Recruiting and hiring

fedupnurse · Aug 23, 2002

Sounds about right! Then when you get in you are treated like dirt and want to leave. And they wonder why there is a shortage!! I have a friend with 10+ years ICU/CCU/Cath Lab/EPS, blah, blah, blah experience and she was unable to find a job other than per diem. In NJ many places just don't want experienced people because they have to pay them a few dollars more. SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IF YOU ASK ME!!!!

jschut, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2002

I currently work in LTC, but it does seem that where I live, although everyone is complaining of a nursing shortage...no one is hiring nurses!

Strange, isn' t it?

renerian, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2002

Hello. II live in OHio. I applied at OSU med center in March and did not get offered a position until July and cannot get in orientation until September. Luckily I work another job to supplement my income or else I could not have waited.

renerian

FloridaCCRN, CRNA · Aug 23, 2002

Yep, I live in Florida. I just graduated a couple of weeks ago and applied to about 5 different hospitals I got interviews a 2 and the process was slow, I did finally get hired at one and the others just never seemed interested. It did'nt help though that a huge group of students graduated a couple of months before our class and got all the good positions.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 23, 2002

Thank you all for your responses so far.

Your response hits home for me, graduate_2002. I graduated from nursing school in Oklahoma City in December 1994. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing asked that all nursing schools with graduating classes turn in a list of graduates' credentials by December 21, so that they could be processed before Christmas. My nursing school, for whatever reason, decided not to turn in credentials until after the New Year's break. Students from other schools already had their licenses by the time we began getting our authorizations to take the board exam. At the time, few hospitals were hiring, and it put us at a severe disadvantage in getting jobs. Not only were other classes graduating, but we were lagging over a month behind them in getting licenses. My school was reprimanded by the Board of Nursing, but the damage had already been done for my classmates, many of whom did not find full-time work for over a year after we graduated.

Fortunately, I had gotten a job offer from a hospital that was willing to wait and, because I had taken PN boards after my third semester, I was able to start orientation before I took RN boards. Still, it forced me to work for over a month at less than $8 per hour.

I also see a lot of truth in the response by fedupnurse. When Charter Behavioral Health closed my mental health facility in February 2000, I applied for a per diem job on the geropsych unit at a local hospital. The clerk in HR said, "They should be calling you soon. We almost never get an application for that job." The ad for the position continued to run week after week, as I drew unemployment and was being paid $279 per week. I followed up with telephone calls. No response. I finally got a call for an interview in November - eight months after my application. The call was from a newly-hired nurse manager, who was going through the things left behind by her predecessor. She said that my application had apparently been sitting there ever since I initially applied.

Best of luck in your new career, graduate_2002. You will need it.

FloridaCCRN, CRNA · Aug 23, 2002

Originally posted by Orca
Thank you all for your responses so far.

Your response hits home for me, graduate_2002. I graduated from nursing school in Oklahoma City in December 1994. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing asked that all nursing schools with graduating classes turn in a list of graduates' credentials by December 21, so that they could be processed before Christmas. My nursing school, for whatever reason, decided not to turn in credentials until after the New Year's break. Students from other schools already had their licenses by the time we began getting our authorizations to test for the board exam. At the time, few hospitals were hiring, and it put us at a severe disadvantage in getting jobs. Not only were other classes graduating, but we were lagging over a month behind them in getting licenses. My school was reprimanded by the Board of Nursing, but the damage had already been done for me and my classmates, many of whom did not find full-time work for over a year after we graduated.

Fortunately, I had gotten a job offer from a hospital that was willing to wait and, because I had taken PN boards after my third semester, I was able to start orientation before I took RN boards. Still, it forced me to work for over a month at less than $8 per hour.

I also see a lot of truth in the response by fedupnurse. When Charter Behavioral Health closed my mental health facility in February 2000, I applied for a per diem job on the geropsych unit at a local hospital. The clerk in HR said, "They should be calling you soon. We almost never get an application for that job." The ad for the position continued to run week after week, as I drew unemployment and was being paid $279 per week. I followed up with telephone calls. No response. I finally got a call for an interview in November - eight months after my application. The call was from a newly-hired nurse manager, who was going through the things left behind by her predecessor. She said that my application had apparently been sitting there ever since I initially applied.

Best of luck in your new career, graduate_2002. You will need it.

I wish I'd had the option of taking the PN boards... the way our program was set up we couldn't do that:rolleyes:

i've been hearing that we'll have to wait about 6 weeks for the state to process our applications and send the ATT, so it looks like i may end up working as a tech until it comes.

I wish you the best of luck in your career as well Orca;)

sjoe · Aug 23, 2002

Well, ,Orca, that is a whale of a story! (couldn't resist).

Your tale sounds about right, no matter what state you are in or how "desperate" they are for nurses.

Unwilling to train new hires to specialties, they want what they want and only what they want and exactly when they want it, unwillingness to be flexible about scheduling, on and on.

What is comes down to is:

1) however "short" they are of nurses, they know that whoever is still with them will fill in the gaps ("for the good of the patients" as these overworked nurses would put it, which simply perpetuates short-staffing)--with consequent lower overall labor costs, which in turn makes the managers look good to the bean-counters

2) "THEY" aren't the patients lying in bed with too few nurses to take care of them

3) see #1, above.

