Nurse on Probation

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I was placed on probation by the BON in 2013 and ended in 2014. I have been working up to this point. I quit my job to move to another state. I have gone on interviews and once they look up my license and see the probation on my record the offer is taken off the table. I have an unrestricted license. will I ever work as a nurse again?

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Dear Was on Probation,

If I understand you correctly, you were working between 2014 and now? Then you quit your job and moved to another state where I assume you had your license endorsed or is a compact state?

Is it a consideration to move back to the state and job you left? The benefit is being able to network and having local, respected people give you recommendations.

You say you have gone on interviews. Landing job interviews means they were interested in you and your resume caught their attention. Did you disclose on your job applications that you were on probation from 2013 to 2014? If you did not disclose this and they discovered it by looking up your license, then it is understandable that they would not hire you. They would assume you are attempting to conceal your past. Most nursing job applications ask the applicant to list any past or present discipline or restrictions on your license.

I would address the probation in my cover letter and resume. Be upfront, brief, and positive. While there is a short period of probation on my license, the problem has been completely resolved and I look forward to putting my skills to work.

If the problem by any chance was drugs, have you considered applying to Dialysis or some other alternative setting? You may not land your dream job right off the bat, but it's more important not to be unemployed for a long period of time- it will add to your problem.

Related article: Writing a Letter of Explanation to the BON

Best,

Nurse Beth

[manicholasnp]

It is very important to address this issue as soon as you can with a potential employer and not let them find out with a background check. It looks like you are hiding something and their level of trust (which is rocky to begin with) is then lost.

I have a permanent sanction on my nursing license and explain the details of this and provide a narrative I have written when I am first talking with a potential employer. They all express appreciation of my honesty and being up front about this. I do find that recruiters do not understand anything medical (my sanction involves patient care during a pediatric code) so I find the written narrative goes a long way as they can pass this information along to the employer.

If you do write up a narrative be very honest and also explain what you have done since the incident to correct the situation. Make certain to have a number of colleagues review it and if you know someone who works in Human Resources look it over also. It needs to not sound like you are blaming anyone else and you own up to whatever caused you to be on probation and have made changes in your life to never allow this to happen again.