Job terminated 6 weeks into orientation, need help with resume :( please help

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Specializes in ER nurse, FNP student.

Hello all!

I need some advice, I simply don't know who else to turn to, besides you, my dear nurses:( Please no judgements, I'm still new to nursing and the whole adulting thing.

I'll try to make this as short and to the point as possible.

I passed NCLEX in October '16 and started working in a home care agency in December '16. My logic behind that was that maybe while working there I can still search for a job in a hospital, I couldn't just sit and do nothing, I still had to pay my bills. They paid me $17/hr for my RN with BSN I guess because I was a new grad, but that was enough to make a living.

Luckily enough, I got a job offer in a hospital in March '17! Ofcouse I accepted it, I was so happy that my life has finally took turn for the best. Around that time period I also found out about another home care agency that paid $20/hr. I thought to myself, maybe I can work in a hospital 3 days a week (that's what they offered), and work in Home Care the other 2 days. This way I'd be busy and productive, gaining lots of experience and make more money. So that's when I quit my first Home Care job and applied for the second one. I got hired immediately, they wanted me to work right away, however I told them I don't know my availability yet because I'll be working in a hospital and still have to go through all of that orientation. So I left that on hold.

Meanwhile I was going through orientation in a hospital. When I was already on the floor, I had to take extra classes during first few weeks, while during other weeks other things came up (my boyfriends car broke down and we only had 1 car in a household, then our cat got sick). So I figured that maybe I'll just stick to the hospital job and leave home care behind. It felt like one job was already enough at this time. 6 weeks into orientation in a hospital, my employment was terminated :( When I asked them for a reason so I wouldn't make the same mistakes in the future, the only thing they said was "you didn't meet the requirements within the first 90 days". When I asked if there was anything specific, they said "this is just in general", and that's it. They didn't give me any other answers. I don't think it was a med error, I was never late, yeah it was tough but I felt like I was doing okay, I thought I'd get through it. But anyway, even though I'm still grieving, I need to pull myself up and figure out what I'm going to do next.

So I called that second Home Care agency today, and they said they're happy to find an assignment for me. They said they will give me a call on Monday.

But meanwhile it's only Friday, I can't just sit and do nothing. My number one worry is what is they never find an assignment, or what if they'll keep forgetting, I don't want to be too needy and call them everyday all of a sudden. After all, they hired me in March, and it's now May.

So I want to apply to other hospitals as I wait, because my goal is to get few years of hospital experience and go for Family NP eventually. Just because it didn't work out with one hospital, doesn't mean I should give up, right :)? I will keep on trying. I can't imagine doing anything else besides nursing.

So now I need some advice on what I should put on my resume. I decided not to put this hospital job on there, because it's only been 6 weeks and it's just going to raise extra questions.

So right now I came up with 2 options:

Option 1 "December '16 - March '17: Home care job #1, reason for leaving: had to travel". Yeah, maybe I left my job so I could go back to Germany to take care of my sick grandma who raised me, and now that I'm back, I'm ready to work again, but the position at my old job was closed so I'm looking for a new job

Option 2 "December '16 - March '17: Home care job #1 reason for leaving: reduced hours (which was actually true) March '17 - Now: Home care job #2 (technically I am employed there since march)"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that even if they decide to call my current/past employer, the only information that they'll be able to get are my employment dates and whether or not I'm still working there. Employers are not allowed to disclose any information besides that

So this is my situation. I would really appreciate your thoughts, advice, and any help that I can get with my resume :( if there are any other options that I didn't think of, I'm opened to ideas. Thanks guys!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to resume advice

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Option 3: Tell the truth. If you are dishonest on your application and are found out, chances are good that you would be terminated.

While recovering from a job termination is difficult, it can be done. As you weren't provided any feedback, you are going to have to do some self evaluation to see where you might have been able to improve yoir performance. Once you've done this you need to develop steps to improve, and be able to discuss these with potential employers.

Regarding employers only being able to disclose employment dates and whether or not you're still working there, this is an urban legend that can't be killed. A previous employer can disclose any information as long as it is factual.

Best wishes to you as you work through this.

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You need more replies! This sucks! But it is actually unfortunately really common.. I'm sorry that happened but don't let that stop you!!! You can be a nurse there is something better there for you. Keep trying at hospitals and even at that home health thing, it is all experience. I don't think it is bad to leave it off your resume, you were just in orientation if it comes up somehow you didn't lie just say you were in orientation so you didn't put it. Lots of people get fired, your resume is not an all exclusive job history it is your selling point, so is your every contact and interview.

You getting fired, in a way, was not your fault. You are new, you are learning and they didn't give you a reason because they probably didn't have one. It could of been anything. Not to say you shouldn't reflect, you should think about what you learned there and how you can improve. But like I said, I dont know you or the story so I am guessing, you didn't do anything wrong nursing is hard. I wish we graduated and were ready to start work! Until then keep applying and trying to meet hiring managers. If that doesn't work out after a little while try snf, you will build your skills, time management, how to deal with limited resources, how to delegate and communicate with patients, coworkers, doctors, families. It's hard but it is a start after 6 months to a year you can build confidence and keep trying to get into a hospital!

You can do it! Take your time, it is not a race you will get to where you need to be. Surround yourself with positive words/things etc. It's kinda cheesey but I like to listen to "The Secret" and Joel Olsteen (on YouTube), I'm not religious but he is so uplifting!

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Specializes in ER nurse, FNP student.
You need more replies! This sucks! But it is actually unfortunately really common.. I'm sorry that happened but don't let that stop you!!! You can be a nurse there is something better there for you. Keep trying at hospitals and even at that home health thing, it is all experience. I don't think it is bad to leave it off your resume, you were just in orientation if it comes up somehow you didn't lie just say you were in orientation so you didn't put it. Lots of people get fired, your resume is not an all exclusive job history it is your selling point, so is your every contact and interview.

You getting fired, in a way, was not your fault. You are new, you are learning and they didn't give you a reason because they probably didn't have one. It could of been anything. Not to say you shouldn't reflect, you should think about what you learned there and how you can improve. But like I said, I dont know you or the story so I am guessing, you didn't do anything wrong nursing is hard. I wish we graduated and were ready to start work! Until then keep applying and trying to meet hiring managers. If that doesn't work out after a little while try snf, you will build your skills, time management, how to deal with limited resources, how to delegate and communicate with patients, coworkers, doctors, families. It's hard but it is a start after 6 months to a year you can build confidence and keep trying to get into a hospital!

You can do it! Take your time, it is not a race you will get to where you need to be. Surround yourself with positive words/things etc. It's kinda cheesey but I like to listen to "The Secret" and Joel Olsteen (on YouTube), I'm not religious but he is so uplifting!

Thank you so much for your words, and thank you for being so understanding. Your reply definitely took some of my anxiety away :)

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