Raymoss1:

Does your facility follow the employment at will doctrine? If so, they may terminate an employee for any reason. I am not sure about the lack of evaluation as professions have to be evaluated per Joint Commission guidelines, I believe. Maybe you can check anonymously with your a Joint Commission hotline, or else your state's department of professional regulations to make sure. Since RN skills are evaluated on a peer-review basis, something along those lines should be done. In health care facilities I worked with, in Illinois, I had a 30 and 90-day evaluation, followed by a 6 and 12-month evaluation, and then by a yearly evaluation.

This also happened to me at my last job.  I worked as an LPN  at a small hospital on med/surg. Also was working toward my RN. (Passsed NCLEX 08/2009) The hospital got bought out by another larger corporate hosp that summer.  I worked there for 2 1/2 years, always had very good reviews, received awards for cusomer service, received award of excellence from my peers etc.  Three months later I was called in for my 90 day review as an RN and was told "We're going to let you go." Indiana is a state that can fire at will. The reasons for letting me go were flimsy. It made no sense. I've never been written up or even received a verbal reprimand. I'm not saying I am the best thing since sliced bread but it just seems so unfair, not to mention a blow to my ego.  I'm having difficulty finding another job. I live in a very small town rural area. Several Docs and Nurses have given letters of recommendation, however I am wondering if my previous employer is "black balling" me.  By the was the Director of med/surg and human resources and CNO were let go a few weeks later. My question is how do I handle why I left my last job?  What do I put on my apps?  I do not want to lie (and have not) or bad mouth the hosp I worked at.  I really enjoyed my job, got along with my peers etc. Maybe its the recession, but I've been un-employed since Oct. 1 2009. (I am able to receive un-employment but I want to work).  Any ideas will be appreciated.   Thanks for letting me vent. Sincerely Polly Dipcya

You could also say that new management came in and had their own employees and laid you off. I've been terminated unfairly too, and I'm a good nurse and reliable employee. I'm not telling you to lie, but there are ways you can explain terminations without making yourself look bad. Trust, I've done it a few times here in Texas. I did leave one job b/c I moved and the distance was too far. The next job I took was a nightmare. I only worked a month. When I applied elsewhere, I left the one month job off, and simply explained that I took a few months off to settle into my newly built home(it was the truth).

Hang in there, b/c I have been through the ringer here in Texas since I moved from Louisiana 3 years ago.I've had 4 jobs in just 2 years here. I was getting depresseed and beating myself up, but I think I had to get a feel for the area, and figure out what place fit me for my employment needs. At one point I joined an agency and did temp work until I decided to apply for a job at one of the hospitals they sent me too. It helped that the hospital had come to see me as a reliable,hard working, and competent nurse. It was quick though, and I had to be pushy after applying 3 times. I now work their float pool and usually get full time hours. Good luck.

Absolutely right - Union agreements constitute contracts with the employer - of course violation of a contract is not a crime, but is actionable civilly.

Bottom line is, if you are protectd by contract or union membership, your employer can still terminate you, but will have a much harder time terminating you for flimsy reasons. Unfortunately, most nurses are not protected.