Fired within 90 days... advice?

blue_belle9 · Nov 13, 2011

I may not have made myself clear. What I am really wanting to know is if this job counts as a job since it was under 90 days. I wasn't at this job for years, I didn't make it past a probationary period. I have looked all over the web and have asked people I know and no one seemed to know. I wanted to see if nurses here had any advice since orientation for a new nurse is very different from many "real world" jobs.

Simply Complicated · Nov 13, 2011

I may not have made myself clear. What I am really wanting to know is if this job counts as a job since it was under 90 days. I wasn't at this job for years, I didn't make it past a probationary period. I have looked all over the web and have asked people I know and no one seemed to know. I wanted to see if nurses here had any advice since orientation for a new nurse is very different from many "real world" jobs.

You recieved a paycheck, and worked under your nursing license... so yes it is considered as a job.

caliotter3 · Nov 13, 2011

There have been people who posted on this site that a job left during the probationary period does not have to be listed. They were discussing nursing jobs. It is up to the individual to decide how they are going to handle their situation. If you don't list it and get caught, expect to deal with the consequences. I found it interesting that this is possible. I never knew before reading these particular posts, that people would leave off jobs that did not last past probation. Learn something new almost every day.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Nov 13, 2011

I may not have made myself clear. What I am really wanting to know is if this job counts as a job since it was under 90 days. I wasn't at this job for years, I didn't make it past a probationary period. I have looked all over the web and have asked people I know and no one seemed to know. I wanted to see if nurses here had any advice since orientation for a new nurse is very different from many "real world" jobs.

If you rec'd compensation for it, then YES, it's a job. Now if you volunteered your time for free, THAT'S a different story....

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2011

Look at it another way: your former employer certainly considered it a job. They paid you, and then they reported that payment to the government as payment to you for services rendered. The government considers it a job as well because they taxed you on the income you received.

Whether you consider it a job and not list it on the resume/mention it on the applications is up to you, as long as you're are willing to deal with the consequences of that action.

Sorry if this wasn't quite what you wanted to hear.

nurseyblues, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2016

Blue Belle - here is how I would handle it: I would list the job. In this day and age nothing can be hidden.
However, I would list reason let go as "poor fit for the position" and when asked to explain state "I feel that I made a poor choice to attempt to go directly into a critical care area right out of school. It became apparent that it would be better for me to get a good grounding in basic med-surg nursing care first." This finesses the issue while taking responsibility and showing insight.
You are not obligated to divulge anything about your personal medical history to an interviewer.

I think this is the most sound advice you can get. We all get drilled throughout school and beyond about how nursing is a profession of integrity with a strong code of ethics. Starting your career off as a brand new nurse, you don't want to violate that code straight out of the gate..

Like bagladyrn says, there is a right and wrong way to tell the truth--but you should always tell the truth. I've done some hiring and firing, and I can tell you very honestly and openly: I have hired people who were fired from other positions because they interviewed well and seemed eager to learn, and because I understand that nursing is a broad field where not every unit or position is for everybody. I have also fired people for finding out that they misrepresented themselves during the hiring process. You put your signature--your personal signature as a nurse--on the application attesting that everything you've provided is true and complete to the best of your knowledge.

If you sign that statement, then leave off a part of your work history that you have full knowledge of because you're afraid it will hurt your chances, then you risk doing double damage to your reputation as a nurse--and you're just getting started. While employers might look twice at someone who's been fired from a previous job (and yes, some will pass you over), how are they going to look at someone who got fired AND lied on their application? Now there's a pattern of negative occurrences.

It's really not all that shocking to see a new nurse who was let go--especially very early in her career. New grads come out of school all excited and ready to jump in...and sometimes they jump into the deep end before they're ready. Or because they don't have any experience, they haven't figured out what their nursing niche is. That is not a huge red flag for me. A lie or attempted cover-up is a huge red flag. Include your complete work history on the application, answer yes to the question about being fired before, and then tell them very candidly: "I was right out of school, eager to get to work, and I chose the wrong specialty. I learned a lot though, and I'm ready to start fresh."

Bottom line, I've seen nurses who were downright dangerous in the ER go to Labor & Delivery and become rock stars. I've seen nurses who panic and cannot handle the pace of acute inpatient care go and find absolute tranquility in home health or long-term care where the pace is milder and they see one patient at a time. I have also seen nurses misrepresent themselves and find themselves fired for that--and this time they can't say it just wasn't a good fit.

I know from experience that telemetry/cardiology is one of the more challenging specialties, and is absolutely a lot to bite off right out of school. Things can go really wrong, really fast, and when something goes wrong with your patient's heart those are high stakes. It's enough to give anybody anxiety, and it's definitely not for everybody. There is no shame in openly admitting that as a new grad you bit off more than you could chew. A decent talent recruiter/manager will respect your honesty and appreciate that you are able to recognize your limitations--which is another must-have quality in a nurse.

I would recommend that you sit down with yourself and have a conversation: ask yourself what you really love about nursing, and then ask yourself what really scares you and makes you nervous. Then look for specialties that are suited to your strengths and likes, and avoid high-stress areas that you know are likely to be fraught with triggers for you. That's the beautiful thing about nursing, there's something for everybody. If you were smart and capable enough to get through school and pass your boards, then you're already on your way. You've already proven you have the foundation. Now you just need to find your niche. But please, whatever you do, don't start off your career as a dishonest nurse. Even if you just "fudge it" a little, you've already shown that you are not completely trustworthy--and integrity is everything in a field that handles drugs, engages in physical contact with people of all ages, and has access to people's belongings and personal information. You don't have to be good at cardiac and critical care to work in nursing, but you do have to be trustworthy.

I wish you the best of luck in your job search. I know that wait and the search is hard, but do the right thing and eventually someone will reward you for it. :nurse:

Edit: I just realized that this is a very old thread, but since the topic is still relevant and I'm sure this is not the only person to ever struggle with this, I'll let my comments stand. :shy: