got fired for "clinical issues"... will I find a job??

JeneraterRN · Sep 12, 2011

That may not be a question any of us can answer. Rather, it will be the individual(s) with whom you interview. If you are open and honest about your "clinical issue" when asked, they may be willing to overlook a past mistake. Good luck.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

What can you lose by applying to your old job? I say go for it! Be honest with the ADON and tell her why you were let go. If she knows your work ethic, she will likely hire you again. If not, then you still have lost nothing.

SweettartRN · Sep 12, 2011

It seems like so many people around here are getting fired left and right. I hope this is not the wave of the nursing future....

allnurses Guide · Sep 12, 2011

It's tough; if you have a job, hold on to it. I have learned my lesson. I feel like I am a perfectly competent nurse capable of doing the job. I made a mistake that in most places would have gotten me written up or even less. I wasn't careful. My DON didn't care much for me; I already knew this. I was an RN doing an LPN's job and getting paid more for it. I was getting overtime, to boot (I needed it). They had every reason to want to get rid of me, and I made one mistake and I was gone.

You really have to be careful. Find a job, do whatever you can to keep it. Hopefully it's a job that you like. That's what I say.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

It looks like you have 7yrs experience.....I wouldn't worry about this that much. The there is a bigger picture and if you were asked in an interview, I'm sure you will have a good answer.

sweetnurse63, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

I am going to start an emergency savings account just in case so while i am looking for another job, at least my rent will be paid, very scary and some of us are walking on eggs, you never know.

nola1202 · Sep 12, 2011

you know what, you're right, and depending on the "critical lab"

some MD's wouldn't want to be called. (dialysis their labs are always wacked.)

I agree, it is nothing to fire someone over, a write up, or at worst an action

plan should be in place. (sort of like probation for a period of time.)

These little family owned places can get away with this kind of junk

I've seen it in hospitals too. Someone who has a ton of experience in an

ICU goes to work in another and suddenly she's released from her job

because of clinical issues...it's more about the other nurses didn't like her.

I wouldn't mention it to human resources with the first interview. Wait until

you interview with the Nursing unit manager and tell her exactly what you wrote here. You did not report a critical lab in one hour. Take responsibily

tell what you have learned, and what you will do differently in the future.

I know you've already done that by reading this post. Leave out

anything about the Nusing home politics...if she's an experienced

nurse and Manager, she already knows this part. Have good things to say

about the LTC and the DON (fake it). I think you'll do fine.

Sorry this happened to you, water runs down hill. So the person at the

lowest point is "made an example of"

leslie :-D · Sep 12, 2011

I made a mistake that in most places would have gotten me written up or even less. I wasn't careful.

did you have any prior write-ups or warnings prior to this?

personally, i never have even waited an hr with a critical lab.

usually, no more than 5 mins.

i don't know what other facilities would have done...

but i would think a write-up would be the minumum...

because we're often talking about life and death.

it's difficult to interpret another's intentions online.

but the way i read the above, it sounded like you were playing it down.

if i'm wrong, my apologies.

i do wish you the very best, nc.

leslie

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

I am going to start an emergency savings account just in case so while i am looking for another job, at least my rent will be paid, very scary and some of us are walking on eggs, you never know.

This is a very good move. My husband and I started an emergency savings account 5 years ago. We put several hundred dollars in the account every month, and it has grown to the point that we can pay our bills should one of us become incapacitated. We have enough to live on for a year without scrimping.

Start your emergency account as soon as you can. We put our savings into two banks.

leslie :-D · Sep 12, 2011

you know what, you're right, and depending on the "critical lab"
some MD's wouldn't want to be called. (dialysis their labs are always wacked.)
I agree, it is nothing to fire someone over, a write up, or at worst an action
plan should be in place. (sort of like probation for a period of time.)

wow. :eek:

perhaps i should elaborate on reporting criticals.

first, i always compare these labs to prior ones, if applicable.

if pt had wbc of 25k last wk, and this wk it's 20k...then no, it's not critical.

but just to cover myself, i follow p&p. (duh)

we nurses aren't trained monkeys where we mindlessly report lab values w/o trying to use some judgment here.

but i do assess the labs and know which ones that need to be immediately reported.

other than that, i take these labs seriously.

maybe i'm the underdog here...

no matter how baffling i find this whole laissez-faire attitude.

leslie

Isabelle49 · Sep 12, 2011

I would be curious to know how many patients the terminated nurse was responsible for. This is most likely an issue.