Getting your references to respond

after 17 years of hospital work. i decided to travel. i ran into some problems. the hospital i was working at last. simply say " we don't give references", when the recruiter called. probably because of high turnover they don't want to take the time. other references were consider to old. i wasn't able to use a job that i held for over 10 years. because it was '94. the other reference i used i had worked there for 2 years. due to unsafe nurse/pt. ratio etc. i quit. when the recruiter called there. i was given a negative ref. because i did not give a 2 week notice. the recruiter then said, after working on an assignment for 3 weeks. that due to the negative reference. they could not let me represent their company.

so the next company i applied to. i gave a dr. as a reference. because he did observe my work first hand. i worked 7p-7a. he did his rounds at 5am. he said that when he knew i was the nurse assigned to his pt that night. he knew that the i's were dotted ant t's crossed. the recruiter said "no it wouldn't look good if i used a dr.".

i could list some managers but i don't feel they would be positive.sure, i worked well side by side with them. doing extra shifts whenever needed. taking 12 pt's and charge on nights they "couldn't find help", etc..., but once i decided to move on. they barely spoke.:smiley_ab

just wondering if anyone else has found them with any of the above problems? i am almost to the point of saying heck with it and work at mcdonalds. but i don;t have any references for there either. any suggestions?? thanks. happy holiday!!! p. s. i can;t help it. i love the icons...lol:redbeathe