Had intimidating 1st employer as RN, resigned on bad terms.. should put in resume?

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Hello AllNurses,

Well, I had an unfortunate start to my career and would like your opinion on how to approach new better potential employers with my 2.5 month work history as an RN. I do not want to lie, and do not want to withhold my work experience on my resume, but due to my resignation ending uncordially, many people including nurses, as well, have advised that I refrain from adding my 1st job on my resume. I am torn because I also know a couple of nurses who says it's valuable experience because "experience is experience".

To better understand my situation, here's the jist to what happened at my 1st job:

I began employment at a subacute/rehab facility where my mother works as a kitchen aid in late April 2015. At the "interview" I told the DON that I was seeking a part time position because I was looking forward to continue my bachelors in the fall. She tells me she has full time with benefits and that full time nurses can go to school, too. Naive as I was, I said ok without thinking that I can take my thoughts home to think. The DON tells me that orientation will be given as much as I would need for a maximum of 1 month, BUT... no matter how long orientation given, she will only pay for 5 days of orientation. I worked orientation for 13 days and was truly paid for only 5 days. She goes on to say that since many nurses at her facility leave after orientation, wasting her time & investment, she decided to create a 2 year contract that began in January 2015, which literally is 2 sentences without terms & conditions and explanation of benefits.

Without my employer ever knowing, 2 months later I had met up with a lawyer who confirmed that this contract was invalid due to NJ's employment-at-will and was not given "adequate compensation" such as a sign on bonus or specialty training of any sort. The lawyer even agreed that it was illegal for my employer to just only pay me for 5 days out of the 13 days of orientation given, as well as, my DON enforcing all nurses to clock out on time despite having unfinished work which mostly consisted of as charting & documentation.

During the stress of realizing that my position was a floater nurse, who didn't just float units, but also 8 hour shifts, I was surprised that I was accepted into Penn State's online RN to BSN program for the fall. I went to my DON explaining that I was feeling exhausted working 5 to 6 days a week with these 8 hour shifts leaving me no time for adequate rest and most importantly time to study, and the DON says "I will just replace you, period" if I want to continue persisting for part time.

I came to the DON in mid-July to notify her with a resignation letter stating that I will work 21 days (as noted in the employee handbook for nurses' resignations) for her to find a replacement because I decided that I wanted to prioritize my school since I wasn't given the part time. I was expecting a cordial understanding & support for advancement of education, but she handled the interaction very unprofessionally, forgetting what she had told me, and called me a liar for accepting the full time position & going against her contract. It's defamation of character & did not serve a purpose.

Then, she tells me that I cannot leave my job because of signing her 2 year contract unless I am terminated by her. She was implying that I cannot leave my job because of her contract that I discovered was invalid when I contacted my lawyer. And I told her it says in the employee handbook that this company is "Employment at will" which allows me to leave at any time, for any reason. She disregarded that & stated that the policies don't matter because of her contract. Then she expresses her frustration and states that the only reason she hired me was because my mother works there and told me to "not come back.. to NEVER come back." Despite my intention to resign with a 21 day notice, I deduced that I was fired on sport and was not able to ever come back to work, and even more so, did not find any comfort in returning to such a working environment anyway.

The next morning, hours before what was my afternoon scheduled shift, I find a missed call from work and a text from the lady who is in charge of making schedules. I text her respectfully that: "The DON told me not to come back yesterday" and thanked her. She replies back that I must come to work & that "it's bad if u don't show up." I told her: "*** is the DON who is my boss & should be the one to tell me." I honestly don't truly know the context of the text that "schedule lady" sent me, but right after I told her the DON should be the one to talk to me, "schedule lady" sent me a text saying in my language, which translates to "omg... you are a very hard head".

Right after, the DON calls me & I answer & she says that I must come to work & that she only said that because she was very frustrated because "now I'll be short-staffed again" and "I'm in charges of all the nurses in this entire building and you do not understand me, you don't understand how frustrated I am". I then tell her, that I loved working with my patients & enjoyed learning new nursing skills, but after my conversation with her yesterday that I will never come back to work for her at all with this company. Lastly, she tells me that the only reason that she hired me was because my mother "begged me to hire you." It was rude and seemed to imply that she didn't hire due to my work ethics & my eagerness to be in this profession, which offends me. After that I kept my cool & told her "Sure, if that's how you feel, thank you. Goodbye."

I decided to grab the courage to speak with the facility's administrator 2 days later, and what I find out was that she absolutely disregarded my side of the story and was not objective in the whole scheme of things. She accused me that I committed "abandonment of position and risked patient care" and that the DON had a reason to react "frustrated" because I "left without 24 hours notice" leaving them without enough time to find a well trained nurse despite me initially resigning with a 21 day notice. I felt like I was attempted to be beat by them and get fired at the end. I was shocked, felt offended, felt degraded by all the words jabbed at me, felt unsupported for bettering myself in my career, and felt that this was a sign that nursing just wasn't for me.

