Problem with reference from previous employer

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Hello, this is my first post here, hope everyone is doing well. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem or how they handled this type of situation. Six years ago I worked at a hospital and was caught diverting a prescription. Bascially, I resigned in lieu of termination. They pretty much gave me no choice by saying I could stay employed there and transfer to a different area but they would turn me over to law enforcement and take legal action for their own protection unless I resigned. I of course resigned to avoid legal charges. They did report me to the BON which I understand is mandatory. Before the board even received the complaint I enrolled myself in the NAP monitoring program. So when I went in front of the board, I was already enrolled in the non-disciplinary track of the NAP program, and the board decided I could remain in it for 3 years with no official disciplinary action taken against my license as long as I successfully completed the program, which I did with not a single positive UA, I actively participated in my outpatient counseling and have been clean for 6 years now :) I was fortunate enough to get hired at a LTCF while in the NAP program and have been there for 5 years with glowing reviews but it is a very difficult, stressful job, the working conditions are horrendous for the most part and I am ready to move on and find something new where I can see myself retiring from. The problem I am running into is I have had two job interviews in the past 3 months, both of which I was pretty much told the job was all but mine until it came time for the reference checks. I suspect the hospital I diverted from is disclosing this information. ON my applications I always say I left due to a medical illness that is now resolved (which is true..addiction is an illness and I am in recovery). There is absolutely nothing on my license, no actions, it is perfectly clean, the BON told me I never have to disclose the incident to future employers, it will never be brought up again unless I get another complaint in the future. When I left the hospital I met with the VP and the manager or HR and they assured me this information would never be disclosed during a reference but I can't help but wonder because as soon as I get to that point and they check my references, I am not being offered these jobs. Unfortunately I never got anything in writing, this was just a verbal understanding. Any advice on how to handle this would be appreciated. I have been thinking of contacting HR at the hospital. I have been thinking about just leaving the hospital off my resume/applications but I don't know if thats a good idea (what if they found out I worked there and then it would look like I'm dishonest/hiding something, plus I want employers to see that I have that experience. Something is holding me back here and I am getting very discouraged.

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just be blessed that you have a job and stick with it. 2 years clean and can't even get one!

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I am sorry, I know the feeling RNKellie and I know there are many others who are struggling with finding a job, it was almost 2 years before I was able to get the job I have now, and during that time I had to do low paying, non-nursing jobs through temp agencies, and there were so many time I thought I would never work in nursing again. I know it is so discouraging and depressing to be turned down time and time again but you just have to keep trying and you will find that one place that will be understanding and willing to give you a 2nd chance. It was the last place I wanted to work but I do appreciate the fact that I have a job, and will always be grateful to them for giving me a chance but the work is really getting to me mentally and physically, to the point I leave in tears after having to put in 16 hours of horrible working conditions. My counselor is working with me on stress management and relapse prevention and really thinks I need to get out of there because I know he is worried it might drive me to want to use again. I never really thought I'd have a problem getting a different job once I was done with the monitoring program and no longer had to disclose that part of my past.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
When I left the hospital I met with the VP and the manager or HR and they assured me this information would never be disclosed during a reference but I can't help but wonder because as soon as I get to that point and they check my references, I am not being offered these jobs. Unfortunately I never got anything in writing, this was just a verbal understanding.

Congratulations on your continued recovery!

Keep in mind that this is also a very lousy job market and you could not be getting the job for a myriad of other reasons, none of which have to do with what happened at your last job. But going back to your diversion...

Even with that promise, they could renege on it, or the person manning the phone that day may not know about the agreement. There is no law stating that employers can only verify dates of employment and rehire status: they can share anything about you as long as is is true. So yes, they could legally disclose this to other employers.

Would they? I don't know--they don't really stand to gain anything by doing so. You could have someone you know call the employer to verify employment and see what they say about you. IMO that would give you a more honest answer than if you were to call them.

