Unfair hiring decisions regarding new grads

Knorremeisje · Dec 20, 2007

I can't really offer any help, however I'd say leave the place as soon as possible. You don't want to work for an employer who doesn't recognize your efforts and your hard work. At least that's what I would do. Besides that, I am really sorry for you, that is just horrible.

Something similar happened to me a while ago. I was working as a PCT while taking pre-requisites for nursing school. After six months I took an EKG class and told my superior that I would like to get crosstrained to Unit Secretary/Monitor Tech. Once the class was done, after 5 weeks, all of the sudden they had hired a brand new US/MT who hadn't even taken the class yet. I interviewed at a different unit the next week and got the job offered there after about one hour. However, I was so disappointed at the time, I just couldn't believe it. But oh well, in the end, you really don't want to work at such a place anyways!

Good luck, Arual! I hope everything works out!

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 20, 2007

I recommend a sit down meeting with your manager and ask for feedback about your job performance and her evaluation of you as an RN applicant. Before you make assumptions about what happened, you need to get the facts. If you base your decisions on hurt feelings and emotional assumptions about what happened, you might be setting yourself up for trouble later.

Get the facts before coming to any conclusions.

Ion · Dec 20, 2007

I graduated from my ADN program last week and was happy to be applying to the Emergency Department unit I have been working at as an LPN for the last 9 months. I was the first to be interviewed, and the only LPN interviewing. Each of us interviewed before a panel of people which included our manager and 5 clinical nurse leaders. This was presented as a panel of our peers. Eight of us applied for three positions and only three of us that applied work in the unit. I have NO write ups, corrective actions, and am always the first person to work and the last person to leave. I have, over the last 3 years of working in this department, cross trained and accomplished everything that the manager and everyone else has asked of me without ever stepping outside my scope of practice. Imagine my surprise when, after being told by the panel that I was the most prepared person they had seen, failed to receive a job offer, while two people who do not work this unit and have no experience did receive job offers! I went to work on Tuesday and heard all about everyone else's job offers and found out by process of elimination that I was excluded from the offers. I didn't even get a phone call from my boss or anyone else until this morning, and was then told that it wasn't anything personal. I am stunned, hurt, and as angry as I can be. This kind of betrayal is not what I expected after three years of good, hard, loyal work. I am currently seeing what else is available, but many of the positions are taken by people who already worked in those units. I just don't know what to do now and I still have to go back to my unit and keep working until I can take my NCLEX and find another position. Anyone with any ideas? I think I'm in shock.

ideas?

Less hard work, more butt kissing.

MsBruiser · Dec 29, 2007

I graduated from my ADN program last week and was happy to be applying to the Emergency Department unit I have been working at as an LPN for the last 9 months. I was the first to be interviewed, and the only LPN interviewing. Each of us interviewed before a panel of people which included our manager and 5 clinical nurse leaders. This was presented as a panel of our peers. Eight of us applied for three positions and only three of us that applied work in the unit. I have NO write ups, corrective actions, and am always the first person to work and the last person to leave. I have, over the last 3 years of working in this department, cross trained and accomplished everything that the manager and everyone else has asked of me without ever stepping outside my scope of practice. Imagine my surprise when, after being told by the panel that I was the most prepared person they had seen, failed to receive a job offer, while two people who do not work this unit and have no experience did receive job offers! I went to work on Tuesday and heard all about everyone else's job offers and found out by process of elimination that I was excluded from the offers. I didn't even get a phone call from my boss or anyone else until this morning, and was then told that it wasn't anything personal. I am stunned, hurt, and as angry as I can be. This kind of betrayal is not what I expected after three years of good, hard, loyal work. I am currently seeing what else is available, but many of the positions are taken by people who already worked in those units. I just don't know what to do now and I still have to go back to my unit and keep working until I can take my NCLEX and find another position. Anyone with any ideas? I think I'm in shock.

I'm sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, it sounds like they don't like you very much. I would not waste my time talking with management - their decision really leaves you with no option but to look elsewhere. I'm sorry things turned out the way they did...

