I Have No References!

[SunnyPupRN]

Hello,

I'm trying to go back to work after 5 years of disability. I have not kept in touch with anyone I used to work with. It was an uncomfortable parting [i had a traumatic brain injury that was not diagnosed immediately and my last appearance at work my symptoms were interpreted as psychiatric, and my boss sent me to a crisis unit. I never went back to work.]

I still have some trouble, mostly with anxiety and headaches, but I really need to make some money. However, I have kept to myself and stayed at home or gone to doctors' appointments. Even if I listed the last place of employment as a reference, I don't know if anyone I used to know is still there.

How can I fill in references? Is it possible?

Thanks

[Chiyak]

Have you thought of looking for a job working with with TBI patients?

[SunnyPupRN]

Have you thought of looking for a job working with with TBI patients?

Yes! That would be great. I have job alerts coming to my inbox from Indeed.com and Simply Hired. What keyword would you put in for alerts? Just Neuro? Thanks!

[Toastedpeanut]

Have you found anything yet? Here's my experience with references: my first RN job at a huge health system sent an e-mail to my 3 references (a little form to fill out). Technically I could have gotten them to send it to a friend or my sister-in-law and they'd have been none the wiser. My second job at a great hospital nearby conducted no reference check at all. The last job I interviewed for, I told the DON that my references are old (I recently lost ALL of my contact info), and he told me not to worry about it. This is also at a huge, inner-city hospital. I don't know how to interpret this.