Terminated due to insubordination. What will Put in my application reason of leaving

kguill975, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 24, 2013

Was that an OR internship or a small hospital preceptorship? How long have you been an OR nurse and how long was your scrubbing orientation? Was it more about how you said it, rather than what you said?

chare · Feb 24, 2013

As you were terminated, my personal opinion is that you are going to have a difficult time in finding another job anywhere, not just in nursing.

Again, my personal opinion is that your only option is to note this on the application and try and explain the circumstances in your cover letter. If you do not mention it, when a prospective employer finds it, and they will find it when they do reference and employment checks, they will immediately stop consideration of your application.

In the future you should consider handling this type of situation in a different manner. Rather than waiting until you are off of orientation and refusing an assignment because you believe that you weren’t properly trained, you should discuss your concerns with your manager during your orientation.

I wish you the best of luck with your job search, as well as in your nursing career.

rvvmen777 · Feb 24, 2013

Thanks for your guys for the response. I've been an OR nurse for 24 years. And I've been working in this hospital for 3 1/2 years. I've been working for this surgeon for 3 years. But I only circulate and not adequately oriented or trained to scrub this case with him. Thank you for the input. I need more inputs if you guys don't mind

iwellnessnurse · Feb 24, 2013

If I were in your shoes I'd 1- consult w an attorney for wrongful termination; 2- call your state board if nursing for support. If I am understanding your dilemma correctly you refused based on your lack of "competency"/ skills. Your refusal was based on "do no harm."

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 25, 2013

^^^^^This!^^^^^

With your level of experience, you are obviously qualified as an expert - qualified to determine your own level of competency & take actions needed to protect patient safety.

I disagree with previous posters. If your job history does not have a lot of negatives &/job hopping, your experience and expertise will overshadow this incident. And if anyone is familiar with OR environment, (surgeon ego, etc) they understand the atmosphere & contributory causes. I would just be honest and objective - "unresolved difference of opinion about a clinical issue" sounds good as a reason for termination.

Too bad you're not in TX - we have a legally defined "nurse-patient duty" which would actually require you to have taken those actions rather than put a patient in jeopardy.

katherine100, LPN · Feb 26, 2013

Are you kidding me. A nurse for 24 years and nervous. You can be honest if you choose. You can also say you resigned. Many places know that a termination has occurred and hire the applicant anyway. After 24 years, you will not have a hard time finding more work in the OR. Many nurses have been terminated and find other jobs. It will all work out. Since you are over your probation period you may be able to file a grievance. A friend of mine did and got her job back with the help of the state.

katherine100, LPN · Feb 26, 2013

//s you were terminated, my personal opinion is that you are going to have a difficult time in finding another job anywhere, not just in nursing.//

What is this ignorant comment based on? Have you worked for HR?

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 26, 2013

I experienced a similar situation in my own professional carreer. I don't believe anyone can ask if you have been terminated. You can still enter the information for the time you worked and if asked, be honest that you stood your ground. When asked for referenced, a previous employer cannot say why you no longer work there. They can however state if they would rehire you. Good luck. It's a hard thing to have happen and anyone who has not gone through it can't really understand it. In my case, they were looking for any reason to oust me because I was outspoken about doing things ethically and by the book. When asked during an interview, I told them we did not see things eye to eye and I would not be returning.

chare · Feb 26, 2013

What is this ignorant comment based on? Have you worked for HR?

No, I don’t work in HR. However, I am capable of reading. There has been at least one discussion on this board (Employers Refusing To Hire Unemployed - Nursing News) regarding employers not hiring the unemployed. Additionally, there are numerous threads on this board discussing unemployment in nursing (The Unemployed RN - Retired Nurses / Inactive Nurses, *UNEMPLOYED NURSES* - Nursing Job Search Assistance), as well as at least one regarding an experienced nurse (Nurses unemployed what is happening out there??? - General Nursing Discussion).

I was terminated coz I told my boss that I rather go home that scrub the surgical cases because I am not adequately trained and oriented to the case and making me uncomfortable and concern of patient

This is what I based this “ignorant comment” on. The OP did not lose her or his job due to downsizing or some other benign reason. He or she told their supervisor that they would rather go home than perform an assigned task. Big difference, and one that any prospective employer is likely to give heavy consideration to.

I don't believe anyone can ask if you have been terminated. You can still enter the information for the time you worked and if asked, be honest that you stood your ground. When asked for referenced, a previous employer cannot say why you no longer work there. They can however state if they would rehire you.

This is not true. A prospective employer has the right to ask whether you have ever been terminated from a position. Furthermore, when asked, there is no limitation on what a previous employer says about you as long as the information is factual. It is common, however, for many employers to choose to only give dates of employment and rehire eligibility.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 28, 2013

Chare, according to the US Department of Labor "Equal employment opportunity (EEO)

Prohibit specific types of employment discrimination. Collectively, these laws prohibit discrimination in most workplaces on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, ethnic/national origin, disability, and veteran status.
In general, if the reason for termination is not because of discrimination on these bases, or because of the employee's protected status as a whistleblower, or because they were involved in a complaint filed under one of the laws enforced by the Department of Labor (see Whistleblower and Non-Retaliation Protections), then the termination is subject only to any private contract between the employer and employee or a labor contract between the employer and those covered by the labor contract." (U.S. Department of Labor - Find It By Topic - Termination).

morte, LPN, LVN · Feb 28, 2013

Is this potentially an age disc. issue?