Applying for new RN position, put down former (bad) supervisor?

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Hey guys I really need some advice. I'm applying for a new job right now and I'm wondering what I should put in the (Supervisor) box on the application. I left my former position due to having a poor supervisor, and actually more than half the staff on the floor have left in the last year due to this as well. She is a very vindictive person and I'm afraid if I put her down she will give a bad reference even though I left on proper terms. She's the type of person that acts like if you are no longer on her ship you are the enemy.

The house supervisor was awesome and said I could gladly use him as a reference. Though he was not technically my supervisor. What should I do??

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

if you omit your real supervisor that may look suspicious. You could put your charge nurse's name perhaps. It is not legal for your old supervisor to tell much more than how long you worked there and could you be re-hired. You might even give the name of someone in HR.

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Put down the name of the house supervisor then (write his name down then write his title so it's clear that he is the house supervisor).If you know your former boss could bad-mouth you and cost you a job, why risk it? How will it be beneficial to you to include his/her name? Unless you don't want to be considered for that new position!

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I would put them both down and explain the situation. This will speak to your integrity.

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It's a sticky situation having to document a supervisor from which you had bad experiences. I have one, but when my work history was checked the hiring person (at the later position) said to me, "Sounds like Joe had it in for you. Was something wrong with him?" lol Yes, there actually was something wrong with him (lots wrong actually), plus I turned him in for misconduct but that's beside the point.

Sometimes the hiring person is perceptive and realizes all is not what it seems.

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I would put the house supervisor down. If they ask for the other name and number then you provide it. She really could only say that you were employed there during that time period, but you never know.

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Thanks for everyone who decided to post and give advice to me. I decided to put down both references and be honest (supervisor and house supervisor). I will try and let you know if I get an interview.

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Specializes in OB, Med/Surg, Ortho, ICU.
if you omit your real supervisor that may look suspicious. You could put your charge nurse's name perhaps. It is not legal for your old supervisor to tell much more than how long you worked there and could you be re-hired. You might even give the name of someone in HR.

It's not legal, but it happens. It did to me. My new boss wouldn't tell me what she said, but she told me never to list her on any application ever again. It must have been pretty bad, and I was completely blindsided. HR is a good idea, but I think you do have to list someone- her boss, perhaps?

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Never put her down, what she is allowed to say and what she really will say are two different things. Do not chance it. Put house super visor,, that is not a lie and at interview if any questions come up just say house supervisor said putting him was okay. Do not put down the old boss, just make her a non-issue. Good luck.:)

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I asked the same question to my peers and they said put down two words...human resources.

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Agree with pp, HR is best. However, you may not have that option, if they insist that you put down your direct supervisor/manager.

Just as a word of caution: do not assume that all is well just because you left on good terms. I have a friend who wondered why she couldn't even get an interview for several positions she applied for in a hospital she used to work for; she thought she left her last two jobs there on good terms.

The recruiter (thankfully) finally enlightened her: Both managers had made her ineligible for rehire! She had no idea they would do such a thing. Fortunately, this did not apply to the entire hospital (just those two floors), but the recruiter told her that hiring managers in this hospital had access to this information and would therefore most likely not even want to talk to her. However, he also indicated that HR would state that she was eligibe for rehire (for the hospital).

Good luck to you!

DeLana

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Once I got laid off from a hospital. That mgr told me I was eligible for rehire because she did not like me b ut thought it was unfair to not let me get job elsewhere in hospital. (It was right to fire, I mean Work state.) I even called HR and asked if I was rehire-able as I did not want to waste their time or mine. They said yes. I must be on some bargain basement level of rehire as I have applied for 37 openings there, some I was over qualified for and not one call, not one interview. Just a letter saying Thanks, we have filled this position, but please try again and that was on the first 11, now I do not get that. They are the only game in town and I would not work for them now for nothing but the principle of it all!!

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