Iwas fired for failure to provide care how do I answer at interview

[stephensr]

I am a new LPN the charge nurse would forget to do something and call me at work to ask me to do what ever she forgot to do I would do (many times) I did'nt have a problem with it but she decided to turn me in for not changing a dressing and I did'nt initial the MAR which look like I did'nt give the medication so I was fired. What should I say on my next interview reason why I was fired without sounding negative.Can I answer it with out mentioning what happn.I heard if they call previous employer they cannot tell reason why I was fired.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

That was the only reason they fired you? Did you actually do the dressing change?

[stephensr]

No i forgot it because i had to send a resident to the hospital and was dealing with the family i am also listed as no rehire.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Was it a really, really important dressing change, like it would have the potential to adversely affect the resident if it wasn't done when it was assigned? Or was it like a Band-Aid change?

[chillchick]

I would personally think the more significant issue were your failure to document giving a med... if someone else gave that med, depending upon what it were, there could be some seriously adverse effects upon the patient's condition!

If it were me, I would not say I was fired, I would say I left... I don't know if you *have* to say you were fired? If anything, I would say it "wasn't a right fit" or something to that effect. However, I probably would not include this job on my resume if at all possible (e.g., if you have other relevant experience).

Good luck with the new job! xo

[Psqrd]

Well I would certainly list the job or you will have trouble explaining the gap in employment and as most employers are doing credit checks it would most certainly pop up there.

As far as how to talk about the job I would just say that you left seeking opportunities that better fit your career goals and leave it at that. Its truthful and sounds professional and people leave jobs all the time trying to find a better fit for themselves.

It used to be that the someone seeking reference could ask if you were eligible for rehire and that the former employer would give that information but now most wont even give that. If they do say your not eligible I would say that you fell short of a full two week notice because of vacation plans or something.

Don't stress about it..I would be more worried about them reporting it to your license that you delayed care.

P2

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

If they do say your not eligible I would say that you fell short of a full two week notice because of vacation plans or something.

I wouldn't lie, OP. If they catch you in a lie, then it is definitely game over for you.

I was asking what I did to determine the magnitude of your infraction. Really, when LTC nurses are swamped, some of the minor treatments go by the wayside. So does signing the treatment book. It seems questionable to me that you were fired over this one thing, unless it was a biggie of a dressing change.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

I would personally think the more significant issue were your failure to document giving a med... if someone else gave that med, depending upon what it were, there could be some seriously adverse effects upon the patient's condition!

If it were me, I would not say I was fired, I would say I left... I don't know if you *have* to say you were fired? If anything, I would say it "wasn't a right fit" or something to that effect. However, I probably would not include this job on my resume if at all possible (e.g., if you have other relevant experience).

Good luck with the new job! xo

Me too! U read my mind!! GOOD LUCK!!

Anne, RNC

[ozoneranger]

Let me get this straight.

She failed to perform a dressing change which was scheduled to be done during her shift.

She realized her error....called you & asked you to do what she should have done 10 or 12 hours ago.

You forgot to help her out & do the change for her.

And you're the one who lost her job.

Yea, that sounds about right.

I'd tell my perspective employers that my last job was not a good fit.

I hope you find a place where you feel at home, and you have the opportunity to grow both personally & professionally.

Best of luck to you.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

You may also want to consider filing for unemployment benefits, if your state allows. Interestingly, this situation hits really close to home, and in that case, unemployment benefits were granted.

[NurseGloria]

I know that it is often impossible to do everything that you are supposed to do in one shift in long term care. I have worked where an administrator told me to fill in all the holes in the medication record book and treatment book because we did not have enough staff to actually give all the meds or do all the treatments. They were not initialed and I was told to initial everything that wasn't initialed.

For anyone who doesn't work in long term care, that means he told me to initial that medications and treatments were done that were not done a week or more after they were supposed to be done. I refused. I was terminated not long after that. I thought I was protecting my integrity and my conscience. What a joke. I have since found out that is a common practice. Of course it is illegal.

It is difficult for me to believe that you were terminated because you missed a dressing change, which is also common in long term care. I wonder if you were terminated because you did not chart that you did something that you did not have time to do. I know that is disgusting, but it may be the reality of your situation.

Personally, I believe that when we do things that our conscience tells us are wrong, our health suffers. Having a conscience is good for patients, but not always good for a career in nursing.

Let us be honest here in this anonymous forum and share the immoral situations that we have been forced into in order to keep our jobs. Most nurses who have worked in long term care know that missing a dressing change would not cause a nurse to lose her job unless a family member found out and made a fuss about it. Even then, a nurse probably wouldn't be terminated unless management was looking for an excuse to reduce the payroll as is common after the yearly state inspection.

[NurseGloria]

"For anyone who doesn't work in long term care, that means he told me to initial that medications and treatments were done that were not done a week or more after they were supposed to be done."

By the way, those weren't my missed treatments that I was asked to initial.