Fired without a cause

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

What can you do? I was fired from my last employer for being present when another aide was rough with a resident and I didn't report it. The reason I didn't report it: to my knowledge it didn't happen. I did not see the aide being rough with the resident. The DON said the incident was investigated however they hadn't even spoken to the CNA being accused handling a patient rough so how could that even be possible? This was in Sept and I still haven't found employment because guess what, "I got fired" has left me left at the phone interview. I obviously TRY to choose my words carefully without resentment or lack of honesty but I have not been able to even get an in person interview at a hospital. This last experience has left me with a sour taste for nursing homes so I choose not to apply for those jobs. I loved working with the residents but the politics not so much.

Can anyone relate to this? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to portray this situation to potential employers? I'm so frustrated. I had a lead call me today from a hospital and I shot myself in the foot again because I just want to be honest but came across I'm sure as muffled and not confident.

Thanks Peeps!! :heartbeat

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Don't tell them you got fired, don't even list them as a reference. Take them off your job history all together. If your in a small town, you might want to drive a bit to try and find something. List student or stay at home as the reason for the gap in your employment.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

So ironic that you were fired for being honest. Any facility that would fire you without a fair and proper investigation is just not worth working for. Any facility that wouldn't give you a chance isn't either.

My first reaction was to agree that you should probably not list that facility as a reference, but it really depends on how long you worked there.

I've never gotten fired, but I have left some facilities as a CNA because they were that awful. Of course, to the next interviewer, I would simply say that the facility was just not a good fit for me. Or that you liked it there, but there are more advantages to their facility and you're really looking forward to working with the residents there. Be ready to explain why you enjoy taking care of the elderly.

Above all, keep a positive, upbeat attitude and your personality will overcome any doubts.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Don't tell them you got fired, don't even list them as a reference. Take them off your job history all together. If your in a small town, you might want to drive a bit to try and find something. List student or stay at home as the reason for the gap in your employment.

Wont they find out about your employment from the previous place when they do background checks though? I would list them just to be on the safe side, but NOT use them as a reference.

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Thanks for your replies! I was there 9 mos and it is my only real experience as a CNA. In general I guess I am only comfortable with honest and one of the first questions with a new job is why did you leave your last employer...

ah! I do appreciate your replies TONS! I have an interview tomorrow (not in the medical field, but the same concerns apply). I just pray that if I prepare myself in every other aspect for the interview, God will provide me with the right words.

xoxoxox

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Wishing you good luck tomorrow. Try to stay away from that subject unless they bring it up and even then, don't dwell on it, but tell them the truth.

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Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.

Ah, the joys of employment-at-will. It is the unfortunate strategy on many administrators to simply "fire" CNAs if any complaint is registered no matter how small. It can be worse if working agency, because

some folks can get "Do-Not-Return" to facilities for even minor things like one nurse "just does not like him/her" and the CNA will never know about it.

I would not worry too much. Like an above poster put, definately do not put them as a reference, and if you are in a small area, you may want to drive a bit because the nursing field is notorius for cliques and gossip even between facilities. Much easier to say that you were in school, or whatever. If you must use them because you worked for them for an extended time, you can always mark not to contact them. Be careful doing this too much as it can raise red flags at some places. However, CNA turnover is expected, so you may find employers more forgiving. Do not dwell on it, though, and use vague language like, "I was not a very good fit over there." and leave it at that.

You may also want to do agency or sitting for a bit, as some of these folks do not really care as much about work history as long as you do have experience, no felonies, and a clear state certificate.

Good Luck.

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Maybe the main problem is the OP is looking exclusively for hospital work. This places the OP in a double jeopardy situation. Hospitals want experienced CNA's. If the LTC the OP was fired from is the only CNA experience the OP has, and the OP decides to omit this facility from his/her work history, then the OP falls under the heading of "inexperienced" and thus not a serious candidate. And if the OP is truthful and admits to having been fired from his/her only CNA job in an LTC, then HR recruiter might ask "If he/she got fired from an LTC then maybe he/she isn't at all yet ready to work in a hospital."

I would suggest if the OP continues to have this problem, you start over from scratch and try to find another job in an LTC.

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I'm curious if the person who supposedly was rough with a patient was even fired. If not, then you can question why you were fired. That would just chap my hide if the other person wasn't

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

Good Luck with your job interview. I wish you well!

I have had a similar situation happen when I just turned 18, I was a NA in training and one of my patients fell out of her wheelchair. I couldn't find a nurse anywhere....I looked all over. I yelled for help and no one came. I had to run and find the nursing instructor in the employee lounge (with several other nurses). I ended up getting in trouble! The DON was in the process of firing me for job abandonment; saying leaving the patient to get help was abandonment. She stated the nurse said she peeped her head in the room and I told her everything was alright! LOL Yeah right, with my patient on the floor while I'm screaming for help?!!! I quit the second I heard the DON read that lie out loud! It was very clear, the nurses lied to protect their jobs. Much to my satisfaction, that LTC was shut down a few years later. That experience turned me away from nursing homes for a while.

I took a break from healthcare for 2 years. I am a CNA working in a dual diagnostic sub-acute psych facility and I plan on starting RN school in the fall. Just dust yourself off and try again!

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