I externed at a local hospital before taking my boards this summer and they called me in for an interview and pretty much hired me before I even passed my boards. I passed, brought in my license and registration, gave them my transcript, referral letters, etc. all that good stuff. They tell me they will reach out to me when they're ready for me to come in for the physical and background check. Meanwhile, I technically don't have an offer letter yet so I'm not banking on anything, and I'm applying to other facilities. 3 weeks later, I call to check on my status. Yesterday I get a call back asking me to come in today to move forward.
I had an appointment for 9am, showed up at 8:45am, didn't leave the freaking hospital until nearly 3pm!!
I had to fill out so many HR packets my head was spinning, along with an "application" packet that looked like it was from 1982. After that, I went to OHS for the physical - more paperwork, even though I had printed out and brought a full medication list and medical history, I had to write everything on their forms over and over. I give blood and urine and am given my cheap little medical card with my name, address and file number on it, only they misspelled my street name so I had to wait 15mins for a new one.
Then I am back in HR filling out another 7+ forms/questionnaires for my background check. Oh, how convenient, I have to reimburse the facility $90+ for the background check, AND I need to submit a money order for $25 for a child and family services check. OH, and I have to get three pages notarized.
That's okay, I'm told, there are 5 notaries in various locations in the hospital - and so I'm given a list of office locations. 45mins later and each one is crossed off the list - nobody is in today, or they're out to lunch, so I pay the $6 to have them notarized at the pharmacy across the street, after running around and standing in line at the post office for 20mins for a money order.
Then I'm fingerprinted which was interesting... my passport and social security card is taken to be copied... I fill out and sign one last form and just as I'm leaving I see my soon to be department ADN in the hallway! She's excited to see me and asks when I start orientation.
"Well, they said they'll try to get everything back next week and hopefully I can begin orientation on 10/28"
"Oh that'll never happen," she says, "they are notoriously slow. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you but you probably won't start until December since we don't do orientation in November."
I seriously feel like screaming right now. Why are these facilities so far behind in technology? Why don't the different departments communicate with each other? Why such a bureaucratic system that's so inefficient? I'm so frustrated!
I considered myself so lucky to get a job right out of school, in the Emergency Department no less! But right now I just want to go back to corporate where we get an offer letter a couple of days after the interview, and we start immediately after peeing in a cup.
//end rant (sorry)
so is this common? to be interviewed but not start orientation until 4 months later?
