I'm Waiting

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Can anyone tell me why it takes a hospital so long after interview to contact prospective employee? You'll hear from us in a few days. Its been 10 days now. I thought they needed help. I know they checked out my references, so whats the problem? Do they not realize the possibility that you might take a different position in the mean time, even though you prefer their facility? What gives? Is there really a nursing shortage?:confused:

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I once applied for a position in my own hospital. Not hearing from them, I called the person who had interviewed me. I got his secretary who told me I should have "heard it onthe grapevine" and that SHE was too busy to call the applicants.

Call and ask. What could you lose? Knowing the status would be preferable to just hanging out in space.

Call and ask.

Some employers see this as a genuine indication of interest.

They don't see it as a game but is it :(

You know, it's so stupid. They know as soon as they interview you whether or not they're interested. All they have to do is check your references. I applied to 2 different hospitals for a job. One hospital took 2 weeks to call and offer me a job. The other called me THE VERY NEXT DAY. Needless to say, I was more interested in the latter. Been there a year, I liked the way they got things done. It showed they wanted me.

Specializes in Hospice/Homehealth/Homecare.

My current position took 4 business hours! I inteviewed at 1pm on Friday, and at 8am on Monday a.m., the HR rep was calling to set up the benefits interview (this is where you dicker for money. The a.m. after the benefit interview, I received a phone call with an offer and 2 days later, the letter came. I guess I was lucky. The position I applied for just before that waited 2 months before sending me a letter telling me they hired someone else after telling me that they would call within 2 days to set up the THIRD interview. If you need 3 interviews to get a nursing job, count me out!!!I was glad I didn't get that one. But I was raised to believe in common courtesty. Any time I interview, I will tell the truth and if I can't do it to their face, I will write a ltter immed.

Did you send a thank you letter? I like to do this to further show them that I am interested in the position and closing by telling them I will be in touch w/in the week and again telling them how I can be reached.

Re: the thank you letter, it's best to write it and send it immediately following the interview.

Hi Kayzee,

As someone who has worked in HR I can tell you that most of the time those departments are all messed up. Can't get much done.

There are a few that really know what they are doing. They can go through resumes and applications and interview and have someone hired in a heartbeat. But, you'll probably see that most can not. Espeically the larger health organizations.

It is OK for you to contact HR if you haven't heard anything yet. If you call in and they start giving you the run around make sure that you have a back up plan and keep sending those resumes out. Usually when they can't give you an anwer right away they are either 1) too affraid to tell you that they have hired someone else or 2) are still looking at other candidates and could potentially select someone else.

And I agree with Nurse Ratchett. If you don't get a good feeling from the HR department and the interviews, that may be your gut telling you look some where else. If the HR department doesn't show many manners to the people that they should be trying to impress, that is probably the way they treat their staff.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I agree w/everyone else here. FOLLOW up and remember this; it may indicate some serious inefficiencies in that company. I have never had anyone take that long to notify me of the status of my employment. Good luck.

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by willidomo

call and ask.

some employers see this as a genuine indication of interest.

they don't see it as a game but is it :(

i concur. all the best to you!

Well I did follow up with a thank you e-mail to HR and interviewer. Just called and was told she is waiting to hear a response from another potential employee who is now out of town. Should know by Mon. I thought they needed more than one nurse. Anyway, what can you do? I have another interview on Tues. at a Hospiatal very near my home, and a shadow experience. That should be interesting. wish me luck. Say a prayer. Thanks for all your posts, I do appreciate the feedback and suggestions. :)

Please tell us if you get it.

Best of luck :)

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