My job as a nurse is at risk because of my actions:  Should I Quit or Wait to Be Fired?

I am a nurse and just got caught stealing drugs, being impaired on the job, diverting medication:  Should I Quit or Wait to Be Fired?

Life is tough and for those in the medical field the stress of personal and work-life causes enormous pressure.  If you are a nurse or a licensed professional with IDFPR and have recently been accused of doing something inappropriate like substance abuse, medication diversion, or any other allegation, give 1818 a call today.

One of the questions I am frequently asked is, “I was accused of doing something bad at work, should I quit or wait to be fired?”  In most circumstances, the answer to that question is – quitting is a better option than waiting to be fired. 

Thinking About Your Career in the Long Term

First and foremost, quitting is preferable to being fired because, if you quit, you will never have to report to any future employers that you were fired.  That is a very important consideration for your career. 

A potential employer will usually inquire about the circumstances of how you left your previous jobs.  If you were terminated, you would need to disclose that information, and you would need an explanation as to why that should not reflect negatively on any future employment. By quitting your job before being fired, you can avoid those inquiries.

There are other benefits to leaving your job on your own terms including

1. You are able to prepare yourself for the discussion;
2. You control the timing; and
3. You control the story moving forward.

In sum, if you were caught violating a policy or law that you may likely end in termination, then contact an attorney and discuss if it makes sense to quit before being fired.   

Avoid Reporting Anything to the IDFPR

Not only do you want to avoid having to report to future employers that you were fired, but you also want to avoid reporting to IDFPR that you were fired. 

All nursing professionals in the State of Illinois are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or IDFPR.  If a nurse is fired, then he or she must report the termination to IDFPR.  A failure to report is a violation of the Nurse Practice Act and could result in disciplinary action. 

Depending upon the circumstances of your work issue, there may be other legal requirements related to IDFPR. 

Reporting that you were fired or an employer reporting to IDFPR about your termination may trigger IDFPR to open an investigation or inquire further about the circumstances of your termination.  Investigations can lead to discipline including suspension or revocation of your license.

If you were caught committing a serious violation at work, contact 1818.  Your professional license is too important for you to do this alone. 

The information in this blog post is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. You should not make a decision whether or not to contact an attorney based upon the information in this blog post. No attorney-client relationship is formed nor should any such relationship be implied. If you require legal advice, please consult with an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.