I just started my first LPN job in October and got fired 2 days ago. Its the only nursing experience I have so in order to get another job, i have no choice but to put it down. The experience I got looks good on my resume.
I got fired for being absent 4 times during my probation period. What should i say to prospective employers when they ask why I left? I dont want to say I got fired. Can I just say it wasnt a good fit?
Also, on my resume, i didnt put an end date, it just says Oct 2009-present. Should I change it?
I hope that claudette is not your real first name. This board is not as anonymous as one might wish and your discourse in this thread might not be something that you would want to get to an employer.
You're trying very hard to not acknowledge all those who have advised you that the truth is always the best policy. What will you do if you say "bad fit" and subsequently the employer finds out (either before or after hiring you) that you were let go for excessive absences?
Trust us, nursing can be a very small community. Word gets around because someone always knows someone who knows someone else who works with someone you work with.
But you're gonna do what you're gonna do....
so very true roser, about nsg being a small community.
aides work at different places, don's know each other...
stuff is found out.
claudette, while i understand your reluctance in telling the truth, it really is the only way to handle this.
correct me if i'm wrong, but it appears you're trying to blow off those of us who are encouraging the truth.
while the truth will set you free, lies have a way of coming back to bite you.
please, you really need to take the advice of the experienced nurses on here, and focus on getting daycare in order.
this way, you can indeed, tell the truth in stating that you were fired r/t absenteeism AND that you have resolved the babysitter situation.
"not a good fit" is so cliche and can elicit suspicion.
the 'right' employer will appreciate your integrity in being truthful.
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
This is true, and I never understand why people keep passing on the myth that former employers "legally aren't allowed" to give out anything but hire and separation dates and eligibility for rehire.
When I am called on a reference for a former employee I tell the truth. I believe that I owe that to the prospective employer who takes the time to call me. I hope that they will reciprocate if I have to call them in the future. One question that often opens the door is whether a particular employee is eligible for rehire.
I got a call a while back for a job reference for an employee we fired. I told them that this employee was not eligible for rehire and why, and that I could not in good conscience recommend this person to another employer.
People are right about nursing being a small community. The last DON I worked for was a very good friend of the Director of the nursing school I attended. One of the nursing supervisors at the nursing home I worked at had also been a supervisor at the hospital I had worked at. And the nurses...one or another always knew someone.
It seems like you're trying to justify lying, and one of the most important aspects of this profession is ACCOUNTABILITY! As a nurse, we are are accountable and responsible for our actions, if one were to lie about simple things, would or could they be trusted with something more important?
It happened, no need to dwell on it in an interview, but if it comes up you need to let the interviewer know that it is no longer an issue.
OK, moderator, plse close this thread now. I already feel the wrath of some posters. My decision has been made on what I must do.Thanks to all who took the time to reply without passing judgement, and to those who did prejudge me, its not you putting food on my table or a roof over my head.
Specializes in Wound care, Surgery,Infection control.
OK, moderator, plse close this thread now. I already feel the wrath of some posters. My decision has been made on what I must do.Thanks to all who took the time to reply without passing judgement, and to those who did prejudge me, its not you putting food on my table or a roof over my head.
claudette , filter the put downs and realize that some us are taking our time to help. My concern for you is a job application. On applications I fill out it usually says "have you been fired or asked to resign in the past five years" that's why I said be honest. If this is not part of the application then do what you think is right. Do not let others get you down, you have enough to deal with. Keep your head up.
I agree, honesty is the best policy. It shows character and speaks to your ethics. If I were hiring, I'd rather the person be honest and tell me that they were let go because they had four absences during their probationary period, but that the problem has been resolved and it will not be an issue. Acknowledging the importance of reliable attendance and giving assurance that it will not be a problem in the future would sit a lot better with me than someone lying. If I found out you lied after I hired you, I'd be none too pleased. If I found out you lied while I was checking your references, you would not get the job.
OK, moderator, plse close this thread now. I already feel the wrath of some posters. My decision has been made on what I must do.Thanks to all who took the time to reply without passing judgement, and to those who did prejudge me, its not you putting food on my table or a roof over my head.
When you come on a public bulletin board and solicit input you can expect to get all kinds of opinions. Take what you want or what you want to hear and leave the rest. If this is going to be your attitude toward constructive criticism and well meant advice, I can see where it might pose a problem for employers, past or present.
OK, moderator, plse close this thread now. I already feel the wrath of some posters. My decision has been made on what I must do.Thanks to all who took the time to reply without passing judgement, and to those who did prejudge me, its not you putting food on my table or a roof over my head.
One of the downsides of posting a question on a public forum is that not all of the responses will be what you want them to be. No one has been remotely wrathful; quite the opposite. Some of us have hung in there despite your obvious disinclination to heed the advice that you asked for. Rather than wrath, that shows an earnest desire to help you understand the potential consequences of your actions.
It seems that I got to this thread a little late, but I feel compelled to post o this.
I have not been a nurse for very long (just graudated in December). However I have been in the workplace for around 20 years and have been on countless interviews, and even been fired a couple of times so I think that I can speak on this subject.
You seem to think that everyone is coming down on you and being judgementmental when in fact people are giving what you need most: the truth. The truth is a funny thing; everyone asks for it but very few actually like it when it's given to them. You are worried about getting another job being a new grad in this less than rosy economy. That is totally understandable. All of us are feeling the pinch. Let me put this question to you: Are you willing to do the right thing to make sure you secure a job with a future so you can provide for our family? Or are you willing to "whatever it takes" to get something as soon as you can? I ask this because "what ever it takes" and the "right thing" are polar opposites. I reading these posts I think there are a couple of key peices of wisdom you need to take with you, the first being that honesty IS the best policy. It may just sound like a quaint old saying but it is true. Being honest about your circumstances may cause some employers to overlook you, but most of them won't rule you out. You may end up getting called back for a job interview because you turned out to be the most promising after all. The second piece of wisdom is this: The nursing community IS a small community. It may not seem like this on this site, with thousands of nurses from everywhere posting on here. But in your area, in my area, in every nurse who is on here's area, it is a small community. Someone in your area who you worked with or supervised you knows someone where you are applying. which leads us back to point #1; being honest. I think you can connect the logical dots that connect these two points.
I hope that you read this. It sounds like you've already made up your mind, but I do hope you make a decision that you can live with. Good luck
Yep, you should pm a mod b/c although you changed your screen name, there are snipettes of quotes with the old one in it....prolly gonna want them to delete it too........
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I hope that claudette is not your real first name. This board is not as anonymous as one might wish and your discourse in this thread might not be something that you would want to get to an employer.