How to address traumatic OR experiences on resume without harm?

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A little job search advice please

So I left the floor (MS/T) in 2024 to go into the OR, the first facility didn't work out due my supervisor creating an extremely hostile and toxic work environment.  My therapist believes  I now suffer from PSTD from that experience.  I held on for a year then went to a different facility in another state to start over in another OR.  

That situation failed spectacularly (not because of the environment the staff were extremely nice and very professional).  I realized that I just didn't have the tools to function well in the OR - I apparently had underlying severe ADHD triggered by the PTSD from the OR I started at? (IDK still unpacking that one with my therapist).  I worked at the second facility for 4 months, they gave me the option to be terminated or resign.  I resigned but the whole thing was super humiliating.  My dilemma: 

How do I put this on my resume? Do I put the second facility on my resume at all? If so, where do I get a reference from for that second facility? Do I keep the second facility off? If so, how do I account for the gap in employment for those months? 

I'm not going back into the OR (at least not until I can get my ADHD under control), but if I can help it I don't want to go back to the floor because patient ratios were killing me. 

Any advice on next steps would be greatly appreciated.  

I'm in the northeast NYC, NJ, PA, DE, MD area.  

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Do I put the second facility on my resume at all? 

Background checks

Here's some info on background checks to help make your decision:

  • So here's what a standard background check can entail: 
    • Criminal record
    • Identity verification 
    • Education verification
    • Credit check
    • Confirmation of dates/roles with previous employers

Omitting a job from your resume is less likely to be discovered during a standard background check, often used for entry-level or non-sensitive roles.

  • Here's what a more in-depth background check entails: 
    • SSN trace and broader employment history

Omitting a job from your resume is more likely to be discovered during a more in-depth background check, often used for roles requiring regulatory/licensing checks. 

What does this mean for you?

When considering whether to include your second facility job on your resume, it's helpful to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both inclusion and omission.

Pros and cons of inclusion

  • Pros of inclusion:
    • Demonstrates honesty
    • Fills employment gaps
    • Allows positive framing (skills learned, resilience
  • Cons of inclusion: 
    • Potential questions about short tenure
    • Requires careful, professional explanation

Pros and cons of omission 

  • Pros of omission:
    •  Avoids delicate conversations
    • Keeps narrative focused on strengths
    • Preserves privacy
  • Cons of omission:
    • Creates a resume gap
    • Risk of discovery in deeper background checks
    • May raise questions about credibility

How to present if included

  • Use concise, neutral bullets focused on transferable skills
  • Maintain a professional tone; avoid negative framing of the prior environment.

What's the right choice for you?

It depends on what you're most comfortable with and what aligns with your long-term goals:

  • If you value complete transparency and want to minimize the risk of later questions, or if you anticipate a more in-depth background check, include the job. Just be ready to explain the short tenure.
  • If you feel that including it on your resume would lead to unwanted scrutiny, or you anticipate a standard background check, omitting the job could be a valid choice. Just be ready to explain the gap.

Either way, you control the narrative. 

Best wishes on your decision,

Nurse Beth


 

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