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Specializes in ED staff.

I'm a very experienced nurse, more than 25 years. I was fired from my last nursing job for something really stupid. Facebook. At the time I was taking Ambien for sleep and posted about a code and mentioned a doc's name. I don't even remember doing it and was shocked when I went in to work and was fired on the spot.

I can't even get anyone to talk to me. On all job applications there are those dreaded words... why did you leave? Of course they never give you enough room to explain anything and I have put "will explain". I've also tried the upfront and honest approach and that didn't work either.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I don't use Facebook and just can't understand why people feel the need to document their lives on the Internet. But I am so sorry you are going through this awful experience for what appears to be a one-time lapse in judgement. Did your employer take any follow up actions with your BON? any additional charges related to HIPAA? If so, you may need legal representation. Since it appears that your behavior may have been due to the effects of Ambien, are you going to pursue any claims in this regard? If you find yourself truly 'unemployable' as a result of this incident, this may be your only recourse.

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I'm sorry for what happened to you but I've heard of cases related to using Facebook, and I honestly understand the employers. One cannot go on social networks talking about every personal/work detail.

Good luck on the job search and hope you learned about facebook's disadvantages.

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Agreed that it was poor judgment and unprofessional and I'm sure you have learned from this (whether it is to be careful with Facebook or ambien or both). On the other hand, it doesn't sound as if you breached patient confidentiality or caused harm to a patient. It seems as though our profession is very unforgiving, and with the glut of nurses searching for work, employers have the luxury of denying us a second chance. I fear for this every day, none of us is safe from making a mistake!

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If hospitals won't take a look at you, try a staffing agency.

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Specializes in ED staff.

No action was taken by the board, no one was hurt. The place I worked has a very strict policy about social media and they decided to make an example out of me. Had I been the unit manager I would have fired me too based on what I wrote. However, no one ever asked my why I did it, they just assumed I did it on purpose. No HIPAA violation. Hadn't even thought about going after the Ambien folks. I have no way to prove that I took it anyway.

As far as documenting my life on FB.... Mainly I catch up with old friends, share stories about my grandbaby. Had it not been for Ambien I can say with some certainty that I wouldn't have even been online that night. Thank you for your words of kindness :)

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