3 nursing jobs in 2 years. Unhirable?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Without getting into too much detail:

I've had 3 jobs.

1. Assisted living facility: Fired after 2 years

2. Clinic: Quit after 3 months

3. Assistant living facility: Fired after 3 months

My resume looks bad. I wanted to not include my last job but when recruiters ask what I did during those 3 months, i reallly don't know what to say. I really don't want to discuss why I got fired (you can view my post to see how bad of a nursing I am).

At at my Core, I love my job and feel that with all the lessons I've learned, I will be a great fit someone else if given the opportunity. I am working for an agency as a per diem nurse and my job was cancelled this morning. I am afraid of not being able to pay my bills.

Thanks to to all in advance

Specializes in Geriatrics.

This is still going?

OP reminds me of someone I was training not long ago. The trainee was immediately on the defense, as soon as they showed up. They absolutely could not take constructive criticism at all. There were many incidents where I tried to simply teach and they thought I was attacking them. Mind you I have trained quite a few people and I've never had any issues with anyone ever before. Actually I love to train/teach, but this person... just wow, I was at a loss for words. They made me cry that's how defensive they were, they could turn any situation into a fight or a blame game.

I tell you that story because this person had told me about their previous job experiences and it sounds a lot like yours. They also had a bad case of anxiety and by the personal stories they told me I could tell they had a lot on their plate. This person came into that job with a clean slate, no one knew their history except maybe who hired them and because of their past experiences and their "on edge" attitude they caused a (what I would call a) hostile environment. Suddenly my CNA's who were always around chatting and joking when we had down time were actually hiding, because of the negative vibes this person was giving off.

Long story short, I didn't trust them to work under my license yet and we couldn't come to terms so we had a meeting with our DON. 2 hours later after they called me names, said I was a horrible trainer, a horrible person etc. etc. etc. (defense mode), I had to walk out of the meeting. A hour later I was informed they quit.

Now, back to you... perhaps it's your attitude? Maybe you don't even realize it but did your past experience put you in defense mode? It seems like it by the responses on this thread. You thank the people that give you encouraging words (like I did in your last thread you started) and you lash out at those that give you constructive criticism.

Again, I wish you all the luck in the world.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I've been to many psychologists and many SSRIs. You are not in the position to say what I need because I'm still getting help. If you find my comment disturbing then that's your opinion. I was bullied all my life and told I was too dumb to be a nurse and graduating nursing school was my proudest moment.

Now Now don't go off on Wuzzie. I have read all your posts and from the perspective of a mental health professional who has been a psych nurse for fifteen years. In my opinion your anxiety and mental health issues are impairing your ability to function as a nurse and it is time to stop subjecting vulnerable patients to the risk of harm you pose to them. A nurse who gets fired twice for multiple med errors needs to take a long honest look at the core problem then work to fix it. I spent most of my life suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction issues. I had to stop nursing a job I love for over a year by BON order because my mental health issues made me an impaired nurse who in the opinion of the BON was unfit to practice. I went through 5 years of mandatory treatment and have come back, better, stronger faster than I was before (pop culture reference) I am so happy today that I was forced to seek effective treatment. Do your self a favor take a break from nursing and get your mental health house in order. Keep your license current by doing the required CEU's and don't fail to renew. Then when you are in a better mental place you can go back to work. Right now you run the risk of being Board ordered into treatment as mental health issues are considered right up there with addiction as reasons a nurse might lose his/her license.

Hppy

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I feel like a jerk and just don't know what to do. Who knows if home health will work. Before I was a nurse, I was fired from every job. I've been on bad luck all my life. I don't expect people to understand.

I am going to make one more comment and bow out. A very wise man once said to me "Wherever you go, there you are." What this means is that if the same things keep happening to you the problem is probably you. The unofficial definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. There is a very good 12 step organization called emotions anonymous, you might also try Celebrate Recovery groups - there will be lots of people there who have overcome mental health issues and who can share their experience strength and hope and help you find a more positive place mentally, I wish you the best of luck but like Wuzzie I feel some of you comments suggest passive suicidality. I was passively suicidal from about age 13 to 36 and finally did try to take my own life. I know how you feel and where you are at and can only suggest that you seek the help of a mental health professional and stick with it until you feel better. There is no shame in having mental health issues and recovery can take years of treatment. I consider my disease to be in remission but it does requires constant maintenance on my part.

Namaste

Hppy

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Thanks, friend. I was cancelled this morning and wished I had signed on with another agency as well.

Being cancelled at the last minute by an agency isn't about you, it's about money. That's why you sometimes have to accept 2 assignments at the same time, for the same shift in order to have work for 1 shift. The agencies get mad at you cancel one of them at the last minute but, as you realize, that's exactly what they do to you.

Soon enough, you will hopefully work enough shifts that facilities will ask for you and keep you. You will eventually gain some seniority and they will not cancel you as much.

If you do get cancelled, call another agency and ask if thy need you and you can get there within 30 minutes. And BTW, they will pay you for the whole shift if you ask them to.

You must be flexible.

Forget that being worthless because you lost a couple of jobs. That type of thinking is first wrong, 2nd unhelpful.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

My final reply to you is seek some help, but not on a forum. You are looking for validation, which we cannot give. You have stated multiple times that you have messed up and that you feel like a horrible nurse and that you are too dumb to be a nurse.

Please take care of yourself before you think you can take care of others.

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Totally agree with the above posts. The Board will become aware of the OP's issues sooner or later. Heed this advice. Please.

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Hey hun. So you have been a nurse for around 3 years now? You are still new! Don't be so hard on yourself. Every single nurse will have med errors at some point in their career. We are human. I have been an LPN for 13 years and had my fair share of mistakes. I can't say I was ever fired for any but every manager is different. I would suggest home health or hospice nursing for you where your patient load is much less and you can concentrate on one patient at a time. I do feel agency is certainly NOT the place to be at this junction in your career. Don't give up on yourself. Strive for what you want and don't give up.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I promise that I didn't get fired for my attitude. Nice deflection

Deflection from what? I never said you were fired for your attitude solely, but I'm sure it had a part to play.

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Specializes in LTC.

To be honest, I don't feel like I lashed out against anyone. Then again I know I'm very sarcastic and others perceive it as rude. I just saw a lot of "quit nursing" responses and it pissed me off. Especially since I only post the things I do wrong on AN. I agree I need to work on my anxiety and depression. I don't ask enough questions because I feel stupid when I do. I feel incompetent that makes me feel insecure. When I feel attacked I get spiteful. Oh well.

I complimented those who were nice not only because they were but they related to my issue. While some of you were like "Welp time to hang up the towel" others related to my mental issues and to my surprise, they were great nurses.

IF someone is upset with "suicidal tendencies" as you guys say, the "support" from some of you was simply not there.

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Specializes in LTC.
Deflection from what? I never said you were fired for your attitude solely, but I'm sure it had a part to play.

Nope I promise it had nothing to do with it

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Specializes in LTC.
My final reply to you is seek some help, but not on a forum. You are looking for validation, which we cannot give. You have stated multiple times that you have messed up and that you feel like a horrible nurse and that you are too dumb to be a nurse.

Please take care of yourself before you think you can take care of others.

That's fine and I agree however like I said, I tried to get help ever since I was 13 from many different professionals and 12 years later and nothing has changed. This is the way I am and unfortunately people like me are no good in anything we do

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Specializes in LTC.
Totally agree with the above posts. The Board will become aware of the OP's issues sooner or later. Heed this advice. Please.

What issues

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