Disappointed with nurse recruiters

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi all, this is my first post. Wondering what others have encountered when working with nurse recruiters. During clinicals we were actively "wooed" but now that I'v graduated, I'm not getting calls and emails returned. The one that did call me back pretty much told me to just apply on line. Thats not recruiting! Maybe I expected too much, but it makes me less sympathetic to the hospitals regarding nursing shortage.

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown.

I also find it strange that you aren't being wooed like you were while stil lin school. Perhaps you will get more of a response once you've filled out an application. I know that was what all the recruiters wanted me to do when I expressed interest during my Job Search. I think that it may be policy to have you "on file" before thay can begin scheduling you for interviews.

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I felt the same way during my preceptorship. The recruiter I worked with asked me what my plans were after graduation, and I started to answer ......but then two Aids came in and interrupted us. I never had a chance to answer the womans question, and she never asked me again.

I thought for sure I'd be asked to fill out an application, but I wasn't. And I busted my hump there - nonstop super-nurse for 48 hours.

But then, when I saw how the place operated (small town hospital) I decided I don't want to work there anyway.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Most people in HR don't have time to do marketing, unless they set aside certain dates and approach a lot of people at once, like in a career fair. Apply on line then followup to see where the best fit is. That way they know what to offer you and can save you both a lot of time and frustration. Good luck!

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Hi Chelsea!

I completely agree with you! Although I'm not graduating until May, I did a nurse externship this past summer at a large urban hospital. I know my nurse manager loved me and I worked so hard to impress the staff. The chief nursing officer and all the HR employees said "the great thing about doing this externship is you're guaranteed to have a job lined up for when you graduate." Well I've applied for 10 different positions at that hospital and I didn't hear anything. So I started calling the nurse recruiter a month ago and left a message about once a week. And she still didn't call me back! Starting about two weeks ago I got really angry that she could be soo rude, so I called other people in the office and told them to give her the message- still no callback. I began calling a couple times every day (and didn't leave messages) and still NO answer!! A few times her voice mailbox was full, which was kind of a relief to me because at least I knew she was blowing other people off too! I finally got in touch w/her a few days ago and she said they wouldn't have anything available for new grads for another few weeks.

Personally, I don't think she was trying to be rude. I just think there is such a surplus of new grads (at least in the area I live in) that there really isn't a nursing shortage so there aren't many jobs left!

That's my two cents. Good luck w/your Job Search!!

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Specializes in MCH, L&D.

I just touched on this topic in the NY thread about the NR at Mount Sinai. Then they wonder why when you become "experienced", you are no longer interested in working at their facility.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f164/anybody-familiar-mount-sinai-279429.html

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Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Post-op, Same-Day Surgery.
Hi Chelsea!

I completely agree with you! Although I'm not graduating until May, I did a nurse externship this past summer at a large urban hospital. I know my nurse manager loved me and I worked so hard to impress the staff. The chief nursing officer and all the HR employees said "the great thing about doing this externship is you're guaranteed to have a job lined up for when you graduate." Well I've applied for 10 different positions at that hospital and I didn't hear anything. So I started calling the nurse recruiter a month ago and left a message about once a week. And she still didn't call me back! Starting about two weeks ago I got really angry that she could be soo rude, so I called other people in the office and told them to give her the message- still no callback. I began calling a couple times every day (and didn't leave messages) and still NO answer!! A few times her voice mailbox was full, which was kind of a relief to me because at least I knew she was blowing other people off too! I finally got in touch w/her a few days ago and she said they wouldn't have anything available for new grads for another few weeks.

Personally, I don't think she was trying to be rude. I just think there is such a surplus of new grads (at least in the area I live in) that there really isn't a nursing shortage so there aren't many jobs left!

That's my two cents. Good luck w/your job search!!

I live in an urban area as well, and you'd think with the number of hospitals in my city they would be rolling out the red carpet! However, new grads are taking quite a bit of time to get settled into jobs, and it seems that they are getting jerked around a bit as well! I believe it, though, because I applied for extern positions at 3 hospitals months ago, have been following up with calls/e-mails every 2-3 weeks (conservative, I think), and NOTHING! I'm thinking...if this is how they treat me as an extern...how will they treat me as an RN?!?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

First of all I have learned by working at my hospital that there is NO shortage of New Grads!! On the other hand, there is a shortage of qualified experienced nurses willing to work in poor conditions.

Secondly, it is very important to have a job lined up before graduating. If you were not an Extern or Tech you will be waiting like all other New Grads for a New Graduate spot in a New graduate program.

Yes, I have read posts of some Externs stating that he/she did not have a job upon graduating. This is confusing to me since my program assists us in working on our floors (the floors we are externing on) upon graduation if the Director wishes to extend an offer. In fact, we are the very first New Grads to be considered before others are considered because we worked there before graduating! Thus, an HR recruiter has nothing to do with our being hired.

If this was not the case with my program, believe me when I say I still would not have ever bothered with HR! I would take advantage of being an Extern and meet with the hiring manager of my floor or a different floor to land a job. Hiring Managers (Directors or Nurse Managers) ultimately make decisions, not HR. Good Luck!!:up:

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