Fired within 90 days... advice?

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I was fired from my first nursing job in a big hospital within the 90 day window. It was at will employment, and they told me I was unprofessional and not a good fit (mostly due to me panicking, turns out I have bad anxiety that is now under control). I was discharged during the initial probation period. I have been given advice to leave this job off of an application for a new job. However, I feel like this is dishonest. At the same time, it has been very difficult to find a job, so I am considering it. My former place of employment stated that all they can tell someone if contacted is the dates I worked there and if I was eligible for rehire (I am not). Is it ok to leave it off an application, considering I was there such a short time?

Specializes in OB, Women’s health, Educator, Leadership.

Leave it off. Look at it as a hard lesson learned as a new nurse, one you don't need to keep paying for. It was only a probationary period. You didn't harm any patient's. The only person that can be harmed in this now is you. If a job has the option of deciding not to keep us citing "probationary" period, we should get the same option to decide not to use them on our resume.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, & ED.

Just put it in your resume and application, its a job history document. They will call them, many times they don't, to verify that u worked there. Legally, that's all they can ask: from what month/date/year to when u worked for them. Don't worry, be honest about where u worked. Don't mention your anxiety , just that u r motivated to learn and develop ur new skills. Good luck :)

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Specializes in family practice.
I was fired from my first nursing job in a big hospital within the 90 day window. It was at will employment, and they told me I was unprofessional and not a good fit (mostly due to me panicking, turns out I have bad anxiety that is now under control). I was discharged during the initial probation period. I have been given advice to leave this job off of an application for a new job. However, I feel like this is dishonest. At the same time, it has been very difficult to find a job, so I am considering it. My former place of employment stated that all they can tell someone if contacted is the dates I worked there and if I was eligible for rehire (I am not). Is it ok to leave it off an application, considering I was there such a short time?

so let me get this straight; you were fired and were told they would say the dates you worked there and you were not rehirable. they have helped you made a decision. if you put their name and they were called, then you put yourself in trouble of never getting hired why:

You are a new grad, what reason does a new grad has been fired (they are just fresh out of school and even though they dont know everything they should have the newest information of care.

you have told a place the truth and they didnt hire you cos they are weary of those who were fired, which is what most employment places do. they are mostly weary of those who were fired but those who were fired in 90 days common this is a no brainer to me

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surge, Ortho.

I believe when employers do background checks, they know every job you have had even if it was only a month. I have included jobs that I have been terminated from and just told the interviewer that it was not a good fit for me or some other valid reasons and then I would quickly talk about my qualities and how I would be an asset to the facility. I would not include a job if I was only there a few weeks or even two months, but once again, somehow I believe they will find out. It is really hard after a termination and from my own experience it can decrease your confidence and self esteem especially when you know that other nurses have been there for 10 or twenty yrs and you did not make it to one year, but it happens and it is not over. Thank God that the sun comes out after the rain and another job is waiting with your name on it!!!!:nurse:

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I have a long employment history since I've been a nurse since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Consequently, I have a long resume'. I've stayed at some places for less than 90 days so those I listed on the bottom of the resume' as "also have worked briefly at..." On any application I've seen, there is usually only space for your last three jobs. I do the hiring for my facility. If I were you, I'd list the job. Better to list it and honestly explain why you left than to leave it off and get caught in a lie. I'll give most anyone a second chance since I know there are sometimes reasons for being fired that have more to do with fitting in than job performance, but telling lies...even lies of omission...not a good thing in my book.

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Sorry to interject with my own question, but since it's related, I figured it'd be ok to ask. Would you recommend listing a job on apps/resumes if you only worked there for 2 days and didn't even get as far as filling out a W-2 form?

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Sorry to interject with my own question, but since it's related, I figured it'd be ok to ask. Would you recommend listing a job on apps/resumes if you only worked there for 2 days and didn't even get as far as filling out a W-2 form?

Hmmmm....2 days? The interview and hiring process costs a lot of time and money. I might be worried you took any job until a better one came along. Again it might depend on where you live. I worked and lived in a small area that had at least 15 skilled facilities. All the directors either knew each other personally or professionally. We all would call each other and not HR for a reference check. There's always a chance your 2 days would be found out.

When I moved to the big city things were different. No one really knew anyone. I get an application from someone who listed a place that I had worked at for years miles and miles away. She listed downsizing as her reason for leaving the job. I thought that facility was expanding so I called one of my former co-workers and asked her about this applicant. The applicant had been fired for poor job performance and multiple episodes of insubordination. I'm sure she didn't think anyone would ever check. Needless to say I didn't call her for an interview. She did call me and ask why she hadn't been called. I so wanted to say liar liar pants on fire!

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Hmmmm....2 days? The interview and hiring process costs a lot of time and money. I might be worried you took any job until a better one came along. Again it might depend on where you live. I worked and lived in a small area that had at least 15 skilled facilities. All the directors either knew each other personally or professionally. We all would call each other and not HR for a reference check. There's always a chance your 2 days would be found out.

When I moved to the big city things were different. No one really knew anyone. I get an application from someone who listed a place that I had worked at for years miles and miles away. She listed downsizing as her reason for leaving the job. I thought that facility was expanding so I called one of my former co-workers and asked her about this applicant. The applicant had been fired for poor job performance and multiple episodes of insubordination. I'm sure she didn't think anyone would ever check. Needless to say I didn't call her for an interview. She did call me and ask why she hadn't been called. I so wanted to say liar liar pants on fire!

Well, this was for a vet tech job, and in the particular circumstance I was let go because I wasn't learning fast enough to suit the lady and she didn't want to take the time to train me. (that, and I was slow/made a couple of mistakes due to being nervous/inexperienced.) I just don't see much point in listing a job that I didn't even get as far as filling out the W-2 form for, but if it could be discovered and I would be in trouble for lying then maybe it'd be a good idea to do it anyway.

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Think about it folks, all an employer has to do is a simple check with the BON, should the BON not be aware of previous RN engagements?

Not true. Wow.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
I was fired from my first nursing job in a big hospital within the 90 day window. It was at will employment, and they told me I was unprofessional and not a good fit (mostly due to me panicking, turns out I have bad anxiety that is now under control). I was discharged during the initial probation period. I have been given advice to leave this job off of an application for a new job. However, I feel like this is dishonest. At the same time, it has been very difficult to find a job, so I am considering it. My former place of employment stated that all they can tell someone if contacted is the dates I worked there and if I was eligible for rehire (I am not). Is it ok to leave it off an application, considering I was there such a short time?

I think that the firing agency telling you to "leave this job off of an application" is code for "we won't/can't be giving you a positive recommendation". I'd follow their advice for a while and if it comes up you can explain it. I wouldn't LIE and say it never happened, but be ready to explain if need be.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Think about it folks, all an employer has to do is a simple check with the BON, should the BON not be aware of previous RN engagements?

You're kidding, right? The BON is not keeping track of every RN's employment history! Unless the OP was fired for something that resulted in disciplinary action that the BON was/is involved in, WHY would they have any sort of record of where s/he worked?

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