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

Nurses General Nursing

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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in correctional facilities when my NM told me I had to clock out & go home due to the fact my security clearance was revoked.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My NM didn't know why my security clearance was revoked but after I clocked out & got to my car I called my agency & they told me that I was unable to work for this company in *any* capacity.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.

Awful sorry about the unfortunate turn of events. I'm not looking to know your business because we all make mistakes and it sounds like this was a while ago and you're remorseful. I hope things work out for you.

I'm waiting to take my NCLEX in just a few more weeks, so I'm new to the field, but my understanding is that nursing is such a broad field that even in a small town you can find a lot of options without having to venture far out. Maybe that's not realistic though. Perhaps you can find a position working for an insurance company as a tele-health nurse? Perhaps doing home health?

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Sorry to hear about situation. You came this far, and you'll go on (is what you have to tell yourself). Self-love, taking care of yourself and you family right now. There are "no perfect human beings" so don't be hard on yourself. Just be upfront about everything from now on. There's nothing to be ashamed of.

If i were you, i would apply for another position "directly" and avoid agencies. Perhaps a Senior Assisted Living Facility or a Hospital? Not sure what town you work in, but if its worth it, consider driving a little distance for your next job. Its not easy...nothing in life is easy. Keep working on you and something good will open up (have faith).

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I'm so sorry to read about your problem, Chaos! I am hopeful things work out for you! ❤️

Thank you!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
My home office is 100 mikes away from my home. LPNs do similar to what I do. Check out united health care and BCBS

Ok, thank you! :)

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Awful sorry about the unfortunate turn of events. I'm not looking to know your business because we all make mistakes and it sounds like this was a while ago and you're remorseful. I hope things work out for you.

I'm waiting to take my NCLEX in just a few more weeks, so I'm new to the field, but my understanding is that nursing is such a broad field that even in a small town you can find a lot of options without having to venture far out. Maybe that's not realistic though. Perhaps you can find a position working for an insurance company as a tele-health nurse? Perhaps doing home health?

I have been applying for jobs in towns that are an hour away. But with my job history I am getting rejected. :( So it looks like I will have to apply for disability because I don't know if I can really hold down a job for any length of time.

Good luck on your NCLEX!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Sorry to hear about situation. You came this far, and you'll go on (is what you have to tell yourself). Self-love, taking care of yourself and you family right now. There are "no perfect human beings" so don't be hard on yourself. Just be upfront about everything from now on. There's nothing to be ashamed of.

If i were you, i would apply for another position "directly" and avoid agencies. Perhaps a Senior Assisted Living Facility or a Hospital? Not sure what town you work in, but if its worth it, consider driving a little distance for your next job. Its not easy...nothing in life is easy. Keep working on you and something good will open up (have faith).

Yeah, I can't work for agencies since they would place me to work at the prisons & I can't work for that company. I have no hospital experience so I can't work agency in a hospital.

I haven't been applying for jobs over an hour outside of my town but am still getting rejected. I know it's due to the fact that my last three jobs I held for only a month. So I'm thinking my only choice is to apply for disability. I don't want to go to school & have the problems pop up after I wasted all that time, money & energy.

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Well if you "resigned" then you can't get unemployment. You can still try though. That's why they give you a choice... if you chose to resign then you can't get unemployment and they know it.

You also cannot get unemployment if terminated for cause, including misconduct, not meeting requirements or lying in your application; >OKKOOthe latter 2 apply to OP.

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I haven't been applying for jobs over an hour outside of my town but am still getting rejected. I know it's due to the fact that my last three jobs I held for only a month. So I'm thinking my only choice is to apply for disability. I don't want to go to school & have the problems pop up after I wasted all that time, money & energy.

Keep in mind that to claim unemployment you must be able and trying to find work. applying for disability is a clear statement that you are not willing/ready/able to work.

I would be cautious applying for disability for bipolar (anyway; make sure your state BON won't find out or you may find your license in probation, suspended or revoked or be sent to a diversion program. Does your license renewal ask about if you've been working, treated for mental illness

etc? You don't want to end up with more hurdles in your

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The reality is though that people get unemployment all the time even when there are allegations of misconduct, so it's always a good idea to at least try. These things can be argued. You can fight the allegations. My husband was fired a long time ago for calling in too much and he got unemployment without much of a problem, for example. I have heard of other people getting it as well even though they were fired.

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I was offered a job in corrections. Went through everything, informed them of my arrest at age 13. Was called and informed my offer was resinsined due to an ex that had started harassment preceding against me when I was 20. I knew nothing about him doing this and found nothing in the court systems about it. But since he filed with the agency I was hired for I could do nothing about it. Amazing how your past can haunt you

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

My bipolar disorder is honestly not getting any better in terms of me being able to hold down a job, so am I really able to work? Is it worth it to go through all the trouble of what you have stated (although it is really great advice!) or going back to school for me to just quit another job in 6 months or less? The last few jobs I've held I wasn't at for more than 3 months. Of course this one I didn't quit but I did have a melt down & wanted to quit.

I'm in a good place mentally since my husband & I separated. I don't want to mess it up by adding more stress by working. So I have decided to apply for disability. I know it will take awhile but nothing has changed between then & now. Why keep torturing myself?

Hang in there OC.

In the end you need to do what is best for you. I will say that you have a lot to offer and, disability or not, I hope you can find an outlet for your talents. I am a big believer that engaging your mind and talents in overall wellness. Best of luck!

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That's awful, i am so sorry to hear that i think also there should be some courtesy here, like cant they call you to let you know there is an issue, its really not right to be blindsided like that, i pray something will come up for you.

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