What to do if you think you're being blacklisted

[stepdownRN88]

I left my first RN job in Feb. 2014 - on what I thought were good terms (NM even hugged me and told me I could come back or stay on per diem if I wanted to). I left for career advancement (got a position in ICU). Around the same time, I was caring (Feb 2014) for a very ill family member (24/7 care). I ended up having to leave the ICU position too (in April 2014) when his health took a turn for the worst and he needed me to be there around the clock.

In August 2014, my dad was finally/thankfully doing much much better, so I tried to see if I could work on the same floor I was on as a new grad (called/emailed NM). Never heard back from the NM, in fact I heard some nasty rumors from former coworkers of things said about me (basically having a laugh at my expense). There was no way that my coworkers should have even know about my emails because I ONLY sent it to one person - the NM. I thought the whole thing was very unprofessional since any communication/email sent was for the NM eye's only.

Anyway, I've been trying for a YEAR to get back into the hospital - this is harder than when I was new grad! I've gotten called for interviews, but nothing ever comes out of them. I'm really starting to worry that I've been blacklisted. In the meantime, I've been able to sub as a school nurse at a local school district, and I volunteer as an EMT for my local fire department.

One recruiter told me that my work history worried her because I left my 1st job after 10 months and my 2nd after only 1 month. I tried explaining that I didn't "just leave" - I left for a position in a unit that I really wanted (ICU) and that it was an opportunity I didn't think would come around again for a while. I did my senior capstone in ICU, so I was hoping it would "make sense"/seem logical that I'd take an ICU position if the opportunity presented itself. I explained that I had to take of my father for a few months too, which is why I left my 2nd job. It just seems impossible at this point. On top of that, I'm still really upset that my old NM was so fake - telling me that I'm welcome back/eligible for rehire, yet never responds to my calls and emails.

Is there any better way to explain this? I just kind of figured "honesty is the best policy" and told them the truth of the situation. Should I mention the whole thing about when I tried to get my job back from the 1st hospital? I don't want them to think I'm "bad-mouthing" my previous NM. Should I say, "I have nothing bad to say about her at all, and I'm honestly so shocked and confused that she handled things that way... it really came out of left field". I don't know what else to do at this point and I'm starting to feel really discouraged with nursing/my career.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

If you were blacklisted, you would not be getting interviews.