Termination is so bad - will I be able to go on in nursing?

[a.w123]

In nursing (LPN), I believe, you may make errors and learn from it. I'm not talking causing harm( errors where no harm occurred). I made on- a family member,PCG, ask me to put mouthwash into a suction cannister(small amount) in home setting and I responded to the request. The suction cannister ( to use @ school) was cleaned and I inseted a small amount of same color substance in it (was not mouthwash) that I received from bathroom next to toothbrush. It was discovered and taken care of the best I knew how @ that time. The client was not hurt, needed no medical intervention, was never in distress. However, I lost my job. I'm very unhappy @ the time, no job, no unemployment benefits. How can something like that feel so bad- Termination is so bad - will I be able to go on in nursing? How do nurses handle situation like that. It feels like you can't make errors, and I will not find a job r/t termination status. Surviving nursing. Please respond-I need encouragement.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Many nurses before you have been able to go on and progress in their careers even with an involuntary termination on their records. Use this as a learning experience, dust yourself off, and move on. Good luck to you!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

You'll be fine. Start searching for another job now. We all make mistakes, but in the future NEVER use any sort of substance that does not have a label. I also don't use items other nurses draw up and label.

[DedHedRN]

I tend to answer strange requests with "Awww... Id love to be able to do that for you, but I cannot without a doctors order" Then smile and ask if there is ANYTHING else I could do for them.

[minnymi]

whatever you do - don't badmouth your former employer and don't make excuses. i know it's hard bc it's natural to want to defend yourself, but the best thing to do is to explain that you made a mistake. explain that you learned a valuable lesson from it and you are now more cautious than ever.