Looking/need some honest feedback (sorry, for the long post.)

Nurses Job Hunt

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- I graduated school at the very end of July, and took and passed my NCLEX (PN) in the beginning of September. I have sent out about (at least, probably more) about 50 resumes/filled out applications. I should mention that I live in N.Y, and the nursing job prospects are horrible. I was starting to lose hope, but then I saw an opening for a job that pretty much encompassed "my dream job" and jumped right on it (I've always wanted to be a psych nurse/as well as help people who have substance abuse issues and psychiatric issues.)

- Anyway, I sent my resume to them (on a Saturday) and on Monday morning I had a call to come in for an interview (my very first nursing interview.) Thanks to the help of All Nurses, I was able to come up with a perfect outfit. I purchased a black blazer, black slacks, and a green high cut blouse to wear underneath. I wore my hair half up/half down (out of my face) and wore minimal makeup (a veryy light/faint green eye shadow, 1 coat of mascara, and a nude lip gloss.) I felt liked I looked professional (and maybe slightly like I was "playing grown up" because I'm only 5'1 lol.)

- I made a file to bring to my interview. It contained: My resume, my nursing license and registration, my nursing school diploma, a copy of my PPD (my insurance is running out super soon, and the PPD expires in March :nailbiting:.) I also brought along a copy of my CPR certification, infection control and child abuse certification (2 things they listed on the qualifications for applying for the job.)

- I go to the interview and ring the buzzer, and the person answers the door and asks "Who I'm there to see" etc. I was set to interview with the Doctor, but he wasn't in his office. The person who answered the buzzer was very helpful, trying to find the Doctor and they also ended up walking in on a staff interview (with me right behind them :facepalm:) Everyone in the meeting told me to come in (I'm pretty sure I was blushing at that point) they were so sweet, and I apologized for interrupting their meeting. One of the women (I got the sense that she had to be a someone who was definitely a higher up , or maybe even an RN/nursing supervisor.) She asked me what position I was there to interview for and I replied that it was for a "Nursing Position" she asked "LPN, or RN" and I replied "LPN" and she said "Oh, good, thank god we need you!" which made me smile, and everyone in the room smiled, and then I proceeded to sit and wait on a chair outside the Doctor's office (he was on a phone call at that point, and the door was closed.)

About 15 min later, I was called into see the Doctor. He was a very nice man, and had a welcoming smile. He handed me his business card and we started the interview. He asked "How I heard about the place" etc. It didn't feel like their were so many "interview-type" questions. It was more like an up beat conversation. I told him how passionate I was about this type of work and even that this particular place was one of my "Top-3" dream jobs when we were asked in nursing school. He seemed pleased with that, and I honestly couldn't contain my excitement and passion for this line of work. He actually commented that he was "So surprised for the amount of compassion and understanding that I had for these patients already." He then told me about the position. Basically, the LPN position is more focused on being the "Med Nurse" etc (which, I had anticipated before due to conversation with my nursing school teachers etc.) I could be placed in a male house or female house and it could be anywhere from a 100-bed unit, to a 50 bed unit at one of their various locations within the vicinity. He said that the "Chain of command would still be the RN, and then the Psych Nurse Practitioner" (which is actually my overall goal to become) which made me feel relieved, because in school the nursing "chain of command" was always drilled in our heads, and I was wondering if it was even going to exist in this position, before the interview. He then asked "What my availability was" , of course I replied "Anything" (I don't have children yet, so I'm flexible schedule wise.) He also asked "When I would be able to start" (I said as soon as possible.) He also asked "What I was looking for salary wise" (I hate that question, but I had done some research beforehand so I wouldn't be blindsided in case it was asked.) After I answered (and mentioned that I was nervous about this question) he said "Don't worry you're right in the ballpark."

- Ok, so the part that I'm worried about. I had mentioned that I had brought a folder with a huge stack of paperwork in it, containing copies etc. He asked if I had everything I brought scanned on my computer. I said that I had most stuff scanned and whatever I didn't have scanned, that I would make sure to scan. He asked if I could "Send that over (the scanned copies of stuff) over to his work email, whenever I got around to it." Of course I replied "Yes, sure no problem." I also asked "When could I expect to hear back, regarding the position" he replied "I'll send everything over to the Human Resources department, and after you complete your background check, finger printing, and drug test, I would be happy to offer you a position." I wasn't given a specific date for HR to get back to me or a specific date for when to come in to complete the finger printing, background check, or the drug test. I went home that night and I scanned and submitted all the paper work he asked for and emailed it to him, along with "Thanking him for taking the time to meet with me, and hoping to hear back soon." He replied about an house later with "Thanks, got it."

- Now I'm worried because my interview was in the late afternoon on a Wed (day before thanksgiving) and I guess I had thought that maybe I would hear back from them today (Friday.) I know that they technically "operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" etc. I know I was stupid to build my own time frame up in my head, because I only got disappointed when it didn't happen. I'm also nervous because now the weekends coming up, and I know that I won't hear back from HR this weekend, and I don't want to "be forgotten about". I'm also confused because I wasn't given a specific time frame for when HR would get back to me, or for when I could schedule a day to complete the background check, finger printing, and drug screen. I'm also wondering (and this I know is just silly) but I never asked if we are supposed to wear scrubs (I reallyyyy hope so) and if so what color etc (It's black friday, I'd like to be able to get a deal lol.) I'm stressing myself out, and I'm wondering if he just "put it in HR's hands" as a standard response, because it was nicer and easier to say that. I can't help but being nervous, because i keep reading/being told that if I was actually "hired" that I would have been given a specific date to come in, or even to call and complete everything. I'm driving myself crazy with anticipation, and feeling that "maybe the interview didn't go as well as I thought it did."

