What are the chances of being fired as a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am just curious, what are the chances of being fired as a nurse...and what would be the main reasons in the nursing field? And how can I prevent such an occurence?

I've been fired working at a retail store and it pretty much scarred me for life. However, every other job I've had was stable. Is being fired easy?

Specializes in Hospice, ALF, Prison.

You will be fired as a nurse. But if it is because your patient care standards are higher than your bosses, or you refuse to take medical orders from a administrator, or you wont look the other way when favorite nurses are sleeping on the job, than consider your firing a badge of honor...and never let yourself become the nurse that will cut corners to do it their way.

BEFORE your first job, go out and buy the little Mosely book about how to properly document. I think it is about 21 dollars. You will read it about 15 times and know why to document the way they suggest. Not only do they provide legal situations in which the documentation was important, but you will also fee better when you have documented something to represent your critical thinking and actions taken.

Also, buy a little notebook to carry in which you can add hints you find in journals, here online or from your school books. I especially used my little notebook to accumulate hints and techniques to properly document patient assessments. (and use the proper terminology).

Unfortunately in this business you can provide the best care during your shift, perhaps prevent a crisis, but if it is not documented it did not happen.....and you get fired.

You do not have to document your satisfaction when knowing how your compassion and skills impacted someones life.

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Here in Canada, nurses do have unions.

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I was a ICU nurse of 20 some years and I had a narcotic in my blood while I was working. I had been taking it for a long time, I had cut down to 1 tab a day, then got caught being tired in the morning after my 12 hr shift which raised someones curiousity therefore I had to UA, then fired. That was 3 yrs ago, cant get a job anywhere, doing anything. The nursing profession devours their own people. It's vicious. They expect perfection but instead they digest you slowly until your whole life is out of control and then they throw you away. I could fight back but for what reason?? so I can go back and do it again? No thanks.

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Specializes in Hospice, Case Mgt., RN Consultant, ICU.

Previous poster's comment about 'employment at will' jobs is right on. Employer can end the employer/employee relationship with cause, without cause, with notice, without notice. Not fair, but that is how all jobs seem to be. I was once terminated because the HR Manager said I had gone to HR and she wanted me 'to be happy.' No kidding!! Basically, the situation in which I was working was one of harrassment and I went to HR for help. Employers are not suppossed to retaliate against employees, but they did. This was not a hospital position. It was with a major insurance company. Why do employers ask if one has ever been fired or terminated or asked to resign??? It is not always the employee who is at fault. So I would suggest not admitting ever being terminated on a job application. The application will also ask why. With at will there does not need to be a reason! Maybe the employer just enjoyed firing employees!! Like The Donald! Your thoughts on this????????????

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It used to be a very rare thing but I am seeing more post here than ever before. I think that is everywhere. My daughter(works in a totally non medical field) was telling me about her shock over co manager that got fired. The person was a very good employee. Unfortunately she got on wrong side of a big boss who is intensely disliked by everyone. Apparently stood up to him and the next day she was gone. Just goes to show you how it happens everywhere.

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In 28 years, I have been fired from a nursing position ONCE.

Words to the wise- don't tell a colleague that your executive director can go eff himself. They have NO sense of humor at all...:lol2:

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Specializes in CVICU.
So I would suggest not admitting ever being terminated on a job application. The application will also ask why. With at will there does not need to be a reason! Maybe the employer just enjoyed firing employees!! Like The Donald! Your thoughts on this????????????

I would not recommend this. If they find out that you were, in fact, terminated from a position, it could cost you the job. The reason applications ask why is to give you an opportunity to explain the situation because, exactly as you point out, it is not always the employee's fault. Note instead that you left the job to 'pursue opportunities elsewhere', note that the job 'was not a good fit and you left by mutual agreement'. Anything but lying about being terminated. And, of course, avoid being negative...nursing is a small community and you never know who your potential employer might know! I was an office manager (in one of my many incarnations before becoming a nurse) and your employment history (job hopping, short stints at jobs, etc) reflect highly of the type of employee you will be.

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Specializes in ER.

You can be fired for any or no reason, and you can be targetted by other nurses and/oryour boss just because they don't like you. there's no defense because there are so many judgement calls in nursing, and as another poster sais, you can never finish everything perfectly, especially as a new grad.

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.

cool moniker and photo granny gidget. cute, cute.

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You will be fired as a nurse. But if it is because your patient care standards are higher than your bosses, or you refuse to take medical orders from a administrator, or you wont look the other way when favorite nurses are sleeping on the job, than consider your firing a badge of honor...and never let yourself become the nurse that will cut corners to do it their way.

BEFORE your first job, go out and buy the little Mosely book about how to properly document. I think it is about 21 dollars. You will read it about 15 times and know why to document the way they suggest. Not only do they provide legal situations in which the documentation was important, but you will also fee better when you have documented something to represent your critical thinking and actions taken.

Also, buy a little notebook to carry in which you can add hints you find in journals, here online or from your school books. I especially used my little notebook to accumulate hints and techniques to properly document patient assessments. (and use the proper terminology).

Unfortunately in this business you can provide the best care during your shift, perhaps prevent a crisis, but if it is not documented it did not happen.....and you get fired.

You do not have to document your satisfaction when knowing how your compassion and skills impacted someones life.

Hi, which book is this? Can you provide a link? Is it Mosley or Mosby? Thank you!

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Unfortunately, very easy. Even people who have never had a problem in another job have found themselves dismissed/fired/asked to resign in nursing, for the most amazing reasons: being "too slow", too conscientious, working end-of-shift OT, not being able to "critically think" (no examples, write-ups etc given), "inconveniencing the other nurses with questions", what not. I've heard that from nurses who I would never have thought would get fired... and yes, it has also happened to me - in my very first job.

Be very, very careful about the job(s) you take; if someone (especially charge nurse, manager, or another nurse) doesn't like you, they will find a reason to get rid of you (and yes, I do work in an ironically named "right to work" state). After all, are you always (LOL) able to get all your meds passed on time for 8 stepdown pts? :eek:

Some reasons why nursing is so hazardous to your mental health (if you value a "clean" work record unblemished by terminations) include the impossible workload, superhuman standards we're held to ("reasonably prudent nurse" appears to sometimes mean "supernurse"), out of touch and unreasonable mgrs (hourly rounds - need I say more?), nurses being responsible for doublechecking everyone - pharmacy, doctors... need I go on?

On the other hand, I also know nurses who I'm amazed have NOT been fired based on some of the stories I have heard about their incompetence; however, these nurses have perfected the art of brownnosing (which I have always failed to do... pt care being more important to me, silly fool).

Good luck in nursing to all of us - we need it.

DeLana

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