interviewing

[RJohn2017]

So, a few months ago, I was fired from my first RN job for a patient complaint that was hardly true. They complained that I was not in the room enough (I was an ICU nurse and this was my only patient that day). They complained that we through the linen on the floor during a bath (it was cleaned up promptly after). They complained that the poop clean up was messy (he was tube fed, aren't those always messy). They complained that I did not use sterile technique while suctioning his trach (I was next to a respiratory therapist while doing so, why would I not use sterile technique). They complained he was left in the chair all day (I asked him MULTIPLE times if he wanted to go back to bed, he said no).

My manager asked me what neuro assessment I did on him. Did I ask him his name, where he was, etc? I did not unfortunately ask him those. He did respond appropriately to other questions, however. She asked regarding another patient if I was turning him q2h. No, I did not. This patient could shift weight and he got up to the chair. But she still dinged me for that.

So I was terminated for not providing competent critical care.

I just want to know how to move past this and how to tackle this in interviews. I have an interview coming up at a new hospital, and I would love this job. How to I nail this interview?

Oh and I'm also 20 weeks pregnant too. So I'm not showing much...

[guest52816]

You certainly have a lot on your plate.

Take a deep breathe.

How long were you employed before being fired? What specialty is the new job?

Just a few questions before I can mull your situation.

[RJohn2017]

I worked for 8 months. Also, this new job is in surgery!

[guest52816]

I truly appreciate your dilemma because I was recently in your same situation. And I chose to handle it by simply explaining the reasons why I chose my old position, and how I learned during the ensuing seven months, that it wasn't where I wanted to be.

My new employer seemed to accept my reasoning on face value.

To be sure, you will have some posters advise you to NEVER lie, or couch the reasons for leaving a job. But I don't subscribe to that line of thinking. If you shared the true reason of your termination, nobody would hire you, just as I wouldn't have been hired.

Keep in mind that employers are looking for reasons TO hire you. They have a position to fill. Don't spoon feed them a reason NOT to hire you.

You were terminated from your first RN job. Live and learn and move on. Just make sure you have solid reasons as to why the old job just wasn't right for you, and why this new one is! It is good that you are a new RN. Many new RNs job hop as they try to find their place in nursing. And many seasoned nurses job hop in an effort to find better working environments.

Just keep your head together, and you should be fine.

Best of luck with the job search, and the new baby.