black list?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

All hospitals know that the days of giving bad references is in the past due to fear of lawsuits. They can only say "not eligible for rehire".

Good luck to you.

cathyish · Sep 29, 2005

all hospitals know that the days of giving bad references is in the past due to fear of lawsuits. they can only say "not eligible for rehire".
good luck to you.

i've read that phrase before (here on the forum), but what exactly does it mean? does it mean that the hospital that is giving you the reference wouldn't hire you again? if so, what basis are they using to make that statement?

thanks in advance,

(a new nurse who just gave 2 weeks' notice after only 5 months on the job).

Vance · Sep 29, 2005

From experience, although not mine, you might report to HR the manager who has been giving bad reports. Request a generic letter as a remedy and be assured you'll hear no more from the disgruntled manager. You can always have someone call, and possibly tape, a mock reference check to find out exactly what is being said. In the meanwhile, don't publish the managers number for contact; use only HR's main number. Best of luck.

KatieBell · Sep 30, 2005

i've read that phrase before (here on the forum), but what exactly does it mean? does it mean that the hospital that is giving you the reference wouldn't hire you again? if so, what basis are they using to make that statement?
thanks in advance,
(a new nurse who just gave 2 weeks' notice after only 5 months on the job).

not eligible for rehire, means- you are not going to be hired by that hospital again. this can be a big problem if the hospital is one part of a system of healthcare in your area.

the basis they make that statement on is from something you did that made you not eligible- usually not giving appropriate notice would be the big one, or if you were for any reason fired (intoxicated on job, very late too many times, etc.) each place has its own standards. at one hospital one could become not eligible for rehire if they didn't turn in scrubs at the end of employment...(with the shortage, i've always wondered if that stuck or was just a rumor)...

as far as hospitals- they are probably not getting bad references in the way you are thinking, but they are seeing that you quit early on. my advice is to call and discuss with a nurse recruiter that you are looking for the structured 12 week orientation (do they do that for med/surg?) and see what they can offer. recruiters understand that sometimes as a new grad, your first job might be a rotten fit, but make the recruiter your friend, that way they will sell you to the floors, so when you get there it is a bit easier to interview.

also call- its possible you did get the jobs, and no one has had time to call you yet....

cathyish · Oct 1, 2005

not eligible for rehire, means- you are not going to be hired by that hospital again. this can be a big problem if the hospital is one part of a system of healthcare in your area.
the basis they make that statement on is from something you did that made you not eligible- usually not giving appropriate notice would be the big one, or if you were for any reason fired (intoxicated on job, very late too many times, etc.) each place has its own standards. at one hospital one could become not eligible for rehire if they didn't turn in scrubs at the end of employment...(with the shortage, i've always wondered if that stuck or was just a rumor)...
as far as hospitals- they are probably not getting bad references in the way you are thinking, but they are seeing that you quit early on. my advice is to call and discuss with a nurse recruiter that you are looking for the structured 12 week orientation (do they do that for med/surg?) and see what they can offer. recruiters understand that sometimes as a new grad, your first job might be a rotten fit, but make the recruiter your friend, that way they will sell you to the floors, so when you get there it is a bit easier to interview.
also call- its possible you did get the jobs, and no one has had time to call you yet....

thanks for the reply.

i don't think i've done anything to warrent a "no re-hire", but i wanted to be careful. i haven't yet applied to another hospital - the recruiter at this one is "looking" within the hospital for me.....i am going to spend my days off this week checking out other hospitals, however.....

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2005

They can't do that or they would get into trouble. I have been a manager and supervisor in several facilities and each one was very clear on telling us not to give out any information on old or current employees, to route all callers to the human resources department (HR). The only things HR is going to give out is your date of hire, date of termination, and whether the termination was voluntary (you quit), or involuntary (you got fired). That's it. It would be very easy to check out if your old manager is bad mouthing you. Get a friend or family member to call for a reference on you asking specifically for her. Get a little story made up ahead of time of who and why they are calling and have your SS# ready at hand. If she tells you she can only answer yes and no questions, try giving her incorrect information (such as a wrong date of hire that is off by a couple of months) to see what she comes back at you with. Try to get her talking. If she's willing to "spill the beans" about you, especially bad stuff, then you'll finally know if it was her. Chances are she isn't doing that, but check her out for your peace of mind. Tape the conversation if you can so you have proof of what she's doing so you can go to her boss with it.

If you decide not to disclose this employer on another job application, the only way it would be discovered is if the new employer has your references checked out at one of these new firms that specializes in this kind of stuff. I hear there's one huge agency (I think they're in Texas) that does this. Facilities have to become a paid member of their company's services to get the low down as well as contribute to the data base a company like this generates. I would think that only large organizations would use this kind of service, but you never know. I routinely leave several old employers off my applications and if I am asked what I was doing during the 2 or 3 months I wasn't employed I tell them I was helping my mother take care of my dad. My father was one of the sickest guys you can possibly imagine! :wink2:

hoping05 · Oct 5, 2005

It appears I do have an overactive imagination :) . I was called in for a third interview, and was told they had one more reference to get, which was a friend of mine. They said the previous employer just gave them dates of employment. I tend to overthink things :chuckle . I got the job too. It's good to know that's all they do on a reference check, and also that I dont have to give all previous jobs. Thanks again for the information.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Oct 5, 2005

It appears I do have an overactive imagination :) . I was called in for a third interview, and was told they had one more reference to get, which was a friend of mine. They said the previous employer just gave them dates of employment. I tend to overthink things :chuckle . I got the job too. It's good to know that's all they do on a reference check, and also that I dont have to give all previous jobs. Thanks again for the information.

Good luck to you.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2005

:balloons: I'm glad to hear that things are working out for you. As you now know, when our minds get bored, they like to engage in all kinds of little thinking games!