Feeling frustrated with my hiring process...

[caseyuptonurse]

So, I accepted a job offer in a large hospital on their ICU. I signed my offer after receiving it (I'm a new grad so I took the offer the second I knew I had one). I completed all my background checks and physical and drug screens. I was told in my offer letter that I would be starting this Monday. I was at HR two weeks ago to get a badge made up and then they told me that I would hear from my manager about orientation details shortly since everything on my part was done. The past week I feel like I have called HR everyday since I have not yet heard from the manager and HR told me to contact them if that was the case. So finally yesterday they told me that the manager has been extremely busy and will call me later in the day... No phone call. I made sure to have my phone on me all day... And nothing. I know most managers don't work weekends but I am assuming I am not starting on Monday since I literally know nothing about what's going on with my orientation. I'm just concerned that maybe they changed their mind on me (even though HR said they didn't) or if they really are too busy and I need to wait it out. I just don't know where to go from here... Should I wait or should I get back to sending out applications? I feel so frustrated plus I'm just anxious to get started and because I have another part time job that wants to know what my orientation schedule is going to look like once I start.

[Clovery]

I don't think they would change their mind after the expense of doing your background check, physical, and drug screens. It's probably true that the manager is just really busy. Maybe someone else is on vacation and he/she is doing two jobs. You could call the unit this weekend, ask to talk to the nursing supervisor, explain who you are and that you received a letter that says you are to start on Monday. Tell them you are unsure whether or not you should come in since you haven't heard anything from the manager. They will probably call or text the manager and you will get your answer.

[Madras]

Congrats on your offer!!!!

But I'm confused by your hospital. Every large hospital I've ever worked for always had a large scheduled system wide orientation for new hires and HR always handled that info. Then you would go to your respective unit after being cleared from nursing skills checks.

This hospital is sending you straight to unit orientation with your nurse manager?

so interesting. I would think if you signed an offer letter with a start date(which is considered a contract) then you should start on that date. They really should find out when you can really start per your manager and issue you a new offer letter with the agreed date. I would hope they'd be on top of this.

curious to see what others have done in this situation

[caseyuptonurse]

I don't think they would change their mind after the expense of doing your background check, physical, and drug screens. It's probably true that the manager is just really busy. Maybe someone else is on vacation and he/she is doing two jobs. You could call the unit this weekend, ask to talk to the nursing supervisor, explain who you are and that you received a letter that says you are to start on Monday. Tell them you are unsure whether or not you should come in since you haven't heard anything from the manager. They will probably call or text the manager and you will get your answer.

I really hope this is the case! I thought the same thing that there's no way they would get rid of me after all the work I've done to get prepared. I had to see one of their Drs for the physical and they paid for my background checks. I don't know if I want to call the unit because HR told me that if the manager were to not call then I'm obviously not coming in on Monday and we will have to get a hold of her Monday at some point. I was thinking of sending an email tomorrow to HR so it's in writing explaining why i will not be showing up on Monday. And then Monday morning I will be calling again.

And Madras it wasn't a new grad program, I'm one of the only ones starting in the ICU so I think that's why I'm just meeting with my manager to go through orientation? Plus I literally know nothing about how it's going to go such as when I will actually be on the floor. I figure the first week will be computer stuff and I'll be on my own time basically because I don't think there are any other new hires with me currently. But all I know for certain is that my orientation is full time days and 18 weeks long... But that doesn't help me much for Monday. Haha