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?
Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.
OP, you seem to be confused. I'm not trying to be cruel, just clear - it seems that after every posting here, you repost and the OP gets murkier. Not good for you or putting yourself in the mindset to move on. Failure to acknowledge reality does not change it - it is what it is - you must go forward. Spending too much effort putting a "spin" on this is not going to help and will only distract you from the effort to move forward with your job search. You cannot control what info your old job will release, you can try and restrict it and I have been in a dicey spot on a reference myself once (it was a personality issue ) - but, you cannot control others - just DO NOT get caught in a lie or even mislead.
The job market is tight and it takes a lot to get and keep a good job. They invested in you and you had an unavoidable situation (no childcare) that kept you from being able to work. As long as you do NOT have the same problems, this will be but a blip on your resume and will serve to be a learning experience. Just be realistic about your capabilities and situation. Once, heck - anything can happen once, but if it happens again, you will be in a pattern - much, much harder spot to work from - so, avoid any repeats. Have a childcare/transportation/whatever plan, a back-up plan and two more back-ups - you can overcome this and most any obstacle. An attendance issue is generally not reportable or anything like that to the board - so, no worries on that front.
1. Do not lie. Do not try and place a sham on anyone with "spins" on what happened. You made a mistake, couldn't show up when scheduled, bad fit, bad timing or whatever - they did not want to continue a relationship with you. It sucks to be fired, but it is what it is. You have to be honest, but candid about every detail is not necessary. Period.
2. Your job ended when it ended, mistakes on resumes do not inspire confidence. On the till "- present" matter , please enter an end date. Most applications ask for a specific end date. Do not mislead.
Also, your screen name seems to imply that you are an RN? Is this correct? I thought your post has you working as an LPN, but some are both - no biggie for me - but TOS are specific.
Go forward, be honest and carry on demonstrating that you are the great nurse you always planned to be.
Do not lie. In many cities, there seems to be someone who knows someone at every other facility. You will be found out, sooner or later. On the other hand, you can say that your sitter problems have been resolved, and you even have a back-up sitter in place. They are not likely to find out if that is true or not.
As for your BON - - for the first time that I ever noticed, this year there were questions regarding being terminated from any position since the last ime you were licensed. Ugh. What a pain.
Seriously, do not lie.
Again, let me reiterate - there will always be someone at the new place who knows someone at the old place.
Honestly, the truth always comes out in some way and you're going to look a lot worse if you get caught in a lie. Saying it was a bad fit isn't exactly a lie, but in the future, use this as a lesson. I don't want to sound mean but your babysitting issues really aren't your employers or patients problem. If you take on a job as a nurse (or any position for that matter), you're giving your employer your word that for the shift you're scheduled, they are your only priority! I don't think it should affect you in your future job searches, just don't do it again in the future I'd say!! Good luck!
One of the worst things is to be absent. That will ruin your reputation more than just about anything else. My boss has a saying that if the facility has to wonder if a nurse will call in, they do not need that nurse. It's just a terrible inconvenience to your co-workers who must take up the slack, the facility who has to pay over-time not to mention it will end up lowering workplace morale.
I spent some time on interview teams (not health care) and I agree not to lie. Although, don't volunteer it either. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but to say it was not a "good fit" and if asked why? you can segue into the child care issues as a factor in a more positive way rather than being defensive. To come out and say you were terminated places you in a negative position, one you would have to rise above. Not that is cannot be done, but you have to be a good salesperson to get the image of termination out of the HR persons head.
Is a previous employer allowed to discuss the conditions of your employment? As a rule of thumb NO, but we all know better. We know that less reputable or smaller places may be not be as compliant or simple word of mouth by someone who knows someone else it happens. Again, I would not make things up about your dismissal, keep it short and as positive as possible.
Many industries are looking for terminations, especially a series of them says something about a persons character. I don't know if your specific BON has that disclosure on it, if it does, be truthful.
Finally, if this really is eating at you, call up your previous employer and ask if they would consider making the termination a resignation. You'd be surprised that many will, basically because your resignation ends all legal and unemployment issues for them. Especially post termination, they have nothing at risk.
Best of luck, stay positive and make sure your child care issues are resolved.
"The world outside this online discussion thread will be more kind and less judgmental, "
Seriously?! What world are you living in?
Outside this online world, unlike most of the people (I am not going to name) here who spend a lot of time here online bashing about people who come out to seek help and answers but instead gets bashed about their stories/situations.
Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN
880 Posts
OP, you seem to be confused. I'm not trying to be cruel, just clear - it seems that after every posting here, you repost and the OP gets murkier. Not good for you or putting yourself in the mindset to move on. Failure to acknowledge reality does not change it - it is what it is - you must go forward. Spending too much effort putting a "spin" on this is not going to help and will only distract you from the effort to move forward with your job search. You cannot control what info your old job will release, you can try and restrict it and I have been in a dicey spot on a reference myself once (it was a personality issue
) - but, you cannot control others - just DO NOT get caught in a lie or even mislead.
The job market is tight and it takes a lot to get and keep a good job. They invested in you and you had an unavoidable situation (no childcare) that kept you from being able to work. As long as you do NOT have the same problems, this will be but a blip on your resume and will serve to be a learning experience. Just be realistic about your capabilities and situation. Once, heck - anything can happen once, but if it happens again, you will be in a pattern - much, much harder spot to work from - so, avoid any repeats. Have a childcare/transportation/whatever plan, a back-up plan and two more back-ups - you can overcome this and most any obstacle. An attendance issue is generally not reportable or anything like that to the board - so, no worries on that front.
1. Do not lie. Do not try and place a sham on anyone with "spins" on what happened. You made a mistake, couldn't show up when scheduled, bad fit, bad timing or whatever - they did not want to continue a relationship with you. It sucks to be fired, but it is what it is. You have to be honest, but candid about every detail is not necessary. Period.
2. Your job ended when it ended, mistakes on resumes do not inspire confidence. On the till "- present" matter , please enter an end date. Most applications ask for a specific end date. Do not mislead.
Also, your screen name seems to imply that you are an RN? Is this correct? I thought your post has you working as an LPN, but some are both - no biggie for me - but TOS are specific.
Go forward, be honest and carry on demonstrating that you are the great nurse you always planned to be.
Good Luck!
Practice SAFE!