I'm an Unemployed RN Who can't seem to find a job!!!!!!!!!!

Monica RN,BSN · Aug 6, 2003

Thanks for the email... I am working on your reply. I can see some issues that need help. I think we can help you.. Take a breather, a job you soon shall have.... :) :)

Monica

Teshiee · Aug 6, 2003

Wow! I can't understand unless your former boss is being very nasty. I understand that an employer can only ask about your time service there not about you personally. I tell you one thing you wouldn't have a problem in California. I agree with the other posts don't put termination it sounds too negative and it gets the mind wondering what really went down. I usually say unfair staffing practices or cut backs.

Euskadi1946 · Aug 6, 2003

Teshiee please tell me about the nursing situation in California. That may be an option for me since I hate Utah with a passion. I was born and raised here and I'm not LDS. I moved to Nevada when I graduated from high school and only came back to Utah to see my folks about once or twice per year til they died. I was offered a traveling nurse position right after my mom passed away here in Utah and took it to be close to my family. Then the hospital cancelled the contract and I was stranded and went to work for an HMO and retired from there last year. Since then it has been awfully hard on me and I just can't seem to find a decent job. By the way Utah is a hire and fire at will state. So how are the nursing prospects in Calif???

Gomer · Aug 6, 2003

First, there is no federal law which prohibits any employer from giving out employment history. Smart employers give out only dates of employment to avoid lawsuits.

Second, you weren't RIF'd you were terminated. If you put RIF down on your application you are lying. Even if a company hires you, if you lied on your application you can be terminated (again). Best thing to do is leave "why did you leave your last job" blank or put down "will discuss at time of interview" (then you can give your side of the story).

How long were you employed in your last job? Were you terminated before the probationary period was up? The length of time you spent doing recent beside nursing may be a reason you can't find another job. And what was the exact reason your employer gave your for your termination? Med errors? Incident reports? What? Or, SLC is still a small medical community. Maybe the other employers are checking with people they know at your former hospital. Not right, I know, but people do talk.

mattsmom81 · Aug 6, 2003

I presented an ultimatum to my superiors once in a baaad job situation..I said move me back to my old position or I will leave. They said leave. I refer to this as a mutual seperation on my resume, and on my cover letter I include willingness to discuss specifics in person. Now this incident comes up with the employer spin on my Group One, but I have been successful at presenting my POV in person.

Don't be discouraged, just learn from the experience and grow.

Be prepared to share what you learned, what you would do differently, etc. I want to work for directors who listen to both sides...and those employers who don't call me back because of a black mark on my record...well, I figger I probably don't want to work for these kinds of close minded individuals, know what I mean?

I know lots of good nurses who have been terminated and it is not insurmountable as long as it is a rare occurrence.

MOST good HR people and managers understand that a personality conflict is often all that is needed today to get a bad reference, and even get fired .

Unfortunately area managers and HR's CAN gossip under the table about local individuals. I don't want to work with these types either. Make sure you include references from individuals who will sing your praises and counter the negative. Hang in there. !!

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Aug 6, 2003

Originally posted by Rustyhammer
I went through a brief stint where I couldn't get a job.
I collected unemployment and then one day I got like 5 job offers.
It's just a sign that you should do something fun for awhile.
-Russell

Ain't that the truth!:chuckle

sjoe · Aug 7, 2003

"Sounds like there might be something questionable about the references your former boss is giving you,"

That is a very good possibility. You can have your references checked (for a fee, of course) by companies such as http://www.references-etc.com or others you can find on http://www.google.com .

You might be very surprised, as I was, to learn that many companies simply throw away all HR records after 3 or 4 years and cannot even verify that you ever worked for them! Others can give only dates, no performance evals or anything else, which makes it sound as though they are covering up something. Some have farmed out their HR departments to companies with 20 minute waits before they pick up their phones, and who know next to nothing.

What I did was contact friends I worked with and for (co-workers, managers, etc.) and got them to type me up professional references with their current phone numbers and addresses. I supply a xeroxed copy of these letters at or after the interview.

So far as job opportunities themselves, you might try http://www.nurseweek.com and see what is available in Utah, if that is where you REALLY want to stay.

essarge · Aug 7, 2003

Have you considered going to your former boss and asking for a letter of reference? This would put the ball in his/her court to explain any different information that they give out when a phone call/letter is sent asking about your performance or the reason for your termination.

Q. · Aug 7, 2003

Originally posted by Gomer
First, there is no federal law which prohibits any employer from giving out employment history. Smart employers give out only dates of employment to avoid lawsuits.

No federal law, but a state law in Wisconsin allows an employer to provide ONLY truthful

statements regarding a previous or current employee to another employer

as long as the statements are based in fact. Generally if an employer:

1)provides a discriminatory reference (based on protected categories

under Civil Rights Act)

2)gives a negative reference in retaliation

3)provides a defamatory reference or

4)discloses private facts that should have been kept confidential

it could be a legal risk. An employer can make statements such as:

"the employee was disciplined for attendance several times and received

a final written warning" but should not make statements such as "she

never got along with anyone" without being able to substantiate this

statement.

Bad news: even if an employer provided a defamatory statement to

another employer, most people cannot afford to obtain legal

representation to sue for defamation under court law, even though

damages awarded under such circumstances are in the millions of

dollars.