Stuck in a Rut

Hi everyone,

I'm going to try and make this short. I need some help though so if you have any thoughts let me know!

So I was hired into a medical ICU as a new grad two years ago. It was stressful to say the least. Mostly because of the brutal older nurses who would harass and bully me for no reason. Coming straight out of school with a major learning curve was tougher then I had thought. It took a toll on me and I had made some major mistakes with documentation of medications. Specifically pain meds but not limited to them. Well a year into my job I was pulled into my managers office for these reasons. by the end of countless meetings I was fired because they thought I was diverting. The thing that got me was they never let me take a drug test to prove I hadn't been using them. Something about my states laws and the union we had.

Fast forward a year later I moved to a different state. I had already been in the process of moving and attaining my nursing license for this state before I was even pulled into my managers in the first place. By this time I've obtained a lawyer and have a hearing scheduled in two months.

The problem is I haven't been able to find a job. I've become very short on money and I've found some side jobs but its not cutting it and I miss nursing and taking care of patients. My case keeps getting pushed back due to "more important" cases.

The thing is I'm pretty sure my case will be thrown out, due to me getting a hair follicle test from my armpit that shows all the way back to before being fired that I never once used any narcotics. The reason I cant find a job is because when I go to apply they call my manager from the ICU and she tells them why I got fired. Be in mind she thinks I really did use them. I haven't showed her my drug test though.

So what did you guys think I can do about this? I feel like my skills with deteriorate as a nurse if I don't start working soon. I went to college for 4 long years to get this degree and now I'm stuck. I've been keeping up with studies to keep my information up to date. I've since got my CCRN but not practicing is hurting me.

Sorry this turned out to be a long story but I thank you for hearing me out. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Should I tell my old manager I got my hair test or what do you think?

Thank you very much,

Steven

You made a lot of medication documentation errors with pain medications, are blaming it on "brutal older nurses" who "harassed and bullied you" "for no reason," got fired for diversion and now you're surprised and dismayed that you're having difficulty finding another job?

I'm wondering if you were any closer to being accountable for your own errors when your manager pulled you into the office to discuss them. If you had been, I'm wondering if you would have been fired in the first place. We'll never know, but the time to start taking responsibility was when the error happened.

In your interviews, be accountable for your own errors and be willing to discuss how much you've learned from the experience and how differently you would do things now. No one is going to want to hire a nurse who was fired for diversion and is still blaming his problems on "brutal older nurses" who "harassed and bullied him for no reason."

Ruby,

Ruby,

Sorry, I am not the best at articulating my thoughts. I mentioned the nurses to explain one of the stressors that was going on not to put blame on them. I take full responsibility for my errors and I know it was all on me. I did not mention those nurses when brought into the meeting in the first place nor do I put blame on them when looking for another job. And I do admit what I've done to new jobs. But the fact is my old manager is saying that I used these medications. But thank you for your input.