Getting Re-hired on Previous Floor?

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OK - So this is kind of a rant/what would you do situation.

When I graduated from nursing school in 2002, I got a job on postpartum (OB Acute as it was called). I loved the job. I always wanted to work in labor and delivery but they wanted people with more "critical care experience" and I didn't have it. About a year into the job in OB, we had a patient who had a post-op ileus and none of the nurses knew how to put an NG tube in. I was worried if I stayed there, I was going to end up losing a lot of my nursing skills. As much as I LOVED the mothers and the babies, I wanted to be fresh.

So I went to the ER. Fast forward. I stayed in the ER 10 years (at a level 1). I took a few years off - from 2012, finished my Bachelors (had an ADN), took care of my ill father, now I want to go back into nursing and I would love love to go back to Mom/Baby/Postpartum.

I had an interview with there (new nursing manager) and I felt it went great. She all but offered me the job. She was so pleased I had experience, I have since gotten married, am more religious, and I would love to have the opportunity to be in an environment that's all women-centered and generally a positive place. She told me she would call HR the next day and I would have a job offer - she couldn't make me the offer.

So when I was leaving I ran into a nurse I worked with there 13 years ago - exchanged the usual hi, how are you, how are your kids etc etc. So I never heard from the nursing manager, and I had also interviewed in the ER (again) where they offered me a position. Since I really really wanted the job in Postpartum, I followed up the following week - saying thanks for the great interview, I got another job offer so just wanted to see where we stood.

She said that after talking with some of the staff who knew me before - she didn't feel like I was a good fit. "They remember you as not being very professional" I was completely blown out of the water. I have NO idea what she was talking about. It lead me to think a LOT - was I unprofessional? I was a new nurse, working nights, dealing with being single and having small children. How was I not professional? If I wasn't professional, wouldn't my manager at the time have addressed it with me? I guess it's a moot point - she said she wouldn't want to put me in a position where I had to "prove myself" to anyone and I should take the other position.

Fellow Nurses - this really hurts. This is the job I really wanted. It's been a month and it still hurts. I want to go back and remind her that this Catholic Hospital (I'm not Catholic) was founded on principles of second chances and judge not less be judged and let-he-who-is-without-sin cast the first stone.

I don't know what these old nurses said, if they even remembered me (it was 13 years! I dont even remember their last names!) but it bothers me so much I can't get over it. I don't want to work in the ER again. This is the only hospital in the area. I loved this job. I've missed it for 13 years.

I hate that one person saying something would make a manager doubt a great candidate. I hate that one person can have such a control over the future of your life and your career choices. I hate it all. I'm so pissed and so upset and it's hard to just get over. Of course I didn't ask for the job back or anything else but I hate that someone would think badly of me after all these years.

What would you do? Would you have called HR? Filed a grievance or just let your dream job go and move on?

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Welcome to the world of nursing. It is unfortunate that the decision-makers allowed cattiness to prevail. Not the first time something like this has happened, and it won't be the last. Many managers frequently make personnel decisions based on popularity contests, but you can bet your bottom dollar that they won't stand for their own career progression to be based on a group consensus of their "peers". All you can do is to take the other job offer and watch your back there too. If you truly want to work in the other area, after a reasonable time, start a job search for a greener pasture. Good luck.

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Having been out of nursing for a couple of years, I think I have forgotten that sometimes when you work with mostly women it can be just as cut-throat as it can camaraderie. You are right I will have to move forward. The ER I took a position in is at a hospital about an hour away - so I don't know anyone and can start fresh. I will try to smile and have a positive outlook and never speak bad of anyone.

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Believe me its not about your professionalism. If you loved your job, it showed with your patients. What you did do is put a target on your back. Which unfortunately it can't be avoided with some nurses. I wish you the absolute best. Just know you will be back in your field of choice in due time. Pray god will guide you to make the choice to get you back there! Good luck Liz :yes:

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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

well, I agree with the nurse manager, it would be hard to be put in a position where you're working with people who don't want to work with you right off the bat. But , if you still want to work there anyways it wouldn't hurt to just push the matter a bit. How you've grown, how you were really happy on that unit and wanted to go back, and how you'd maybe handle the situation of working with these other nurses. And end with something nice and understanding. That may be too much I ghess if that nurse manager is already resolved in her decision.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Wow - you must have made quite an impression on those Harpies for them to remember you so clearly after more than decade. Big picture.... you really don't want to work with that type of manager & staff, do you? Take your excellent skills somewhere they will be appreciated.

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Specializes in hospice.

No advice.....just, sorry that really sucks! :down:

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Ouch! It really does smart to have a smack down 13 years after the fact. Sorry to you, OP.

My thoughts on the matter:

What kind of manager takes 13 year old gossip as hiring criteria?

Be careful what you ask for. An all-women centered environment can get bogged down in personalities and be less professional than they accuse you of being. (NOT calling anyone a catty Harpie or anything)

I wonder if you mention you have gotten more religious to emphasis that you were less religious during your previous tour in the OB unit. People who are still employed there 13 years later may remember THAT, and can't actually use that against you so they use the generic and unprovable term "unprofessional".

Bible thumpers are not the least bit interested in your interpretation of the bible.

I don't think you have any case to make in HR with a grievance. That's just for employees.

Is this the only Mom/Baby/Postpartum unit you can apply to? Get some experience and maybe re-apply to the unit that is rejecting you now. It would be really tough to start out in a place that doesn't want you.

Good luck to you in all your endeavors.

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I have found the grass not to always be greener on the other side. And maybe God is looking out for you in a way that has not been revealed to you yet. If you were to go back there it would be difficult not to resent or spend time thinking of who thought those things about you. Sad part is no matter what you are or are not, someone's perception is their reality of you, even if it's way off. This may be a blessing.

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My thoughts on the matter are, if they did not want you based on the 13 year old perception of you, why waste your time with them? They are obviously not worth it, this may be Gods way of showing you bigger and better opportunities!

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
Wow - you must have made quite an impression on those Harpies for them to remember you so clearly after more than decade. Big picture.... you really don't want to work with that type of manager & staff, do you? Take your excellent skills somewhere they will be appreciated.

oh hell yea. After hearing that garbage. It is good that it happened IMO. Who would want to work there for petty stuff like that.

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Run away from that postpartum unit as fast as you can!! You do not want to work with others who appear to be catty and certainly not with a manager that lets catty nurses sway their opinion. Who wants to work where they're not wanted? I would not push the issue as you have nothing to gain but a potential job where you're not welcomed. Look around for other OB jobs in your area as it sounds like that is where your heart is. Sounds like you've been saved from a nasty unit. All things happen for a reason. Who knows, maybe one day that manager will interview with you for a job?

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