Hired as a NYC School Nurse ... Almost!

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

I applied for a Junior Public Health Nurse (JPHN) position with the NYC Office of School Health (OSH) in the fall of 2013. In early November, I went to a day of group interviews held at a large hotel in downtown Brooklyn. I was given a test, shown a power-point on benefits and salary, and interviewed by a team of two nurses. The interview went well, and they recommended me to the next interviewer. She reviewed my qualifications with me and conducted a no-nonsense interview. At the end of the interview, she said that I was qualified for hire, and asked if the wage was agreeable.

She also told me to not quit my job until I was actually hired and assigned to a school.

A week or two later, I was emailed a salary agreement to sign and fax, as well as a health clearance form that required my physician's signature to mail to OSH in Queens. I completed both ASAP. Soon after that, I received an email to say that the tentative start date would be January 6, 2014.

Since then, I received a call and email to say that the job offer has been rescinded (annulled), but that my application would be kept for one year. A few days after that, I received an email saying that I had a conditional offer and asked to complete online forms at the NYC Careers Portal. I submitted those forms ASAP also. However, after being in touch with a very nice nurse recruiter last week, I leaned that I am not being offered a job.

My hope is that 2014 will bring another offer, because every child in school in this great city deserves to have a nurse on duty, and I want to be of service.

Did anyone else go through this process? Were you hired, and have you begun to train, or was your offer also rescinded? I'm curious.

[fetch, BSN, RN]

Wow, that is a lot of back and forth! I hope it works out in your favor soon.

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

Thanks! I guess I'm hoping for one more "forth" in the back-and-forth. If it's a city budget problem, I hope the new mayor and city council support new hires.

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

And if the process is backed up, I'm patient!

[vvasq87, BSN, RN]

Most city jobs have a lot of back-and-forth going on. I just got hired as NYC DOE school nurse in August 2013. I went through the same process: group interview, phone call asking if I'd be interested in the position, then a bunch of dropping off of documents in Brooklyn and Queens. I think the only difference for me was that once I said I'm interested they told me where I'd be assigned. So it kinda felt like a done deal right there, and that's when I gave my resignation.

In your case, it sounds like there might be some technical issues on the city's end and it's causing some sort of chaos and confusion.

I hope it works out for you. Kepping my fingers crossed for ya

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

Thank you, vvasq87. That makes sense that the real offer will come with the school assignment. I have a list of the documents they need and I am prepared just in case I get that call too. Congratulations to you on getting your job! That's terrific to hear.

How are you finding your day-to-day routine?

[vvasq87, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the congrats! Have you heard back from them?

My day-to-day is pretty much the same. I work in a small school so it's not too busy, the most students I've seen in a day, is about 12, and that was only once. Bigger schools would have higher numbers. The school I was training at had about 1000 students and we would see about 30 students/day on average. There's a lot of paperwork and documenting, but nothing to drive one insane. Hope all is well with you!

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

Thank you! And thanks for asking, but I've not yet heard back. I will be checking in with the recruiter again next week. About three weeks ago she checked in with Brooklyn and Manhattan directors to see if there was any action. There wasn't, so I plan to email her once a month to keep my hat in the ring.

I really appreciate your posts.

Glad you had the opportunity to train at a large school. Are the kids receptive to self-care information, and do school administrators and staff support health teaching too? I know teachers are already so busy with their classes -

[idani, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Hanginthere did everything work out? I just interviewed for them as well

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

Hi. I wasn't hired as a school nurse, but I kept my job hunt going. Everything did work out, even though I was hired for another kind of job. Best of luck to you, and I hope you get hired and make a big difference in your school!

[idani, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Thank you how long was the process from being selected up until you officially knew your hiring status?

[HangInThere, BSN, RN]

P.S. Just to clarify, I wasn't hired by NYC DOHMH. I found a different job with a different employer.