm sure that your new position will work out better and this will be nothing but a little bump in your road very soon!

Specializes in Case Manager, Solid Organ Transplant Coordinator.

I do not know the employers side, but I believe the employer went overboard with reporting the matter to the state board. The boards have enough to deal with and this appeared to be more of a control issue than patient safety. If a nurse has not completed a necessary competency, don't allow them to come to work. To terminate them and report to the state board seems malicious and retaliatory.  
To answer your question, own your part in it, which I'm sure you have done, then focus on the 30 great years you have dedicated to our profession. All things work together for the good. This is no reflection of the care you provide. 

Specializes in BSN, RN, CVRN-BC.

That employer was looking for a reason to get rid of you.  I can think of no other logical reason for them being so petty.  Reporting you to the BON, that was ridiculous! Was this a discrimination issue?   Where there other nurses who had not completed their IV competency who did the same thing and received a lesser/no punishment?  Perhaps they wanted to hire a less experience and less educated nurse at a lower salary?  Though technically a policy violation, what you did was not wrong.  You have nothing to feel guilty about.  Count it as a blessing that you no longer work there. 

That fact that you own the policy violation instead of making excuses shows that you are a good person and a responsible nurse.

Ever find that the times in life that you have gotten in the most trouble were times when you were just trying to help? 

Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.

Things like this make me very happy I've outgrown the nursing profession.  I should probably say out-aged.  I really don't understand today's nursing world.  All I hear and read is "staffing shortage," inexperienced nurses, fast-track programs just to get nurses.  Hospitals here, there, everywhere searching for RN's. Huge sign-on bonuses, etc. Yet a nurse with 30 years experience is fired over something like this?!?  OK, so you broke policy.  At the VERY most, a verbal reprimand/warning.  But reporting to the Board?  For successfully starting an IV?  That's pure evil maliciousness.  Rather than feeling bad about yourself, you need to thank your lucky stars you are no longer part of an organization that would do that to any staff person.  Be PROUD of that termination...wear it as a badge of honor.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I say, "Here, here!" to DallasRN's post.

A high school literature teacher, near the end of the classroom period would at times ask us to take out a pencil and paper. We all knew it was pop quiz time on the material discussed that session and a unanimous moan would erupt. The instructor would reply to the moans, "People! A hundred years from now, who'll know the difference?"

In the broad scheme of things, what we do, how we behave, who we are the important things in our lives. If we are at peace with ourselves, that is true happiness.

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