Got FIRED...Am I hireable?

[GAgeriatricnurse]

Lordy, Lordy, I need help. I lost my job Nov6 because of a MED ERROR that another nurse made, that I didn't report. I have been an LPN for 12 years and only worked in LTC and Acute skilled rehab. I guess my questions are: Will my former employer give me a bad reference? Most applications ask why you resigned...what do I but there? Do I tell potential employers, that I was FIRED?? Does anyone know if there are ANY legitimate work from home jobs for LPN's??

Thanks immensely for any insight!!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I don't know about work from home but I was fired twice in just more than a year and never had a problem getting a job.

I would put the dates and if asked why you left tell them something about needing some time off because you were fried. I am betting your old place will just confirm dates.

And good luck!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Getting fired happens to the best of us, and so do med errors. All we can do is learn from the experience and move on; and if we're asked about it, to be truthful and to share what we will do differently the next time.

You'll find another job; LTC in particular tends to be forgiving of past employment difficulties because they need nurses so badly. Good luck to you!

[Esperanza1260]

I don't know if this is different in your state but in Texas where I am they can't give you a bad reference. The law states they can only tell the other party if you're on a rehire status or not--if they would hire you back in the future. So they say "yes she worked in the --- dep't for --- years and she is/is not on rehire status." That's it. Now there could be many reasons why they wouldn't rehire you. But, in my experience, it's always better to tell the truth. You never know if the two people involved know each other and may talk privately. In the nursing community that's entirely possible. I would fill out the app and tell them what happened at the interview. Explain your actions and let them know you don't blame the hospital for firing you. If you do they may get uneasy about how you will treat them or if you're likely to make the same error again. Just remember EVERYBODY makes mistakes. What counts is your willingness to take responsibility and learn from it.

[sasha2lady]

Im just curious....if you got fired for not reporting the error another nurse made...what happened to the other nurse?? What kind of med error was it exactly? Narcotic? or what...out of curiosity. And here in NC....from what my boss has told me all she is allowed to say is whether or not a former person is rehireable or not and that she cant go into detail about why they arent employed anymore. I went to a job interview and an OB/GYN office once....and at the time I wasnt married, no kids....how about the MD interviewing me never once asked me about my skills, credentials..nothing ...instead..she asked me if i had kids...was i married...was i planning on having kids or getting married..and at the time...my answer was NO NO NO.....and I didnt know at the time (I was only 19 or 20) that all that stuff she asked me was illegal here. Needless to say...I didnt get that job. She didnt even ask me about my job at the time....I thought it was weird ...but I figured...shes a doc...she knows more than I do.....ohhh..the young days. And if it makes you feel any better...I worked with 2 nurses who were stealing narcotics....we all knew it...the don and adon knew it..and when they got fired....they had no trouble finding other jobs and turns out that one of those nurses had actually been fired from her prior job for stealing narcs and our boss had NO idea about it til word got back to her from other nurses. Had she known it ahead of time....that nurse would not have been hired..but mistakes do happen.....doesnt matter how careful you are....or how many times you've done something.....we are all guilty of errors....its human and thats what we are..