Recently fired during orientation...help

Hi all,

I know there are a lot of people that come to this site if for anything to get advice from other nurses. This is what leads me here. I apologize for the lengthy post in advance!

I decided to leave my job that I had for almost 2 years to find something that was closer to home and would be more "family friendly hours" and a lot less stressful than my previous position. I was offered a position immediately at 2 different locations doing the same thing but one was closer to home than the other so of course I chose that company.

I absolutely loved what I was doing at this new job. I was closer to home so that meant less time on the road to and from work, and I was able to pick up my kids every day from daycare which was a huge bonus! The work was easy compared to what I did before. I arrived at 0630 and worked until all the cases were completed, preop calls were done for the next day or several days in advance sometimes and my room set up for the next day. When all this was done and the charge nurse gave permission to leave, you had the option of staying and auditing charts or you could go home. Very few stayed, most people went home.

Well this company had a 90 day probation period. I thought that's no big deal, I've never had any issues any place I've ever worked so I was not concerned with it. Well 8 days prior to my 90 day probation I was let go. I was told that I "wasn't a good fit for the department." I was completely in shock. I had never been told I had done anything wrong, never had anything negative ever said to me, and was praised daily for my "quick learning." I had never done this type of work before so I was on a longer orientation. I felt like I got along well with everyone there, the physicians talked highly of me, and I felt like I was really getting it and enjoyed what I did.

When I asked my supervisor what she meant by not a good fit, she said I clocked out early too many days. I stated that I had never left without my work being done and everything set up for the next day and calls completed, nor left without her permission, she then stated well there were other things but would not elaborate. When I asked was there anything I could do differently so that I don't make the same mistakes again, she wouldn't answer me and just said she would write a letter of recommendation for a new job for me and that she was so sorry. I walked away balling my eyes out because I had never experienced anything like that before.

I filed for unemployment a few days later (I was still in shock.) I put down the reasons my supervisor gave me as the reason I was let go. My state is an at will state. I received a call a couple weeks later from the unemployment office requesting more information. They stated that my supervisor said I clocked out early 6 days due to sickness and that another employee stated that I was told several times to keep busy and that I was sitting in a room doing nothing while everyone else set up their rooms for the next day (this NEVER happened!) I left early only 1 day due to a horrible migraine and was sent home because of it, I did not ask to leave. Any other time I clocked out "early" it was because our work was done and we were given the option to go home.

Because I was on this 90 day probation period I was not allowed to use the PTO I was acrueing so that I could get my 40 hours, which was fine I knew that was a sacrifice I was making going to this job so I didn't worry about not getting my full hours for the week and they would freak out if you got any overtime! I came close one week. Anyways I was denied unemployment because the unemployment office sided with my employer because they had a signed statement from the other employee and my time sheet. I was unable to provide statements from other employees because they were afraid they would lose their job if they said anything to defend me and the only way to prove I did my work was to pull patient charts and that's against the law.

I have never been a "lazy" employee especially bc I have kids that depend on me! And also it's just not in my nature! Well I am appealing their decision with the hope that a hearing will help so that I can tell my side of the story. It bothers me because while looking for a job I have to put that on my application and explain myself and hope that my new employer believes me and this attacks my character, and also I have been without pay now for a little over a month! I have gotten a new job that I will start soon but it will still be a couple more weeks before I receive a paycheck. Has anyone ever experienced this and if so what was your outcome with the unemployment office?

Thank you!