You see why people like to do agency/travel nursing? At least there you can quickly figure out where you actually stand.

Dr. Kate, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2002

Sometimes I think the nurse recruiters have no clue the hospital needs nurses (NOW) and that there is a shortage of nurses (NOW).

I also believe based on totally unscientific observation that something things continue to work or not work they way they do at hospitals because of something in the pipes. No matter how the system is modified or changed, it still works the same way. No matter who owns the place, it works the same way. No matter how long it exists, it works the same way. Has to be in the pipes. But even getting new pipes or a new building doesn't help. Maybe it's like radon, just there and you can't get rid of it.

Both hospitals where I work have dysfunctional nurse recruitment. Getting in to apply isn't hard, getting a call back is a miracle.

I do know the corporate level suits of the company I work for are evaluating every hospital on number of new hires per month, new grads hired, terminations, and terminations in less than a year require exact reasons as to why they happened and apparently death is the only acceptable (to corporate) answer as to why someone doesn't stay a year.

I won't say things should start to look up in Vegas but you never know. It comes down to being persistent. The best way I know of to get in is to get the name of the manager of the area you're interested in and call that person directly. The hospital operator will usually give this information as everyone is worried about customer service these days and the unit manager is the first person complaints go to, so their names are easy to get.

JailRN · Aug 23, 2002

I see the oppostie side. We advertise a position, list the qualifications, and boom!. Last time we advertised for a contract nurse, RN, recent jail setting preferred, but must have recent ICU, ER experiencem $30-$33/hr.

We had 40 applications, 9 from CNA's who thought it would be swell to make that kind of money, 13 were LVN's and of the 18 remaining who were RN's, 1 hadn't worked in 6 years because of a drug conviction, 1 couldn't start for 6 months, 13 had no ICU, ER or jail experience, and 1 wanted only full time days.

We ended up waiting for the one who couldn't start for 6 months as she was the ONLY 1 qualified.

During the application process, we also discovered that of the 13 LVN's 4 of them didn't specify that they were LVN's and it was only after they got to the oral interview that it came out. 1 actually put on her resume that she WAS an RN,(but-hey, she's going back to school someday),

I was apalled, but not surprised. I think too many people have the attitude that, hey, they're desperate and they can train me. That's fine, IF th employer advertises it will train you, but come on!! Am I wrong to feel this way?

Brownms46 · Aug 23, 2002

hmmmm...I find all of this strange. I have had no such problems getting job offers, and the hospital I'm at now...has been hiring nurses, as fast as they graduate! At my last several assignments I have been offered positions at those facilities also. Before I left Wa. state.... I was given a standing offer of a position from the nurse manager, after she was unable to convince me not to leave, and to take a position at her hospital. Maybe it's just timing...but I'm at lost to understand this situation. :confused: I know many hospitals have all kinds of recruitment bonuses, not only for the person taking the position, but for the person referring them. I had even emailed hospitals in other areas, and immediately received a response not only from the recruiter, but from the area that is in need of a nurse, immediately after receiving the recruiter's email. They are willing to tell me what the pay would be, and any other information asked for, without ever filling out an application. Asking me to just give them a call, and set up an interview.

Yet another hospital....Childrens in Seattle, has been advertising for over two years for a postion, that is Mon -Thurs, occasional weekend call, 0600 to 1430pm. They have offered relocation money, housing, and daycare assistance. But as yet no takers.

In S. C. they were offering $5,000 to any nurse to come work ICU/CCU/ER...and very few takers! And the list goes on...and on!

I have a friend here, who received as a new grad, a $5,000 bonus, right out of school, and was immediately placed in an ICU internship, and sent to a local community college for a Critical Care Course. She also received assistance with housing...in the form of a check...that reduced her rent from $750/mon. to less than $500 a month for a year! Like I said...it must just be timing.. :cool:

I also find it strange that it's difficult to find a position in Las Vegas, as they're tons of needs sent out by recruiters for Travel Nurses. Maybe they figure they will take the experienced travelers, and then take their time searching for just the right perm staff...who knows.

MichelleRN1102 · Aug 24, 2002

I'm glad someone brought this up....because I was starting to think it was me!

After months of searching for preceptor/internship jobs at local hospitals in South NJ, the only response I received was from one local recruiter (out of 5 hospital systems I applied to) who CANCELLED my scheduled interview stating that because I had little or no experience, there was "no NEED" to interview me.

Partly because of this and other contributing circumstances, my family has relocated to Central FL and apparently the situation is no different.

I recently interviewed with one hospital system and was told by the recruiter that I would be recommended for hire based upon my initial interview but that I would have to interview with a nurse manager who would offer a position. I had told this recruiter that I would work in any area that would provide suitable training. I have made several follow-up calls but have yet to be contacted by any nurse manager for an interview.

Based upon this and the number of available positions advertised by the hospitals, I think the recruitment efforts by our hospitals are less than adequate. I think it's disgraceful that the hospitals choose to pay agency rates and/or expect already overworked regular staff to fill in the gaps and/or tolerate unacceptable staffing ratios when there are obviously ready, willing and able RN's to fill those positions.

It is beyond me why these practices are allowed to continue. If anyone has any suggestions on how to successfully land a hospital job in the midst of a nursing shortage, I would greatly appreciate your input.

Michelle