Is it out of the norm to apply to multiple hospitals?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am about to graduate from an A.A.S. program in nursing. I have begun the application process to multiple hospitals in cities near here. I have applied to about 16 various hospitals in several surrounding cities. The reason I am applying to several cities is begun currently I live in a very, very rural town where I go to school and it is about equal distance from all these cities. Now, about a month after beginning applying, I am called in for an interview at a well-reviewed community hospital on the outskirts of one of these cities. It isn't "ideal." It isn't one of the major teaching hospitals that I've applied to. But it's a well-respected community hospital that is fully accredited and has better than average rankings on US News and World Report.

So I tell my friend about it and she goes "WOW. Are you just sending out random resumes? Shouldnt you think about where you want to work instead of just applying for a job?"

As if it were so easy that I could just send ONE application to the ONE place I want to work most and be assured that I would get hired there? Seriously. I told her that I am applying to many places so that I can fallback on something even if it isn't ideal. Even if it isn't the best place to work in the world. She, on the other hand, is applying to ONE hospital. It's the hospital she is currently a CNA at and she said she isn't applying anywhere else. She goes "I actually know the places that *I* apply at."

Just because I haven't been to the place I have an interview at (its 2 hours away) she thinks I shouldn't even go.

Can anyone comment on this? I didn't know that applying to several hospitals was so out of the norm! She also thinks it's very odd that I'm willing to relocate out of the rural town we live in (middle of nowhere) to take a job in a mid-sized city, which I would like to go to school at anyway for my BSN.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

That's what I would do. How are you going to know if you like working at a place until you get hired. I say apply to as many as you can reasonably fit into interview time and if someone offers you a position then decide to take it or not (I'd take it.) Many times I saw wonderful CNAs become very disillusioned when they found out that being a Nurse is entirely different from what a CNA does.

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Specializes in NICU.

I applied all over the place. While it would be ideal to be able to pick and choose the hospital you would like to work at, the reality of the situation in our current economy is that as a new nurse you have to cast a wider net. After you get experience, you can be pickier. Besides, how will you know which hospital you would like to work for if you have no experience working there?

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IF you need a job, you need a job. Minutiae of your wants and desires comes secondary to bringing in a paycheck. If your girlfriend is so lucky that she can hang it all on one hope & prayer, then power to her. But to me, this is like those kids that apply to that one university that they've always wanted to get into, and no others. If/when they do not get accepted, they are screwed. Applying everywhere you can in your locale, particularly in this economy, just makes sense. What your friend is doing does not make sense, unless she has a good reason to believe she is a shoo-in for that one job she's trying for.

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Well, she isn't you, so I wouldn't worry about what she thinks. Just do what is right for yourself.

I personally think its naive to only apply at one place and expect to even get an interview, much less be hired.

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Specializes in LTC,med-surg,detox,cardiology,wound/ost.

I don't see anything unusual about sending out your applications to see what is out there. Who knows, maybe the one hospital that many nurses tend to overlook will end up having the best work environment and the best opportunities. The real question is, are you looking to get into a particular area of nursing or are you just looking for any nursing job? It does sound as if your friend already has an advantage with her current employer (an "in" if you will) and you do not have this advantage. No regrets- check out your opportunities and may they all be good ones. :)

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haha no! I applied to every facility in a 50 mile radius!

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Thanks guys. I don't know why I let negative people get me down. She acts like I have no morals because I applied to places I only know superficially. She's able to make these statements because she's a rural CNA who knows everyone at the one hospital she's applying at.

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Ha. I know many nursing students who were so sure that they were going to transition from a CNA position once licensed. Guess what? Most did not.

Best if you and your fellow classmates just float away from each other for a while. You need to keep your job hunt, tips and tricks to yourself, if you don't you might just find out how many of your beloved former classmates will not hesitate to take your information and use it for themselves.:smokin:

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
Ha. I know many nursing students who were so sure that they were going to transition from a CNA position once licensed. Guess what? Most did not.

Best if you and your fellow classmates just float away from each other for a while. You need to keep your job hunt, tips and tricks to yourself, if you don't you might just find out how many of your beloved former classmates will not hesitate to take your information and use it for themselves.:smokin:

I have no problem if they do that. Cast your bread on the waters and all that. I am not going to let the stresses of the job search turn me into a petty, mean individual who begrudges others any crumb of advice, support or help. It doesn't sound like this classmate was asking for advice, so I wouldn't offer it, but if someone does ask me for help, I would give whatever was in my power to give.

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Sure give advice if you really have any to give. But when you are also interviewing for the same jobs potentially (unless it doesn't matter to you if you work or not) you just are giving away your chance at the same.

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Oh man...ha I applied to 20-30 hospitals from Massachusetts(where I lived) to California & everything in between. Ended up taking a job in DC. People thought I was crazy but when my class graduated I was one of 3 who had an actual job lined and and wasn't stressing about how I was going to get work, I was able to just focus on studying for nclex and then had a few weeks of actual relaxing vacation before moving and starting work...at a job in the specialty I actually wanted too!

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