let go

[Medsport, LPN]

Okay, I was let go from an AL job I'd been at for over 5 years. Basically for sleeping on the job. I was on my break and was written up for it earlier this week. I guess I should have reviewed the policy, but the previous director said she didn't care what we did on our breaks, but she recently left. They said I did it again and it is not true. They said several of the aides and even a resident signed a statement and I'm 100% sure its not true for that night. They also said they couldn't find me for like 2 hours, which isn't true and also some other things which I tried to explain, but they had their minds made up. There was also an allegation of something happening with an aid that I don't recall, but said they are not going to pursue that at the moment. I did have a lot or write-ups in my folder, but some of them were from years ago and I know I had made mistakes in the past, but no repeats of the same offense except some med errors, but not of the same type I can think of.

I don't understand why they would lie? I think it has something to do with an aid that I went out once with as a friend and then she got really weird when I messaged her on FB. I caught her in several lies personally, but now look like it transferred over to my job! I'm not even sure if I can get unemployment now as its my word against several others. I technically may have a prn job, but haven't worked there in over 2 months so not sure if they have anything or not. So where do I go from here. I know try to find another job, but being fired won't look good on app. Do I put down personal reasons or try to explain the situation or that people lied?

IDK, the stress of nursing seems to be getting to me recently. Not the patient care, but the politics, family, aids, and always worrying you are doing something wrong. I have been having trouble with sleep lately too. I just can't seem to get on a schedule like I used to. My off days I get used to sleeping nights and then end up not sleeping good the day before I have to work. Anyway, I had been considering looking for something different like truck driving (if I could find something local or regional), factory (if I could find a place that pays good enough around here) or even this IT training which is starting like next week and is free. But the problem with that or even the truck driving is how to make money while training as I'm about broke now and have bills coming up. Sorry for the long post.

[LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN]

I think first you need to reflect on your job experience there. You said you weren't sleep the time they accused you of but how many times were you really sleeping that you weren't caught? I am not being accusatory but just pointing out how people could come to the conclusion you were sleeping that night if it was a regular thing. Now, I have never heard of not being able to get a little shut eye on break, is that in your handbook? I don't do it but I am off the clock when on break, another nurse is covering my patients, if I wanted to sleep in my car for a bit, that's my business. As long as you weren't sleeping on the clock, I am not sure why they were up in arms about it.

You also need to reflect on why you have several write ups in your folder. I am thinking what happened is that when the new director came one, saw your multiple write ups, you became a target to get rid of because she may have viewed you as a liability. But even so, it seems like you need to re-evaluate your nursing process when your working. We all have been there, done that with mistakes but the key is you need to learn how to not repeat them.

As far as unemployment goes, you should be ok. I worked with someone who got fired for falsifying vitals and still won unemployment. I would call your PRN job and get as many hours as you can and do your best work so you can get a quality reference from them in order to obtain full time employment again.

You said you may look for other jobs and that's okay too. Sometimes you need a break or sometimes this job isn't for everyone. I took a break myself for 6 months and stayed home with my kids because I was burnt out. I had to re-evaluate if it was me, the field, or my job. I was a combo of all three. I re-grouped and am certain this field is for me and now I am not nearly as frustrated/dread work as I did before.

How you will spin this on your application, I am not sure. It may be best to be truthful and just state what you learn from it or hang out at your PRN job long enough that you can use them as a previous/current employer instead.I voluntarily left a job w/ notice. But because I turned my manager in for not having an active nursing license, they mark me as un-hirable when potential employers send out past job reference checks. The administrator is a nut case and was pissed I came to her with the info but I just state the facts of the situation to potential employers and I have never had an issue getting hired since I have quality references and my other previous jobs I am re-hirable.

[Medsport, LPN]

Thanks for the advice. Well for one, I was only sleeping on my break which the previous director said was okay as long as we were off the clock. I know now I should have checked the handbook because apparently there is supposed to be no sleeping at all. It doesn't really make sense since you can leave on your break so you could go somewhere or to your car and sleep then. I think the main reason was that a couple of the aides (which were friends) said I touched one of them inappropriately which is not true. I had gotten too close I can see now with the other one and we went out once as friends and I thought she was nice and wanted to go out again, but she kept making excuses and now I see she probably wasn't interested but lied to me.

As far as the write-ups, those were going back over 5 years and some of the older ones were unfounded also since the previous management didn't do things by the book and some of those were not true. I know I had several since then, but I don't believe there were any repeats of the same exact kind. From what I hear (even from DON's) is that mistakes are normal as long as you learn from them.