Luckily, it was just a down phase and now I'm rising back up to find an employer who is eager to teach and add an enthusiastic, holistically inspired, energized young nurse to their team with a desire to sharpen my nursing skills and be the best at what I want to do. But, I don't want to put down my 1st employer on my resume or as my reference because I am afraid they will talk horribly about me and will ruin my career hunting and prospects in nursing. So, I'd like to know what is best to do on my resume? Leave out my 1st employer on my resume, but be honest about my 1st employer & explain professionally that I left because my DON wasn't supportive of me pursuing my education? Or MUST I put down my 1st employer despite also being employed for only 2.5 months?

Your time & perspectives are very much appreciated. Thank you very much, friends of AllNurses!

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Specializes in ER.

Your case sounds tough. They will trash talk you if you put them down. I would also start documenting as much as you can. It is illegal for them not to pay you for the 13 days you worked. It is also illegal for them to require you to clock out but still work. It is not abandonment in most states if you quit or do not show up for work.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

I would list them by dates I was employed. Say I left because I needed to work part time to pursue my education and check the "may not contact" box.

This former employer has no interest in you, your career or your bettering yourself. You were a shift that needed filling, not a person.

If you were fired rather than resigned are you eligible for unemployment?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Mavrick has given you the perfect answer.

Your employment dates will show up when HR verifies your SS#.

Be honest, be glad it is over, and try to put all of this behind you.

Resist the urge to talk about this with future employers. I have never been asked in an interview about why I left a previous position. You only have to address that in the online application.

I am sorry you had to go through all of this.

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Your case sounds tough. They will trash talk you if you put them down. I would also start documenting as much as you can. It is illegal for them not to pay you for the 13 days you worked. It is also illegal for them to require you to clock out but still work. It is not abandonment in most states if you quit or do not show up for work.

Yes applesxoranges, they made it tough for me. Luckily, I'm ahead of the game and have already filed and received status pending an investigation with the DOL.

I have talked it out with many people and I have been persuaded to put the facility as my professional experience, but on paper applications to make sure to answer "No" to the "Can we contact your previous employer" question and prepare a simple reason without trashing my former employer that I wasn't supported for advancement in my education by allowing me to switch from full time floater RN to a part time floater position.

Thank you :)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am so sorry for what happened at this place.

Be cognizant that, if you accept another position in SNF or subacute, the new hire orientation will most likely be only a few days long. While there are outliers that offer extensive orientation and training, most subacute SNF orientation periods are short.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I wouldn't even say "I wasn't supported in advancement for my education" because it makes you sound like a disgruntled employee.

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I would just put pursuing education. No need for details especially any negative ones. And I had a bad 1st job experience for a month and a half and never added them to my resume. I never had a problem with finding other jobs.

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Hi Mavrick, thank you for your advice!

Unfortunately, due to employment for 2.5 months and less than $20,000 made I was told I am ineligible for unemployment.

I've already been helped by a fellow nursing friend who is helping me fix my resume and cover letter and to help pick up my spirits in applying confidently to nursing positions.

Hope I find an employer who is trustworthy, who I find supportive, and where I can dedicate my loyalty.

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Mavrick has given you the perfect answer.

Your employment dates will show up when HR verifies your SS#.

Be honest, be glad it is over, and try to put all of this behind you.

Resist the urge to talk about this with future employers. I have never been asked in an interview about why I left a previous position. You only have to address that in the online application.

I am sorry you had to go through all of this.

Thank you icuRNmaggie for your support and advice, as well! Picking up from the fall and will try again! I didn't know that HR searches our SS# and can see our work history from there.. I'm guessing due to the IRS taxes from our wages.

Thank you for that new info!

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I would just put pursuing education. No need for details especially any negative ones. And I had a bad 1st job experience for a month and a half and never added them to my resume. I never had a problem with finding other jobs.

Hi tattoednurse26! Did you graduate with your BSN? Having a BSN in NJ is golden and employers will actually consider you for application, otherwise with an associate's degree like what I have, employment is a little more work.

I feel that maybe leaving out my small experience may avoid possible employment opportunities. Luckily I am enrolled in a BSN program.

It is great that you didn't have any issues leaving out your 1st employer. I would rather not having anything to do with my 1st employer, but I figure the experience on the rehab & vent floor is valuable.

I appreciate you sharing your experience :)

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I graduated with my ASN but didn't have a problem finding a job. I guess it depends on where you live. Good luck!

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