She made up stories about me and accused me of being unsafe. My manager believed these stories, wrote me up, and put a performance plan in place, even though I told her that I could prove with documentation that the accusations were not true. I went to the Director of Nursing and asked her to look into the situation, but she never did, and instead sided with the manager. I ended up quitting the job at the last minute because I was terrified of being fired.
I managed to secure another job, and eventually worked my way into the Cardiac ICU. I have been a nurse for 6 years, with 4 of them in the ICU. I have never had one complaint about safety or my nursing practice since. I have received excellent reviews, am a charge nurse, and was elected as the Coordinating Council representative for my unit.
Unfortunately I am also burned out and am seeking a change of pace. My job options would be significantly increased if I could work for my first employer again, however I sent in a resume and they have told me that I am not eligible for rehire. Is there any way to dispute this matter, and clear my name-- even after all this time?
Dear Bullied,
There are always two sides to a situation, and I'm going to base my answer on the assumption that what you say is accurate- that you had no legitimate performance concerns. Your work history for the past six years speaks to that assumption, although something triggered the nurse manager's friend, who started all this.
What you don't offer is an explanation for the unprovoked attack on you by the nurse manager's friend. Did you inadvertently offend her/him? Do you think she/he felt
threatened in some way by you?
You received a write-up for unfounded accusations and then appealed to the DON, who sided with the manager. Lesson: it rarely works out well to go above your manager's head, especially when you are new.
It sounds like this nurse wanted to affect your future employment- and she/he did. Bad behavior, but enough about her/him. Let's talk about you.
Unfortunately, you do not have recourse (legal or otherwise), for reversing an ineligible for rehire status. It's entirely up to the facility, (in this case, the inexperienced, new manager) as to when they can stamp ineligible for rehire†on an employee's termination papers.
You can always write a letter of explanation, and request that it be placed in your file, which may or may not help-but can't hurt.
The other thing you can do is try to get back in through personal referral. Do you have contacts within the facility? If this manager is as bad as you say, after 6 years, she has burned some bridges and showed her true colors, assuming she even kept her job. Contact your contacts, and ask for referrals.
Hopefully there has been a changing of the guards†in your favor. If not, trust that other opportunities will present themselves for you and your great skill sets.
