I Thought I Had My Dream Job, but My Past Took It Away...

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

So a really stupid mistake I made 6 years ago came to bite me in the rear yesterday. I was working as an agency nurse staffing in correctional facilities when my NM told me I had to clock out & go home due to the fact my security clearance was revoked. My jaw hit the floor & I was stunned. I didn't completely understand why but on the inside I kinda knew why.

I hadn't told anyone I had worked for this company 6 years previous for about a month or two. Or what had happened when I did work for the company. Obviously I am not about to put my business out here on the interwebs, but if you PM I will tell you.

My NM didn't know why my security clearance was revoked but after I clocked out & got to my car I called my agency & they told me that I was unable to work for this company in *any* capacity. So, blacklisted. I figured if I was blacklisted my application wouldn't go through, I don't understand why it would let my application go through but then reject my security clearance.

When I get home I try to make phone calls to an HR but at 1500 on a Friday it's hard to get ahold of anyone. I finally do & she tells me she will get me an answer next week. I figure it's gonna be that I'm blacklisted & there's nothing I can do about it.

My heart is broken & shattered into a million pieces. I love working as a nurse in corrections, it's where my heart lies. Now that, that has been pretty much ended for me I don't know what else to do. I live in a small town so job opportunities are far & few between. The hospital in my town does hire LVNs occasionally, but I never get interviews. I honestly just can't handle LTC or PDN. The school district doesn't pay enough. Then that's it.

My mother keeps telling me to go back to become an RN but I don't even know if I want to any more. When I was working at the prison, I was so happy just working & being an LVN, I didn't even think about going back to school. I'm so lost right now.

I'm so stressed too because I was making so much money, I knew I could keep us out of the hole we were in, financially. We wouldn't have to live paycheck to paycheck any more. There's no way a family of 4 can live on my husband's small paycheck, we're always broke by the second or third week of the month. But it looks like we are gonna go back to that, especially after October when I lose Medicaid.

I don't know if I just needed to vent or need suggestions. I'm also really devastated right now. I get this awesome job, doing what I love to do, getting paid amazingly & then it gets ripped away. Of course we needed it desperately. I just don't know how we're gonna make ends meet after October.

I've already started looking for a new job because I know I'm not gonna get good news next week. But unfortunately, there's not many jobs available out there.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

AW, sorry to hear of your plight, OC. My heart goes out to you.

As they say, one door doesn't close without another opening.

The very best to you.

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What I am concerned about is if this is something they will report to the BON?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Sorry to hear this. :( I know you feel enormous pressure right now, but take a minute and try to think about what you want to do. That RN will open more doors on an area with a limited number of opportunities. *hugs* Is there any chance of relocating?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
What I am concerned about is if this is something they will report to the BON?

Seems like it would have been reported 6 years ago if it were a reportable issue. So probably not. :)

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
AW, sorry to hear of your plight, OC. My heart goes out to you.

As they say, one door doesn't close without another opening.

The very best to you.

Thank you & I hope so! I'm so confused at this point. I don't know what to do. :(

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
What I am concerned about is if this is something they will report to the BON?

No, it was nothing involving the inmates. In fact, what happened didn't even happen at work. It was something that I did when I was not at work & wouldn't be reportable (I don't see how) to the BON. T have held other jobs since & there are no issues against my license.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Sorry to hear this. :( I know you feel enormous pressure right now, but take a minute and try to think about what you want to do. That RN will open more doors on an area with a limited number of opportunities. *hugs* Is there any chance of relocating?

I know it will & I guess I have no other choice. No, relocating isn't an option because we don't have the money to pay for an apartment (+ utilities) & daycare for both of our kids. Since we live with my mom she would help out a lot, especially if my husband & I were both working. On the weekends, my MIL usually takes my oldest, so there is a lot of help where we are.

I wish we could move because if we did I could probably get a job in a heart beat.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Seems like it would have been reported 6 years ago if it were a reportable issue. So probably not. :)

Exactly. I'm not gonna say what it was because I live in a small town & would easily be identified if I put all the details out here. Nothing I did was reportable since what happened did not happen at work but it obviously was fireable.

If anyone is curious & wants the details I am more than happy to answer any questions over PM.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I know it will & I guess I have no other choice. No, relocating isn't an option because we don't have the money to pay for an apartment (+ utilities) & daycare for both of our kids. Since we live with my mom she would help out a lot, especially if my husband & I were both working. On the weekends, my MIL usually takes my oldest, so there is a lot of help where we are.

I wish we could move because if we did I could probably get a job in a heart beat.

With that much support, this is a perfect time for a bridge program! Then you could probably move, either way, if you wanted to. Silver lining, maybe?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

That's true. I need to get back on the studying train. It just sucks because I love working corrections with all of my heart & now it seems as if I can't do that since the company I worked for has a huge contract with the prison system in here. :(

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Specializes in ED, psych.

Oh, OC (((gentle hugs)))...

So many hugs....

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