-What do you guys think? Am I right in feeling that I shouldn't be too confident in thinking I got it? What would you do in my position? Also (the darn scrub question) how/when would I ask about this? My fiance says that I should just ask HR when/if they call, but would they even know? This company is fairly new to even hiring nurses (specifically LPN's in general.) They basically just recently switched over to hiring nurses (LPN's) to dispense medication for the patients etc.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

First, you're overanalyzing EVERYTHING. STOOOOOOPP!!!

It's rare you get a specific time frame, but nice when you do. You just interviewed WEDNESDAY, the day before Thanksgiving. RELAX. If you hear something before next Friday, consider yourself lucky. He basically said that as long as you pass the background check and drug test, you are being offered the job. I really don't see the problem here.

Why do you think the scrub question hurt you in some way? Again, stop overanalyzing. Please learn to relax, or you're going to make yourself nuts! You basically have a job offer. Don't count on it 100% until it's in writing, but you've basically been offered the job. Chill and enjoy your weekend. :)

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I wouldn't worry too much that you haven't heard back yet, I know that HR at my workplace was working with skeleton staff on BF as LOTS of people take off to make a 4 day weekend out of it---if that's the case where you are, they are busy just doing everyday stuff and nothing extra like working on new hires.

It sounds very promising, offering you early congrats :yes:

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Thanks Everyone! I really appreciate it. I kept reading what a few members of my graduating class was saying about how their interviews went, and how long after they were hired (a couple on the spot) etc, & I just really let that, combined with my anticipation and nerves get to me. Thank you for easing my anxiety =)

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Unfortunately I still haven't heard back from them (it will be a week since my interview on Wed.) I was thinking about sending an e-mail to the person I interviewed with thanking them for meeting with me. However, I remembered that when I sent over all the scanned information that they asked for, I already "thanked" him for taking the time to meet with me. I'm feeling like interviewing the afternoon before a major holiday definitely worked against me. I'm trying to just "relax" and not think about it, I'm even applying for more jobs, but I really was excited about this job.

I would contact Human Resources but he said that they would get in touch with me.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Unfortunately I still haven't heard back from them (it will be a week since my interview on Wed.) I was thinking about sending an e-mail to the person I interviewed with thanking them for meeting with me. However, I remembered that when I sent over all the scanned information that they asked for, I already "thanked" him for taking the time to meet with me. I'm feeling like interviewing the afternoon before a major holiday definitely worked against me. I'm trying to just "relax" and not think about it, I'm even applying for more jobs, but I really was excited about this job.

I would contact Human Resources but he said that they would get in touch with me.

It can take 10-14 days just for the background check to come back once it's been requested. Plus the holiday, the weekend... I know it's hard to relax. Keep applying for sure, but I wouldn't write this one off just yet. :)

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It can take 10-14 days just for the background check to come back once it's been requested. Plus the holiday, the weekend... I know it's hard to relax. Keep applying for sure, but I wouldn't write this one off just yet. :)

Thanks, venting on here to you guys really helps ease my anxiety. I keep re-reading everything whenever, I start thinking too much about it.

Random question though- Can they complete a background check even if I haven't signed anything? (In nursing school we had to sign a form for the school to do one for us.) I literally didn't sign anything at the interview (I just email the scanned items to the Doctor I had the interview with when I got home.) I mean I have absolutely NO problem with them completing a background check (I'm actually hoping they are able to!) I'd overnight them my urine for the drug test via fed-ex if it would help this process move along lol.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Thanks, venting on here to you guys really helps ease my anxiety. I keep re-reading everything whenever, I start thinking too much about it.

Random question though- Can they complete a background check even if I haven't signed anything? (In nursing school we had to sign a form for the school to do one for us.) I literally didn't sign anything at the interview (I just email the scanned items to the Doctor I had the interview with when I got home.) I mean I have absolutely NO problem with them completing a background check (I'm actually hoping they are able to!) I'd overnight them my urine for the drug test via fed-ex if it would help this process move along lol.

I believe so, but I could be wrong. I had my stuff forwarded to the recruiter to start the background check and such, but of course, the recruiter came back saying I didn't have the year of experience required for the position, so no background check was performed. :yawn: Even if HR does need to get in touch with you, consider last week a complete and total waste, as far as work environments go. No one got anything done, so even if HR needs to get in touch with you, it would likely be sometime this week. If you haven't heard anything by, say, Thursday, it might be worth making a call or firing off a breezy e-mail.

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So you didn't get hired even after the interview went well and they wanted to hire you etc? Honestly that really stinks! Plenty of people get hired for positions that they don't exactly "meet every single requirement" because they have a relative or a friend (or even killer looks lol) and not because of actual experience. Most of the people I graduated nursing school with (the ones who currently have jobs) only got the job because their sister or mother are nurses and got them a super easy in. (So not the case for me, no nurses in my family besides myself, except a distant cousin who I haven't even seen since I was like 12.)

- I think that if you are a hard worker, and willing to put in the work, and the employer sees something in you and is willing to take a chance on you, its not fair for the recruiter to step in and jeopardize that for you. I'm sorry that happened =(, please know that something better will come along.

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