Laid Off From Tech Job For Graduating Nursing School

[Chloebug]

I guess I am putting this out there to see if anything like this has happened to someone else. Some constructive criticism or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I was hired as a full-time CNA at a local hospital about three years ago. This was not my first CNA position. I had two years of experience prior to be hired at this facility. The first year was smooth and towards the end of the year I enrolled in nursing school. After my first semester I was given a new job title, Nursing Technician, with a higher hourly pay. The responsibilities were essentially the same.

During my second semester I really started to struggle with balancing my responsibilities (i.e. work, school, and my health). To be honest, I was not mentally or physically prepared for the stress of school combined with working. My absences increased and I even had to repeat my second semester. However, I did end up graduating. By the time I graduated I had received a verbal warning due to my absences, but I had never been written up. The week I graduated I was let go from my tech position. At this point, I had been there for three years. They claimed that I was not fired, but I did not meet the job description of a nursing technician any longer which required the employee to be enrolled in school. Many of my classmates had graduate nurse positions lined up within their units, but I was so worried about passing and graduating that I did not take the time to search for a job. I also did not really want to begin my nursing career on the same unit that I worked as a technician on, mainly due to unit politics. New management had taken over and the environment began to be less enjoyable. I also do not believe the manager liked me very much.

At this point, I'm scheduled to take my NCLEX next month. I guess I am just wondering if being laid off in this manner automatically puts me on the, "do not rehire" list. Should I even waste my time applying to different positions within this healthcare system? I did apply for unemployment, so does that blacklist me from getting rehired? I have applied to numerous positions and have been rejected rather quickly. The assistant manager told me that they did not put anything in my file to hinder my ability to transfer or be hired in to

another position, but I do not fully trust that. I just do not understand why having to let me go after I graduated was never communicated to me. I am feeling lost and completely rejected. Any advice?

[cleback]

Some places do have a policy that if you're a nurse you can't work as a nursing assistant. However, that you were not told of that before makes me wonder if your manager was using the policy to get rid of you. Sucky as that may be, the good news is you technically weren't fired and have nothing on your hr record, which should make the job hunt process better. Apply to other healthcare systems. If you really want to return to that employer, get some experience elsewhere first and reapply to another unit.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

From what I understand, this is quite common. My unit does not allow a newly graduated nurse to continue working as a tech or CNA once they've graduated due to conflict of licensure.

[elkpark]

This is a common policy but, apparently, based on a number of threads here over the years, a lot of employers don't explain to people in advance that they will lose their positions as soon as they finish nursing school. Many of us think it's better to not start your nursing career on the same unit where you used to work as a tech, so this may all be for the best anyway. Congrats on graduating, and best wishes!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to student forum

[caliotter3]

This is one of the disadvantages of trying to get a job where one did a clinical or where one has been working as a CNA. If they like you, they will hire you. Conversely, if they don't like you, they have figured that out, and you don't get the job. Had you not made a bad impression in clinical or had you not worked there as a CNA, you would have the same chances as any other new grad applying for work. You weren't told, possibly because the decision had already been made and nobody wanted to give you the heads up so you could attempt to mend your ways. Look for work elsewhere and reapply here in the future, but don't be surprised if elephant memories prevail.