Should I just lie?

[grateful2010]

I am an inactive nurse with NO RN work experience, searching for employment after 5 years of graduating nursing school. I think employers aren't considering me for employment because of this information. I was thinking of stating in my resume that I graduated in '08 or '09 instead of my actual graduating date '04, in order to make my resume more appealing. I have a current RN license, that IS the most important factor right? Soo, should I just lie? would it hurt to do so? I doubt they are going to verify when I graduated....not sure on what to do. Any thoughts?

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

I am an inactive nurse with NO RN work experience, searching for employment after 5 years of graduating nursing school. I think employers aren't considering me for employment because of this information. I was thinking of stating in my resume that I graduated in '08 or '09 instead of my actual graduating date '04, in order to make my resume more appealing. I have a current RN license, that IS the most important factor right? Soo, should I just lie? would it hurt to do so? I doubt they are going to verify when I graduated....not sure on what to do. Any thoughts?

I read the title of this thread and answered in my head, "No!" Now that I've read the question, my answer is, "Hell no!" I think even the junkiest of employers would toss out an application in which a major lie like this was told. Please do not lie. I think a refresher course is the way to go, with some volunteer experience as a backup (if possible). Nursing is a small world, and even if you told the truth on later resume editions, you may find this lie (even if you lied only temporarily) biting you in the gluteus big time by the interdepartmental and even interfacility word-of-mouth chatter that tends to occur.

The biggest worry here is if you will consider lying about something as important and easily verifiable as when you graduated school, what else will you consider lying about?

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

Thank You all for your immediate responses. I graduated in winter '04, passed the Nclex spring '05 and received my license this year, due to unfortunate circumstances.

I do believe due to my inexperience prospective employers are over looking my resume, also I truly think the graduating date plays a factor. As a previous poster said, I guess I can easily explain the reason if the question comes up. I'm currently looking to volunteer and I have contacted my college about refresher coures or sitting in the lectures with the other students. Hopefully all of my efforts are rewarded, soon...

[JustinTRN]

If you lie on your application your job has a right to fire you at any given time. Even 5 years down the road if they want to because they could find out you falsified information on your application.

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

I think if you take a refresher course and volunteer it would make your resume look a lot better. You can always explain lapses in employment. Lying, however is not the way to go.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I do believe due to my inexperience prospective employers are over looking my resume, also I truly think the graduating date plays a factor.

You are correct.

It is the apparent lack of understanding of why this is so ... and the lack of understanding of why these details cannot be glossed over with a lie ... that is troubling.

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

You are correct.

It is the apparent lack of understanding of why this is so ... and the lack of understanding of why these details cannot be glossed over with a lie ... that is troubling.

I will admit I didn't get the significance of lying before writing my original post, but, I do now understand how lying can ultimately ruin my chances of gaining employment. All I want to do is work as a nurse....

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

I hope you're kidding that you would consider lying.

One of the biggest reasons HR departments exist is to verify the information on job applications. That includes graduation dates and RN licensing. Wouldn't it look a bit odd to have gotten your license before your fictitious graduation date? If I were an HR person and I caught on to your deception (highly likely), I would toss your application immediately based on your lack of integrity.

You'd be better off looking for a low-cost refresher class (check at community colleges) to get your skills current and have something to put on a resume.

May I ask why you have a five-year gap after graduation? Some circumstances might mitigate the lapse in an employer's eyes.

It's because of my immigration status. At the time I wasn't permitted to work.

[caliotter3]

It's because of my immigration status. At the time I wasn't permitted to work.

Well, this is certainly understandable and any employer would not hold this explanation against you.

[rn/writer, RN]

It's because of my immigration status. At the time I wasn't permitted to work.

That's a perfectly reasonable explanation for the gap. In fact, it can work in your favor if you stress the fact (in a cover letter) that you wanted to operate within the law. In my mind, this would have the exact opposite effect of lying, and I would respect you for doing it.

I don't know what your ethnic background is, but perhaps it could give you an advantage in finding employment within that ethnic community, especially if you speak another language.

Rather than lean toward dishonesty, see if you can turn this "liability" into an asset with some creative thinking and our encouragement.

I wish you the best.

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

That's a perfectly reasonable explanation for the gap. In fact, it can work in your favor if you stress the fact (in a cover letter) that you wanted to operate within the law. In my mind, this would have the exact opposite effect of lying, and I would respect you for doing it.

I don't know what your ethnic background is, but perhaps it could give you an advantage in finding employment within that ethnic community, especially if you speak another language.

Rather than lean toward dishonesty, see if you can turn this "liability" into an asset with some creative thinking and our encouragement.

I wish you the best.

I never looked at it that way. Thank you. I will definitely use this in my cover letter from now on. I appreciate this bit of information.

[rn/writer, RN]

I never looked at it that way. Thank you. I will definitely use this in my cover letter from now on. I appreciate this bit of information.

Good for you. So much better than lying. Now you can hold your head up high and approach an employer feeling proud that you obeyed the law and that you have something special to offer.

A big thumbs up to you!

[Asystole RN]

If you are going to lie, lie BIG

Lie attempting to get the hospital CEO job or Executive Nurse Officer job or something.

If you are going to do something that could be DISASTEROUS for you, might as well make the reward worth the risk.