What exactly is the process of getting hired?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know this might sound stupid but I am wondering what is the process in hospitals to hire an RN? Does it really take a week to decide?

For example, for my current job it took them almost two weeks to decide on hiring me. It's a good thing I got hired because I turned down one other job while waiting on their decision.

I just wanna hear from the hiring managers out there or those with experience.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I think it depends on how fast they generally move (some people are just procrastinators), or if they are interviewing other people.

It took my current job 2 weeks to get back to me. My current manager is very slow. Don't expect to hear from him in 4 weeks.

ETA: Once the manager hires you, it then goes to HR. That can take a bit longer as well.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

At the end of my interviews, I always asked when I might hear back. I often got an expected timeline, plus a lot of extraneous info r/t how many other applicants were after me. The callbacks were right on time. I think you just have to ask because every NM has a different timeline in mind.

Specializes in Oncology, radiology, ICU.

I'm awaiting word from a state job. I've already been interviewed and filled out all the paperwork with HR (tax forms and such). I went and peed in a cup and got fingerprinted. It's been 3 weeks and I'm dying to get the phone call. The DON was very up front and told me it could be a month or more because after all it is a state job and we all know how slow they move but I'm in complete agony waiting on the phone call.

Job #1 (still in nursing school, applied for the new grad internship in the department I'd been working in)- Interviewed and got the offer about a week and a half to two weeks later. Manager called me first and then HR did a couple days later with the 'official' offer.

Job #2- Applied, got a call for an interview two days later, interviewed a couple days after that. I was told that they had other people to interview but that they would be extending offers after Memorial day which was about 10 days later. HR called with the job offer on the Wednesday the week of Memorial day.

Job #3- Internal transfer...applied online about 10pm on a Thursday night. Had an email from the recruiter bright and early Friday morning telling me how much of a pay cut I'd be taking and asked if I'd like to proceed. I replied, and had a phone call inviting me to interview that afternoon. Missed the call, had to wait all weekend, interviewed on Wednesday the following week. I was told that they wouldn't be extending offers for another two weeks, but I received a phone call from HR 1 1/2-2 hours after my interview.

I think it really just depends!

Specializes in ICU.

It takes a solid 5 weeks for the hospital I'm currently trying to get into.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

You also need to consider if it is a union job. If so, there is a specific timeframe the job must be posted for. I once interviewed for a union position, and after I interviewed, I was told they never posted it internally, and now they had to (so I had to wait for an answer). I can't remember which of my many jobs it was, but I'm guessing I wasn't offered the position.

On the flipside, my current job (in a university) had an open posting of about 2 months. They did not begin interviews until after the posting closed (and I applied the day it opened). Between 1st and 2nd interviews, the process seemed to drag on forever.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

For the hospital system I have just been hired into, I had my 1st interview they called a week later for my second "peer" interview then the nurse manager called 3 hrs later, I was unavailable as I was working. Over the course of the next 2 days she left 2 messages on my cell and 2 at home. When we finally were able to speak on the phone she offered me the job.

Now getting through HR and actually starting is a different pace!. Got my offical offer, peed in a cup, signed the paperwork for the background check, 2 weeks later HR calls again for my employee health screening and my offical start date is a month away

Specializes in PACU.

On the jobs I've actually landed, I've either been offered the job on the spot or within hours of my interview, once they'd been able to call some references. That said, union requirements and other factors can certainly make the process take longer.

Specializes in General Internal Medicine, ICU.

I also think it depends. I have friends who waited anywhere between 2 days to a month for a call back. I lucked out and was offered the job on the spot!

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

It has taken 2 weeks - 1 month for me to receive a decision and 1-2months afterwards to start working depending on the hospital. I am not a hiring manager, just an experienced nurse.

Specializes in FNP.

Depends on the institution. At my past place, screening was done by HR and interviewing and hiring was done by committee. It would probably take us at least a month so get a quorum and interview a handful of candidates before making a decision. So from start to finish, putting in application to HR to interviewing to decision, to contract negotiation, 2-3 months.

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