Can employer look up where you've worked before?

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I recently accepted an offer as an RN in a hospital, done the physical, turned in documents, etc.. and orientation starts this coming Monday. But just yesterday I found and applied a job opening at a magnet status teaching hospital I really would like to work for. I don't know if I will get an interview, but if I do -

1. do I have to mention in the interview that I am currently orienting for a hospital?

2. worst case scenario - If for whatever reason orientation (4 weeks) didn't work out, I end up leaving the job - can I leave the 1 month experience off the resume? or will HR find out when they do my background check with my SS#?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

IMO, if you get a paycheck from them, it's a job and you should list it. Also, I don't know if a job will turn up on a background check. I DO know that nursing is a very small world and the chances are good that someone at your current facility may know someone at your new facility, and the new facility may very well find about where you were working.

I don't really have a good answer in your case. On one hand, honesty is the best policy because facilities aren't always very forgiving. On the other hand, your applying for another job just before starting orientation on the first job doesn't really portray a good picture of you as a stable employee...even if you swear you'll stay at this new job for years, the new facility may think--and rightfully so--that you could also bail on them at the first opportunity.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Nsg is indeed a very, very small world. Years ago, I attended an open house recruitment at a newly opened rehab facility. My RN sister had been interested and the place was on my way home in the afternoon/early evening, so I stopped in just to check it out. As I was taking the royal tour, I ran into an LPN that had just left MY current facility. With the DON there, we chatted briefly for a few minutes. When I got to work the next morning, word was out that I was going to the new place!!! I had so many bad vibes during the visit that it was a no-go for me, but I had a hard time explaining myself. You too will probably have a hard time facing the powers that be if they learn you're looking.

Meriwhen explained it very well. If you do decide to try for the second place, you could be shooting yourself in the foot at both facilities --- at facility #1, you'll never, ever be eligible for rehire; and at facility #2, you could be seen as flighty and a poor risk for any in-house advancement/opportunities (like cert classes, floor/shift transfers, promotions, overtime, etc). And mgt may well be less than understanding and tolerant with you as a newbie, so your position performance could be scrutinized more closely. And if it comes time to thin the ranks for any other reasons, mgt has you high on the list. Even if you stay at facility #1, you could face all these adverse possibilites.

Think it over carefully and good luck.

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Specializes in Clinic NP.

I personally doubt they'd "check up on you in such a manner," but yeah you better believe that if you are in hospitals anywhere in the same couple hundred mile radius those recruiters (especially if you're new and at a smaller hospital) could and may ask of you.

I don't know what to do about applying, but those kind of quick movements are really frowned upon. Unless you're in a really bad hospital; most wouldn't rehire you (at least the same department (may not have the problem system-wide).

When I started grad-school, I made it well known my interests. It's normally the easiest way, not always the easiest way to get hired if you want a better place than you're at, but i don't know! I'd wait at least a couple months in so you can at least get a little experience.

Good luck!

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thanks for all your reply. It is not my intention to job hop, I understand how it effects the resume. In my previous non-nursing jobs, I always stayed at least a 2 - 3 years. However, I would hate to work in an environment that have poor support for the new grad. and would like to have a back up. The hospital I've accept the offer at does not have a new grad program, and gives provide 2 weeks day shift orientation, and 2 weeks night only. The manager that I interviewed with weren't very respectful and polite. Even the HR was quite rude. I took the position because there were no other options at the time. Of course, if the orientation goes well, environments are supportive, I plan on staying for at least 1 - 2 years and go from there to decide if I want to move to a bigger hospital.

anyway, thank you again for your help! :)

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Gee, sorry, no support for this scheme from this quarter. Really, dear, part of being an adult professional is sticking with the choices you commit to in a mature manner. Even though you found something later, you accepted the first hospital's job offer. Exactly because of that acceptance, they put you on the schedule. Now act like a grown-up and own your responsibility.

If after a year or two you want to go to the other place, it will still be there, and you'll even have a stable job and some clinical experience to put on your resume, with no worries about "will they find out...?"

Sleeping better at night because you act ethically is a good habit to get into early.

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Likely no HR will ever dig that deeply. I would just leave it off my resume. I left my first nursing job after a month when I got a job offer somewhere else making $5 more an hour. Places that pay crap wages or offer crap benefits shouldn't be surprised when people bail. There's nothing noble or ethical with sticking with a job you don't like. Is the employer going to act in a "mature manner" when money's tight and layoffs loom?

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When it comes to you and your career, always look out for #1. This "being loyal" and "playing adult" nonsense is just that- when if the tables were turned you would be walked out and escorted to your car with nary a backwards glance.

If you get offered the other job, I say go for it. It may be a small world, but it's also your world, and you need to to dominate it.

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Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.

Not 100% sure about this, maybe others can chime in, but don't you have a 90 day "grace" or "probationary" period, where they may fire you, or you may leave, with no ramifications?

Sometimes it's just not a good fit. For either side, for whatever reason.

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Not 100% sure about this, maybe others can chime in, but don't you have a 90 day "grace" or "probationary" period, where they may fire you, or you may leave, with no ramifications? /

Depends on the facility policy, but generally, yes. Sometimes up to 6 months. And, the company can also chose to terminate an employee, no questions asked. If they ask why you are leaving, tell them. If it's because the other place offered you more pay, or because you live closer, say so. They may come back with an offer to get you to stay.

Trust me when I (and others) say.....the employer will NOT be loyal to you, no matter how loyal/ethical/sweet you are. They are always watching out for themselves first. No matter what. You need to learn, now, to always, ALWAYS watch out for you. Because they won't.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have had at least six crappy short term or part time jobs (less than six months) in which I said "I'm not coming back" that I leave off my resume. Since there are no large gaps in my employment history it hasn't ever been an issue.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Then there is my old stand-by: "The Opportunity for advancement" as to the reason for leaving a job. I'd just leave it off or just mention that you considered job #1 but found the "opportunity ......."

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