I still haven't filed as I don't really want to "stir the pot" make them mad as they were not going to pursue the allegation at this point I believe. I also picked up a couple days at my prn job this week so I wouldn't have gotten much if any anyway. It is really busy and hard there, but I know most if not all nursing homes are the same anymore. I do have a couple interviews this week so hope those go well as I can't afford to be off much at all.

[Medsport, LPN]

I'm starting to think I'm SOL. I thought my interview went well and she said she would let me know by end of the week. She said she had to contact my references and the job I got fired at so I was honest with her about most of what happened. Although I did leave the alleged touching part out because after all it was alleged (I did not do it) and from the paper I signed was not fired for that. Well I didn't hear from her yet and I waited to sign up for some hours at my prn job because I thought for sure I would be training this week. Now the hours are covered until end of next week. I'm about out of money already and have house and car payment coming up and my cc is nearly maxed (small credit limit d/t bk a few years ago).

So what do I do now? I'm starting to ramp up the applying for jobs and starting to go out of the area a bit. I wanted to stay closer this time to save on gas and for the winter driving, but I've either worked at or applied and not been hired to all the NH in town. The one hospital is still hiring, but they didn't call me back since they are non-smoking and I said I did when I applied since I know they test (although technically I don't smoke since I vape, but it does have nicotine). Anyway, should I apply at something like HH or a couple of the staffing places? A family member thinks I should try the staffing place or travel nurse, but I'm not sure about going places and not knowing the procedures or residents, but then again a med pass is a med pass and I'm sure they would understand if you didn't do everything perfect if you are new and filling in when they need help. I'm thinking now I should have applied for unemployment. I guess its not too late, but hear it takes a few weeks to start (if even approved) and I already know its not going to be enough to live on. Any advice?

[Medsport, LPN]

Anybody? I'm starting to really get discouraged. I've applied at a half dozen places and yet to hear anything. My mom thinks I should call the place that was supposed to get back to me last week, but I figure if she said she would call and hasn't they are not interested. I noticed that a place I worked before prn is hiring, but stopped working there last summer. I don't believe I was fired, but some of the 1st shift nurses didn't like me for some reason I think. Do you think I should call them to see if they might be interested in me coming back?

I have to find something real soon. If I don't I think my only option will be to try something in truck driving. I really don't want to do OTR though and know its hard to find something local just starting out and don't know how I'm going to make money while training for 3-4 weeks. I did hear of a place that will pay you a little while training, but you have to sign a contract with them for like a year. Another possibility is going ahead and filing unemployment so that would help until I get the license. Only thing is I still don't know if I would be approved and since I'm picking up a day here or there at my prn job, not sure what to put down as my last day of work or if prn jobs even count as far as getting benefits?

[ponymom]

I don't believe I was fired

How could you not know whether or not you were fired? And why not just quit smoking/vaping, if that's what's needed to get a chance at a job?

[Medsport, LPN]

How could you not know whether or not you were fired? And why not just quit smoking/vaping, if that's what's needed to get a chance at a job?

Well because they just took me off the schedule and never called me back about picking up any hours. I only vape for the nicotine because I believe it helps my U.C.

[Medsport, LPN]

Well now I've got another predicament guys. I started a new job last week at a place that's a little further away, but they pay is pretty good. The med passes are really heavy and it looks like I will have to jump around on different halls for now and some nights work on a behavior unit, but there is some down time in the middle of the night as long as nobody falls or anything. In the mean time my prn job is having trouble staffing the night position and they had been calling me almost every day last week. I hadn't called them back since I was training and then had to work two 12's on my own and really needed a break this weekend. I probably should call them back and at least tell them whats going on, but don't want to over do it working almost every night at least until I feel comfortable at the new job. IDK, it is closer but the pay and benefits aren't as good. The med pass is lighter, but it seems you are always running the whole shift doing busy work. I do get along with the DON there though and have hardly talked to the one at the new job.

As far as unemployment, it looks like I was finally approved even though I could never get through to talk to anyone. But now I'm behind on the documentation by a few weeks. The first week I made just over the amount to get anything because I worked 2 days that week I think. Not sure if I shorted myself since I worked a Sat. that went into Sun. half the shift, but didn't want to get audited if that counted as the previous week or the next. Not sure what to do about cancelling the unemployment or what since I've been so busy working and doing my taxes, ect. I hadn't had time to read through everything. I imagine you would just tell them you are working full time now.