Can't tell if this is a good sign or not. What do you think? (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 all 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 NICU.

I would give it until Friday. If you haven't heard anything, then call HR. I am sure the HR staff are busy with other things and they will contact you when your references check out and your license is verified. More than likely, the HR person was out today so they could have a 4 day weekend (Black Friday shopping).

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Yeah, that would make sense. I just hate not being able to make heads or tails of the situation "officially". I can't believe I didn't ask some of the "little" questions either, I feel like such an idiot lol. I was so excited to be interviewing for a position with this place that it just slipped my mind.

I hate being so impatient and the uncertainty (Yet, I love being a nurse the way I love being able to breathe, go figure haha.)

- Thank you for your advice, it was greatly appreciated!

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While the facility may be open 24/7, HR typically is NOT! They are open during "business hours" and closed on major holidays (and likely are given Black Friday off as well). Also, remember that HR deals with more than just hiring nurses. They are responsible for taking care of staff health benefits, resolving staff complaints, dealing with difficult situations (firing personnel), etc. While it would be nice to hear back from HR the day after an interview (or the national holiday), it often takes at least a few days, if not a week (or more) to verify your license, check your references, call previous employers if necessary, etc. Once all this is done then they will call you to notify you where to go for a live scan (or whatever background check they use), etc. Don't be nervous at this point that the interview went worse than you thought! It is not worth the added stress! When HR DOES contact you, feel free to ask your question about scrubs then. Some psych facilities wear scrubs, some do not and will wear khaki pants/black slacks and a polo shirt or blouse, etc. It really depends on the facility.

Good luck in your (likely) new position!

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Thank you!! I definitely should have thought about all of this before I worried myself silly. I never even took into account that they had to verify my license ( I scanned copies etc) I guess I stupidly thought that it takes myself about 5 seconds to look it up (like I did for about every 5 minutes after taking the nclex haha) that it would be a piece of cake for them too :facepalm:

- Sometimes, (especially when it comes to things I reallyyy want) my excitement somehow fuels my expectation and I end up working myself into an anxious tizzy of self- doubt. It's probably time I start honing in on my compassion and empathy for other people and share some with myself, hopefully it will only help to make me a better nurse.

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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.

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