New RN terminated, now applying VA

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 19, 2016

In order to explain this, you'll need to have some idea exactly what happened and a plan for how you'll prevent it from happening again. For sure you don't want to repeat the story about how bullies got you fired. That won't play well with HR. There is always the time honored "It wasn't a good fit," which may actually get you an interview or even a job. But once you have the job, you're going to have to get along with the people at your new job. If you don't understand what went wrong the first time, you won't be able to do it differently the next time.

Take some time to reflect upon what went wrong in the first job. They accused you of poor performance -- what exactly did they tell you about your performance. Was there even a tiny kernel of truth in the criticism? Is there something that you could have done better. Time management, communication with your coworkers, critical thinking? You'll want to figure it out.

roser13, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2016

Do you take any responsibility for your termination?

Because if you go into an interview complaining about being bullied, not liked, your preceptor didn't qualify to be a preceptor, etc., etc., your interview will be extremely short and non-productive.

(BTW, how does one file for wrongful termination during a probationary period, during which termination is a very realistic possibility? That's why it's called probation. The chutzpah factor here is quite amazing.)

From this post alone, I suspect that some serious introspection is required. Of course your previous employer will give an accurate report to the VA. I did not say that they will bad-mouth you - they will give an accurate account of your time with them. It is incumbent upon you to reassess your attitude, behaviors and expectations as a new grad. And if you continue to deny any responsibility, your career at the VA will be as short as your first job. If you can even get hired.

P.s. This is not bullying. This is reality.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2016

I got terminated from 1st RN job during probation. I didn't make major error nor harmed my patient. I had problems with my last preceptor who bullied me. She complained that I had poor performance and got me fired. I believe I was just like any other new grad. I asked to be trained by someone else but wasn't granted. She was fairly new herself and didn't qualify to precept per hospital guideline. I filed a complaint about wrongful termination and her unprofessional behaviors to the hospital. It was my dream job, I bought a car, signed an apartment lease and relocated away from family and friends. I loved the job.. was never late, worked with many amazing people.
Now I got an interview with the VA hospital. They'll contact my managers, right? I'm sure that they'll bad mouth me because they are angry about me filing a complaint. How will this impact VA's hiring decision? I honestly don't know how to explain this..Please help!

Most (if not all) orientations for new grads have an explicitly stated clause that you can be let go at any time for any or no reason at all. Unless you have proof that you were fired for being part of a protected class (race, sex, etc.), it was potentially very foolish to file a wrongful termination complaint.

Nursing is a small world.