How to Explain Being Fired for Calling in Sick

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation! Nurses Nurse Beth Nursing Q/A

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Dear Nurse Beth,

I was fired from my last 2 hospital RN jobs due to calling in sick too often because I was ill mentally and physically. Then I spent 7 years on social security disability getting lots of treatment. Now I'm doing so much better that I've been volunteering as an RN at a SNF for the last 2 years. I've just started an RN refresher course. How do I explain to my interviewer about losing my last 2 jobs? Both employers told me I'd been a great nurse, but that absenteeism was the problem. Please publish an answer! NO ONE has known what advice to give me! Will you help? Thanks, Nurse Beth

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Doing So Much Better,

Congrats to you on getting help and getting better! All of that was not for naught, and you just have to trust the process and the journey. You are not the same person you were 7 years ago.

So absenteeism 7 years ago when you were sick is not your main problem in getting hired now. Being out of the workforce is probably more of a challenge.

You are doing all the right things- volunteering in the field, taking a refresher course. Let everyone know that you are looking for a job and activate your network. Contact old colleagues. You never know when or where you'll get a lead.

You are looking to get your foot back in the door, so you may have to take what you can get initially to start establishing a work history. That's OK, what's important is a start.  

When you interview, you can say that you had some serious medical problems but they are resolved now.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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