Job Searching after termination - please help

Crocuta, RN · Feb 10, 2009

First of all, don't ever lie about previous employment. At virtually all facilities, discovery that you lied on an application is grounds for immediate termination. That will earn you a black mark for sure. Even more importantly, the lie goes straight to your character - and I'm not talking here about how other people view you. Start lying now, and it will become easier with each passing day, if the guilt doesn't gnaw away at your self-esteem first. There's nothing shameful about admitting honestly that you were in a situation that was more than you could handle. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The real take-home point is "what did you learn from it?"

You haven't ruined anything unless you let this experience dominate your life. Personally, I'd take it as a tremendous sign of growth and potential if I was interviewing someone and they said exactly what you've said here. Accepting your own part (attitude) in the outcome of your previous situation and taking ownership and responsibility for it makes you a better nurse and human being, not a worse one.

Good luck with your search.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2009

Is it possible to go straight into home health nursing without acute care experience?

Good luck to you, you will eventually meet with success, judging by your post.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2009

I agree with not deleting the job from the application. Most applications have a box or something to say you'd rather this employee not be contacted. Follow up when asked about this with an answer that says "My time there was very valuable to me, and blah blah hospital is a fine place to work, but it was not a good fit for me.". As far as what to say about what went wrong, thats where the real skill of interviewing comes in.

Also, dont be in too much of a hurry to go back to the same type of setting, but in a different hospital. Things did go wrong here. You and your next employee I'm sure, would like to avoid a repeat of the same problems.

I understand you are probably scared. It can be tempting to take the first job that comes along. Dont go that route. Financial stresses plus the opportunity to prove to ourselves that the problem was them not us should not be what guides our decisions in a situation like this.

First and foremost, you MUST spend some time, alone with your thoughts, and perform an assessment about what went wrong. Brutal honesty must be the standard for this assessment. Once you have done this, take the parts that you see being yours and make sure you are truly able to change them before diving back into another job. Most problems with nursing can be elmininated with self awareness and experience, some cant. Do everything in your power to make sure you do not repeat the mistakes you made in the past. Then, look at the parts that may have come from the facility and were out of your control. Was the orientation period too long? Did you dislike their documentation system and need something different? When you go looking for a job, arm yourself with these facts. You are being interviewed for a position but you are interviewing the facility as well. Make sure the aspects that became a hurdle to you at your former job dont exist at the new place also.

And, finally, I will follow with this. I was very humble coming out of school. I did not consider myself a "born nurse" or an exemplary student. I had to work harder for my Bs than some people did for their As. I'm not ashamed of that, its what my "brutaly honest assessment" revealed to me. I seeked my first position as a nurse armed with this information. I did not jump at the opportunity to start out in the area I wanted to specialize in (ICU) and instead, under the advice of a couple respected instructors..........went into a small hospital M/s unit that was very good with GNs.

Maybe trying a different field that allows you an ideal first learning experience would be a good move for you. You'll know the answer after spending time alone performing the assessment of what went wrong.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 10, 2009

Agree with Erik - you need to do a self-evaluation and figure out what went wrong that you can change. I'm gathering you haven't worked in almost a year? I would explain that lag time as "I needed to do a self-assessment so that I don't repeat my mistakes. I realize now, that I need a supportive environment as a new grad and feel that your hospital or organization has such a wonderful reputation that it would provide me with this so that I can be a successful nurse and employee".

That way, you've owned up to your own responsibilty in this situation but also told the potential new employee that you are ready to move on and up.

Good luck and as everyone else suggested, don't lie on your resume or application.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 10, 2009

i've moved your thread to the first year after nursing licensure forum.

look around and you will see others here have had rocky starts in their career.

a good self assessment of what went wrong and how things will be different in next position is crucial to be able to succeed during search and interview. your statement

i cant even remember what they said the reasons were as everything is kind of a blur to me now, but in essence i was not dealing well with the fast-paced environment of hospital nursing. i always felt like i could not keep up and i was constantly getting different feedback from other nurses on what my priorities should be. at first i went in with a egotistic attitude and was instantly shocked on the vast differences b/w nursing school clinicals and reality. after i finally humbled myself i worked hard to try to find my way, i asked and got a different preceptor who had a lot more experience and finally took the time to teach me. she thought i was ready to be on my own. the first week on my own was stressful, but i felt it went ok besides one med error (tb test on another employee). the 2nd week they put me on day shift and i was utterly overwhelmed and it showed. by the end of that week i was fired. in the end i realize i made mistakes not only in making charting and med mistakes but mainly in my attitude.

shows that you have put come effort into defining the problem. now need to gather ideas what you've done to overcome issue: self reflection, reading nursing articles for advice for begineers, took online ce courses, sought adivce of peers, etc ---hey doing that now!

our thread wondering why you can't get hired or promoted: resume + interview hints! may help ---lists 2 books at end: first year as a nurse and building and managing a career in nursing: strategies for advancing your career that you might find at local library to help you with solid advice.

good luck on moving forward.