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Dec 29, 2007

Like was mentioned previously, you don't want to work there anyway. It's unfair, to say the least.

All other things being equal, Internal applicants should ALWAYS get the job over external aplicants.

elkpark · Dec 30, 2007

I know that you're feeling hurt and disappointed about the situation right now, but a lot of experienced education and management people would tell you that there are a number of reasons why it's always a bad idea to start working in a new role (in your case, as an RN instead of an LPN) in a setting in which you've been previously working. Even though you are excited about completing your education and entering into your new role, many (most?) of your co-workers will have a hard time making the transition with you, and will still see you (even if only unconsciously) as an LPN and have the same expectations for you as they did before. For many people there who have known you over time as an LPN, you will always be a "second-class citizen" as an RN (although they don't mean any harm -- it's just human nature).

This is the same reason why smart hospitals won't allow nurses to move up into management positions on the same unit they've been working on as a staff nurse -- they move them to a new unit where the staff do not have existing experiences/expectations of them. It seems like it would be easier to adjust to the new role in a familiar setting with familiar co-workers, but that often turns out badly. A lot of people would tell you that you should not even try to get an RN job on your old unit, but start "fresh" in a new setting (even if it's just a different unit in the same facility) with new co-workers.

Try to look at the positive aspects of this new opportunity in your professional life as you're looking for a new position elsewhere, and congratulations on your graduation! Best wishes for the NCLEX :balloons:

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Dec 30, 2007

. Even though you are excited about completing your education and entering into your new role, many (most?) of your co-workers will have a hard time making the transition with you, and will still see you (even if only unconsciously) as an LPN and have the same expectations for you as they did before.

This is the #1 reason why I did not stay as an RN at the place where I was a tech.

tferdaise · Dec 31, 2007

Yeah I have to say the same thing, I was a ER tech, I finished my LPN, I was told I would be hired as LPN at the ER, but that never happened. I left the hospital and worked else were. I think that was best thing I could have done, I have returned to the hospital in a different unit. Spread your wings else were...

st4wb3rr33sh0rtc4k3 · Jan 10, 2008

This is the same reason why smart hospitals won't allow nurses to move up into management positions on the same unit they've been working on as a staff nurse -- they move them to a new unit where the staff do not have existing experiences/expectations of them. It seems like it would be easier to adjust to the new role in a familiar setting with familiar co-workers, but that often turns out badly. A lot of people would tell you that you should not even try to get an RN job on your old unit, but start "fresh" in a new setting (even if it's just a different unit in the same facility) with new co-workers.

Tell me about it. I worked my butt off in a nursing home and when a MMQ position opened up, because she would now be the ADON. I applied, the ADON said she would train me and help me get the required education I would need to fill this role. Well, they wanted to keep me on the floor, because they said, "I was good on the floor". I was dissappointed to say the least.

I ended up leaving on to get my Med-Surg experience, and figured maybe in a few years I could do something I really wanted.

They still haven't found a candidate. Oh well, for them.

caliotter3 · Jan 10, 2008

Since you had your heart set on this position and are really hurting badly from not being selected, you should look elsewhere and move on. Unless you can resolve your feelings of resentment, no matter how slight they may be, you will never feel right about this employer again. It only pays to stay with an employer that one believes has betrayed them, if no other job can be found. Good luck. And congratulations on your achievement.

psalm, RN · Jan 10, 2008

I recommend a sit down meeting with your manager and ask for feedback about your job performance and her evaluation of you as an RN applicant. Before you make assumptions about what happened, you need to get the facts. If you base your decisions on hurt feelings and emotional assumptions about what happened, you might be setting yourself up for trouble later.
Get the facts before coming to any conclusions.

I second this, whether you stay at this facility or not. Leave with no bridges burned...and chin up. Don't let this disappointment color your moods as you prepare for your NCLEX.

Something similiar happened to me when I applied to a position. I was enthusiastically received and had all 3 interviews...and then never got an official "no thanks, we hired someone else". So many of us know what it feels like and send you hugs while you decide what to do. :redpinkhe