I wouldn't leave the hospital off of the applications and resume because that could be considered falsifying your application. Nursing is a smaller world than you realize and you'd be surprised who knows who where, so omitting the job may not stay secret long. People have lost jobs because word got out that they neglected to mention a prior job, especially if something had happened at that prior job. Also, nursing being a small world, it's possible that word about your diversion may travel via grapevine: someone at your potential new job knows someone at your old job and decides to ask them about you...

All I can suggest is keep putting the recovery first. Keep applying to everything that you can. And while you may not be able to omit the job with the diversion from the application just yet, try to get your professional references from people at your current job.

Best of luck in the job hunt and your recovery.

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I keep wondering how to handle this as time goes on. Right now, being in a monitoring program, I don't have much of a choice so I obviously disclose the circumstances of my departure from my job. I was fired and worked there for 12 years doing a LOT of different stuff that should be positives on my job record! So leaving it off my job history is obviously not an option. One reason I went into psych is because I'm really using "identification" as a coping skill and am moving into psych to use many of the coping skills and therapeutic techniques I've used in my own recovery to try and help others. If need be, I just have to hope that potential employers are still open-minded enough to trust me as someone who diverted and was fired.

I have thought about hiring some generic reference-check freelancer or something to call my former employer and see what they say about me. When I was fired they gave me this song and dance about how they really had no choice but to let me go and the door wasn't closed on me and blah blah blah. Then at my unemployment hearing it was a completely different story; I was not eligible for rehire, I was a liar, I was a thief, etc. I sent a personal email to the director and VP at one point when I was nearly 3 years into recovery and had heard from a former co-worker that they were DESPERATE to fill positions...they didn't even give me the dignity of a reply. That does still sting, and I definitely shed some tears over it but it's strengthened my resolve to just keep moving ahead with my sobriety and my education and leave that whole position in the dust.

Just keep plugging along and put as much time and distance as you can between the toxic job and the one you have. I agree that there could be LOADS of reasons that you haven't gotten a call back but I would want to know if I were you (and I will when I have to job-hunt again and am graduated from my program). See what you can do to find out just for your own peace of mind and don't lose faith in your search.

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Well, I decided to fork over 30 bucks for one of those professional reference checking services so we'll see what they say!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

They may not be disclosing the details of why you left, but simply that you are ineligible for rehire. And that may well give your new prospective employers doubt about hiring you.

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They may not be disclosing the details of why you left but simply that you are ineligible for rehire. And that may well give your new prospective employers doubt about hiring you.[/quote']

That is possible.

You could also just check "please do not contact this employer" on applications.

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Umberlee, I noticed you are from Colorado. I was wondering which area and how it was dealing with the police. I have a complaint recently against me and in it my employer stated they reported to the local police. Now I live in fear that police will kick my door in at anytime and take me away.....

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Specializes in Pedi.
That is possible.

You could also just check "please do not contact this employer" on applications.

I agree. I wouldn't leave this experience off of your resume but I also wouldn't list them as a reference.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Umberlee, I noticed you are from Colorado. I was wondering which area and how it was dealing with the police. I have a complaint recently against me and in it my employer stated they reported to the local police. Now I live in fear that police will kick my door in at anytime and take me away.....

The best thing that you can do is get a lawyer. We can not give legal advice here at AN, and if you're worried about the local fuzz coming after you, your lawyer will do a lot more to help protect your rights than random posters on the internet ever could. Best of luck.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

Most institutions here in the metropolitan NY area will just verify your employment and how long you worked there. Some institutions will answer a question, i.e., eligible for rehire. I'm not sure if legally they can offer the info you shared here.

You don't say how long you worked for the institution where you had the problem. I'm not sure I would put them on my reference list unless you have a long gap. I'd check with an attorney in your area to see if indeed it is lawful to disclose that information.

Congratulations to you for getting yourself together! Continued success!

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