I frequently have nurses come to me because they have been fired from their jobs and are afraid that they will be reported to the Board.  What’s interesting about these nurses is that almost all have said, “I knew I should have been looking for another job.”  If you feel the handwriting is on the wall, it is better to resign than get terminated.  On every job application, you will have to include that job on the application and include that you were terminated. You cannot simply omit a job because you were terminated.  And you must tell the truth.  If you do not put these jobs on an application or do not tell the truth about being terminated, its considered fraud and material misrepresentation in obtaining a position.

I always say you can get another job, but you can’t get another license.  Many nurses stay in the job because they feel a loyalty to their patients.  I can assure you, when there is a problem or complaint, your employer will have not have loyalty to you.

Many nurses stay in a position rather than leave because it is comfortable for them.  It is so much more difficult to go out and find another job.

I’ve represented 2 nurses around the same proximity in time.  One nurse worked at Hospital A and got terminated and went to Hospital B and said, “If I knew Hospital B was so much better, I would have left a long time ago.”  The other nurse said, who worked at Hospital B, got terminated from Hospital B and went to Hospital A, said the exact same thing.  “If I had known Hospital A was better, I would have left a long time ago.” It’s so interesting that 2 nurses each had very different experiences at the hospitals.

There is a place out that there which you love, you will fit, you will say “I wish I had come here a long time ago.”  If you’re struggling and see the handwriting on the wall, I am not telling you to quit your job but just think about it and make a decision.  Are you staying out of loyalty or comfort?  Could there be a better fit out there?  You won’t know until you try.

I would love to hear your comments below about how you handle difficult situations at work and what you would do if the handwriting is one the wall.