Formality in the hiring process.

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Hi all,

I have been supportive of the idea of nurse residencies for new grads. However, recently, I went to a meeting for a nurse residency program only to realize how formal these programs really are with their hiring (and only for a few spots, with many many applications). The application requires clinical recommendations, personal statements, in addition to the job application and resume.

Once an applicant passes this screening process, they come in for a panel interview (consists of 4-5 people, usually managers and recruiters), then if you pass this interview, you do another one with the unit manager. The whole process takes about 6 months before you actually start working. Does this sound like a routine hiring process for a nursing job today? Will this become routine eventually for all nursing jobs?

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Specializes in pcu/stepdown/telemetry.

a panel. I'd be terrified.

most jobs have recruiter and then interview with suprervisor or manager

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Hi all,

The application requires clinical recommendations, personal statements, in addition to the job application and resume.

Once an applicant passes this screening process, they come in for a panel interview (consists of 4-5 people, usually managers and recruiters), then if you pass this interview, you do another one with the unit manager. The whole process takes about 6 months before you actually start working. Does this sound like a routine hiring process for a nursing job today? Will this become routine eventually for all nursing jobs?

The beginning process is similar to what I am going through. For my local university hospital's summer practicum I had to submit resume, cover letter (both online and in packet), 2 letters of recommendation from nursing professional - 1 must be my clinical instructor, a personal statement, a letter stating I was in good standing with the RN program, unofficial transcript, and requires I make at least a B in nursing courses (only 1 course, 9 credit hours!). This was all due via packet in person by Nov. 15, 7 months before the program begins! So I have no idea what will happen next. I got an email stating I have been passed onto the hiring manager and may or may not be getting a call to interview.

There is another senior practicum at another local hospital but they don't take applications until 2 months before the program begins!

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Specializes in FNP.

"Does this sound like a routine hiring process for a nursing job today? Will this become routine eventually for all nursing jobs"

1) It is becoming more common place.

2) I hope so. There are a lot of sub par and mediocre nurses out there, and this could help weed them out.

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Specializes in Geriatrics and Quality Improvement,.

I like the panel interview process, and hope it is brought to the forefront of hiring processes for all persons working in the field.

Many minds have different perceptions, and the same goal.

I think it also helps to dissuade nepotism (sp?)

I had a panel interviewed for a position 13 years ago. I was subsequestly offered a different position in the same facility based on that interview, as they felt I would be better placed in atmosphere A instead of atmosphere B.

I have no hard feelings about the decision, and have advanced because of it.

No matter what you do, interviews are stressful thats why they say to interview at a place you dont want to work before you go to where you do want to work!

Good luck.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

In my area if you apply for an internship its pretty much follows what your saying. They are investing a lot of time and money into training you and they only have enough resources in the budget for x amount of spots. This means they want to choose the right people for those spots.

If you have experience and are just being hired as an RN for a regular position (not an internship) then its just your basic interview process.

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Does this sound like a routine hiring process for a nursing job today? Will this become routine eventually for all nursing jobs?

Yes, it's normal. I work in Human Resources for a hospital and used to run the Nurse Externship Program. It's a wonderful program to help new nurses get acclimated into their role as a nurse. Unfortunetly, we couldn't place a lot of them due to budget constraints in this economic downturn. We were able to place most of them, but not all of them.

I will say this -- if you have been accepted into a residency program, you should be very thankful. The new grads that aren't in these programs will have a hard time finding employment. Do I think this will become routine? As long as this country is struggling financially, yes. Let's hope the next president can help pull us out of the trenches.

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Specializes in public health.

I can't speak for nurses, but even for a CNA postion, I had to pass the recruiter, a phone interview (100 questions), 2 charge nurses (sometimes nurse managers) in order to get a job. It took me 2 months. The waiting is horrible but it's worth it at the end.

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I don't have experience interviewing in the nursing field, but what you are describing is common practice in other fields. Every teaching job I have had had an interview process similar to what you describe and the commercial construction management position I currently have involved an even more stringent hiring process. If the economy stays in the slumps and more people enter nursing causing the ratio of applicants to positions approach equilibrium or even a surplus of applicants, then paper screening, screening interview, panel interview etc. likely will become the norm in nursing too.

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