She sure did... and with a straight face!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Promptly turn me away as soon as she asked about my experience as a RN and I said that I was a new grad. I'm referring to the Director of Recruitment for a hospital. I went to a career fair that I had pre-registered for and disclosed on the form that I was a new grad! I was not informed prior to the event that we would be looked at like we have a highly contagious disease and that we should just stay home! I wouldn't have wasted an hour drive and parking fees to be told to go online and wait for GN jobs to be posted. Why couldn't they just put in the description of the event that GNs (even with a license) would not be allowed! They were very nice to me even commenting on my attire, but as soon as I said new grad... It's like I turned green or something. They could have at least taken a resume! I understand the whole economy thing and the cost to train new nurses and blah blah blah... BUT what I can't for the life of me understand is why they feel the need to treat us like we're less than because we don't have experience. It is very disheartening to go through several years of intense education/training and then pass a licensing test AND receive a professional license and still be treated like I'm not even a person not to mention a licensed RN!!! It makes me :mad:!!! They could've at least thanked me for the time I took to express interest in their hospital! Makes me not even want to look for jobs anymore :crying2:...

Thanks for reading my rant/vent!

Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.

Have you tried any of the hospitals you did clinicals at? I'm fortunate that I applied to a hospital I spent 3 clinical rotations at, got to know the nurses and nurse manager so when I graduated and passed boards I contacted the nurse manager directly and said "hey, just passed boards, interested?" and I got the job. She wasn't even looking to hire anyone for nights (my preference) but she posted the job just for me so I could apply. Almost been 2 years and I finally have the med-surg experience I need.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.
Yes, it is getting worse. Hospitals are working very short staffed. Patients are becoming more demanding. I was passing meds the other night and one woman's tv was not working. I called to see if maintenance could come fix it and was told "we do not have maintenance to fix tv's at this time". I had to climb up on a chair and work with a tv for 15 minutes to try to get the picture to come in. The lady was shouting that something was wrong. Other nurses came into the room just to see that her tv was not working. Nursing is not nursing anymore :(

I've done the same with non working telephones and call lights. No maintenance to call, it's up to the floor staff to fix or not fix and have an angry patient. What else can we do? I'm not an electrician!

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Have you tried any of the hospitals you did clinicals at? I'm fortunate that I applied to a hospital I spent 3 clinical rotations at, got to know the nurses and nurse manager so when I graduated and passed boards I contacted the nurse manager directly and said "hey, just passed boards, interested?" and I got the job. She wasn't even looking to hire anyone for nights (my preference) but she posted the job just for me so I could apply. Almost been 2 years and I finally have the med-surg experience I need.

Yes, I recently interviewed with one such hospital. Things are looking very promising.

It was very nice to walk into the interview knowing everyone on the panel and even getting a hug from a couple of them :D

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.
Yes, I recently interviewed with one such hospital. Things are looking very promising.

It was very nice to walk into the interview knowing everyone on the panel and even getting a hug from a couple of them :D

Good!! Hope you get it!! Good luck! :)

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

Stupidly when I was right out of school, I dropped my resume off at a clinic- I wasn't expecting to meet the manager and have an interview on the spot- I just meant to drop it off and be on my way. Well, the manager pretty much said the job was mine because yay, I was an LPN prior to being an RN, I was experienced in peds and IM, and would be able to do fine with urgent care. I had applied online for this same position and was encouraged by many people to drop the resume off in person too.

So, the next day I get this call (I didn't answer, I couldn't get to my phone in time) from the recruiter and she.was.furious!! First she says "I understand you went to xxxx clinic last night to submit a resume...I want to know why you did that." She then went on to rip me a new one for going to one of their organization's clinic's and "demanding an interview" when they have a business to run (note, I calmly walked in, handed my resume to the nice lady behind the desk, and was about to go on my way...I did not stand there and scream for an interview). She pretty much let it be known that job recruiters are the gatekeepers and the ones driving the ship, and I was NOT going to be considered for this job and I need to apply for the new grad residency." I called the clinic manager that evening and apologized for being a bother, and she basically said that the recruiter called her and gave her a blast of excrement as well.

There was another place, a peds day surgery center I applied to, and I called a few days later after applying online and sending a resume and all that. Talked to the manager who gave me dead silence except for a very curt "yes I have your resume". All I could do was then say "OK! Well thank you" what did she give me?

*click!*

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It's good to know that there are others who can relate to my experience as a new grad... but it kinda sucks that we have to deal with this!

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So, the next day I get this call (I didn't answer, I couldn't get to my phone in time) from the recruiter and she.was.furious!! First she says "I understand you went to xxxx clinic last night to submit a resume...I want to know why you did that." She then went on to rip me a new one for going to one of their organization's clinic's and "demanding an interview" when they have a business to run (note, I calmly walked in, handed my resume to the nice lady behind the desk, and was about to go on my way...I did not stand there and scream for an interview). She pretty much let it be known that job recruiters are the gatekeepers and the ones driving the ship, and I was NOT going to be considered for this job and I need to apply for the new grad residency." I called the clinic manager that evening and apologized for being a bother, and she basically said that the recruiter called her and gave her a blast of excrement as well.

What crawled up her skirt and died? :confused:

For someone with a gate to keep and a business to run, she sure had plenty of time to chew out a coworker and a job applicant.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Recruiters need to clearly state, "only experienced nurses need apply", if they are going to not hire our new grads. For crying out loud, surely there is a place somewhere for fresh people in a hospital or any environment.

What really ticks me off is that I would rather invest a year of mentoring a new person to do things right than take on a person with 2 years exp, with bad habits that I can't break. New grads are our future and hospitals, long term care and doctors offices need to wise up!

Off the soap box, that just ticks me off.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I understand your pain. I interviewed for 5 positions and applied for well over 100 before I finally was given an opportunity. It is getting harder for individuals even with experience to find a job. I have 2 years of MS experience I get phone calls for interviews in specialty areas but nothing pans out either. So I am just staying put for right now and keeping my options open, while getting experience. Many hospitals state they require 1-2 years, but in reality they want 3-5 years of experience for positions that used to be entry level. Because of the cost to hire and retain a new graduate nurse they only hire so many a year and some hospitals have new nurse programs. Have you looked around at all or inquired if any of the hospitals in your area have a new nursing residency program? Good luck! I never went to a job fair, I looked on hospital websites and did a little research about new grad programs! Don't give up I know it is disheartening, I felt the same way and now I have a job and I am getting experience. You will too. In order to get noticed by hospital recruiters make sure you have an awesome resume and cover letter. Good Luck keep your chin up!

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Oh yeah, I had this happen when I was a new grad. I definitely disclosed on my app that I was a new grad- applied to an orthopedic floor. They called, asked some questions, set up the first interview, etc. Then called me back a few days later and retracted my interview stating that I was a new grad. Nowhere on the posting did it say new grads need not apply. I was so mad- I got the call on the bus in nursing school headed back from a congress day. And that was the only job I could find at the time. I feel your pain!!

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You should have given the HR rep a pamphlet for a remedial reading course and explained that she might benefit from it since she seemed unable to read the completed application that her company asked you to submit.

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Don't feel bad. I applied for a job one time and was sent directly to an office to see about a position. The person sitting at the desk would not acknowledge my presence and made me stand there like an idiot. I finally got a sentence out of her, then when I responded, she went right back to staring down at her desk

So what finally happened with this charming person?

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