Getting a hospital job

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Already posted this in the WA state forum but there is not much action there.

Hey all,

Here's my dilemma. I've recently moved back from Central WA where I was a tele nurse (first time doing tele) for six months. Had to come back because my living situation was unsafe (in a bad area). Before I had gone to Central WA, I had worked for nine months at the UW on the Gen Med floor. That was an challenging and great job. I left because I felt I needed to get out of the Seattle (relationship issue) for the moment. Now I'm back.

So my problem is: I haven't a year of experience in either med/surg or tele themselves (1.5 yrs total). I really want to work at a teaching hospital but that only leaves Harborview and the UW. I don't know if the UW will hire me back to the same floor (left sort of abruptly but I resigned, they did not terminate). Harborview is great and I did clinicals on their med/tele floor years ago and wouldn't mind working there if there's an opportunity. What do I do? Do I apply to these hospitals as a new grad? Or do I say I'm experienced? Obviously I can explain things to a recruiter but as you might know, many of these hospital applications now are done on the computer for specific jobs (I dislike that format).

I wanted to even learn a new specialty and then pick up shifts in tele to continue to progress in tele experience. I know my nursing history has been awkward but I was dealing with depression, anxiety and certain issues which I have been seriously working on since I got back to the Seattle area.

This post is deeply personal but I feel OK posting it on this site. Thanks for reading this long post.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Don't short change yourself. You have a year and a half of experience and that counts for something. I wouldn't classify you as a new grad. I don't know the area of the country you are talking about, but I can tell you this. If you want to work at a teaching hospital then go for it. The worst that will happen is that you won't get hired. Can you deal with that? :chuckle Go. Fill out an application. If you don't want to do one on line, go to their personnel department. If they ask or insist on an electronic application just tell them you don't have a computer. How are they going to know you have a computer? On your application just put down your work experience. Don't offer any explanations for your work history unless they ask you for them, but be ready with some answers. Let them know on your application that you are interested in working telemetry.

Do not mention the "depression, anxiety" or that you were in an unsafe living situation. It will turn them off in a New York minute. Your private life is just that and shouldn't even come up in an interview. Remember, when you are job hunting, your application and any interviews you have are your chance to sell your professional self. Focus on your positives. You have some experience which puts you a bit higher on the totem pole than a new grad. :chuckle I would try applying to UW first to kind of test the water. If they're not interested in re-hiring you, you won't be totally surprised, will you? On the other hand, it will give you a little experience on what to expect (and prepare for) when you go for an interview at the other teaching hospital. It would be a real help if you could manufacture a husband who was transferred around over the last year and a half to explain your work history. If you get re-hired at UW-hey!-you'll have a story to tell new grads 20 years from now. :chuckle

In hospital nursing the thing to do is to contact the nurse recruiters and tell them you would like to apply for an RN position and set up an interview. I don't know if you are aware of this, but most large hospitals have job openings on a recorded message phone line which will give you an idea of what kind of RN needs they have. But, don't assume that if they don't have an opening on a telemetry unit that it's the end of the story. Let these places know you want telemetry. They hang on to applications for up to 6 months or longer in some places. They do call people back when openings occur.

Your job is out there. You just have to go and find it.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Daytonite,

Thank you so much for the great information. What you said all makes sense and I thank you for the pep talk; I just needed someone to tell me that I still have a chance in this geographic area.

Thanks again.

BTW, I'm a guy :)

[guest64485]

If you are applying to UW, definitely put down that you have worked with them before. They will find out one way or another. In the hospital HR that I am at, the nurse recruiter keeps notes about every single person she has ever interviewed. The recruiters also are made aware when any person (in a position they would normally recruit for) resignes or is terminated.

Also, it is a routine step for many hospitals to do a check on each person that they are hiring to make sure they haven't worked at their facilities before (it can screw up certain payroll systems if they enter an employee twice). Even if they don't catch it then, if they find out later, through any means, that you have worked for them in the past and didn't write it down, they can fire you for intentionally falsifying your application.

The most important thing about your past work history is: were you satisfactory on your job performanc evaluations. They look at that more than how much notice you gave when you left. We have hired back people who gave less than 2 weeks notice at my hospital. If you had a good rapport with your former coworkers and boss I wouldn't worry about it at all. And if not, you can discuss it with the nurse recruiter. She will have a good awareness of the environment on each floor and the personalities of each manager. She can be objective and understanding about your past, and present situation.

good luck!

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Ayvah,

Thanks for that info. I definitely will mention that I've worked at the UW before. They will likely know right away anyway. The thing is I'd really only like the unit I was on before, reputed to be the hardest in the hospital. I did well there, but maybe I should just apply at the other teaching hospital, the level 1 trauma center. We will see.

Another hospital (not a teaching hosp) on the other side of town already wants to interview me for some interesting jobs so things are slowly progressing.