Just Had One Of The Most Horrible Experiences Of My Career!

Nurses General Nursing

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Part 1 here: https://allnurses.com/nursing-interview-help/youre-hired-then-900303-page2.html

So I just had a horrible hiring experience at a so-called ''world class'' hospital. I was previously interview and offered a position almost immediately after being interviewed but was waitlisted for the past 5 months which in that time I spoke to the manager twice and she reassured me that all I was waiting for was a start date and that she was happy I was still interested and that she will be contacting me sometime in the future. At that time I had also emailed the recruiter inquiring if anything was wrong with my references or if I was not being chosen (they make your references fill out a questionnaire about you) and she said in her own words that my references came back very well in my favor and that all I was waiting for was a start date.

Rewind to last week, I email the manager a second time and she said that they will be contacting me with a start date etc... within the week, and they did. The recruiter emails me yesterday again offering me the job and says that all I have to do is a background check, employment and school verification (which I did when I was offered the job originally) I questioned to myself why I had to do it again, nonetheless I do it again.

Again out of the clear blue sky for a second time the recruiter notifies me that there is an issue with the process. She emails me and says... those background check forms we gave you don't send them back, can I call you? So she calls me. This time she claims that my reference survey was not as good as they wanted it to be and that the director (not the manager???) only wants candidates with very high marks on this reference questionnaire.

So now my references that were (and I quote) ''very well in my favor'' 5 months ago are now not good enough because I did not get all high marks (in her words) Now I know all of the people I asked for references and I know they would never give me low marks for anything. I can understand people may give lower marks than one would expect, but a) that doesn't mean it's fact and B) I have never in my 8 years of being a nurse ever had a complaint by staff or patient, or manager, no bad patient incidents, nothing. My peers have always personally told me good things, and thanks for helping them, etc.., etc..

Secondly my references were filled out months ago, didn't they look at it then? why would you ''waitlist'' me then and then offer the job for a second time but never look at my references??? Also the recruiter was very unprofessional and was very inpatient with me on the phone, never apologized for the 5 month delay in my start date, called from a bad number so that when I called back I got a ''this number is disconnected message'' and when I asked never tells me what areas I scored ''low in'' although I asked twice and she then says ''look it's not my decision, she hangs up before I could respond''

They either A) Hired someone they knew at the last minute or B) there was a dispute over who they wanted and someone high up wanted someone else over me

Either way now I've learned my lesson, this was a sign from the get go. I'm sure I dodged a bullet working there, moving on.......... just had to vent! It's just unfortunate because I wanted to work in this unit very much.

sorry for any typos, just venting :--)

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Or realized that because you have 8 years of experience, you perhaps would not settle for the lowest starting pay...that someone with the basic required number of year experience ( 1yr? 2yr?) would.

Sorry this happend to you.

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Wow Jade you're so right... I never even thought of that, wow... sad.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Wow, that is odd...

Sending positive vibes in finding a better org that fits and will be respectful to your experience.

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Or realized that because you have 8 years of experience, you perhaps would not settle for the lowest starting pay...that someone with the basic required number of year experience ( 1yr? 2yr?) would.

Sorry this happend to you.

There are two kinds of people on AN; people who complain that new nurses are not given a fair shake at employment and people who claim that experienced nurses are not given a fair shake at employment.

Most likely OP you were a borderline candidate who they did not want to throw away but were not super eager to hire until they really needed someone. And yes, in larger facilities you may have to get the approval from multiple levels of management to become hired.

At my facility the charge nurse does the initially stamp of approval, then the super, then the director. Getting the thumbs up from 2 of the 3 doesn't mean much.

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Asystole do you work in management? or have you ever?

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Asystole do you work in management? or have you ever?

Yes. I've never strung along anyone though but I have been the recipient.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

It sounds like you're lucky not to be working there. What a disorganized mess.

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Maybe something better is in tow for you soon. Hope you didn't give up another job for this place

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

OP - that is crazy!! I hate that they strung u along like that for so long. Definetly a good thing in the long run - u never know how someone like that may do after u start working for them.

Hope u find something better!

Anne, RNC

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Nope I didn't give up another job for this. I know organizations can be unprofessional, but this takes the cake.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

What a horrible experience. I blame HR. srsly

In my experience (several healthcare systems & many years of management) the most disorganized department is always HR - the most disorganized areas in HR are recruitment & records --- sheesh, don't get me started about the proverbial HR 'black hole' into which records are lost forever.

Recruiters are notorious for their disorganization - losing documents, failing to return calls or follow up . . . all very typical. In most cases, the hiring manager is forbidden to 'go rogue' and do anything independently of HR so they are entirely dependent upon the information that is handed to them. If I could only have a nickel for each time I have heard supremely qualified nurses tell me "I have been trying to apply for ____, but I can't get past HR" The most frustrating thing? If a qualified applicant contacts me (hiring manager) I am mandated to send them back to HR to 'follow the process' or I am severely reprimanded.

I agree - OP dodged a bullet on this one.

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