Got the job only because of who you know?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I'm curious to know your thoughts.

I'm a second career nurse, and, in business it is often about who you know. But, even though there is some animosity, it usually wanes as this is how it goes. Those who didn't know "people" just figured it was time to network for the future jobs they want.

Well, I know a few nurses who fall into the catagory of getting their first nursing jobs ONLY because of who they know. There is nothing they have/had to set them apart from even better qualified applicants, except, for who they know. Whether it be a well known doc, or even political contact in the city government, or hiring manager. Some had a job created for them when no other NGs were being hired (except maybe other nurses with VIP connections). They are just thankful and intend to work their behinds off to prove they were worthy hires. But now, I am wondering if they've been found out and are now suffering for the way they got their jobs.

Just recently I've spoken with someone that fits this bill, and realized that now, all of the people I know to have got a job in this way are now having an awful time of it. No bullying at first, but later on, like 4-6 months out. And, the bullying is often from the NMs or charges. This isn't simple stuff, it's the scary kind the lawsuit-lose your license level stuff. The I will force you into something pretty serious and because you are a new nurse you will get stuck in it, stuff. Now I do know these people and they are not incompetent. Their stories are very similar, and other nurses around them notice that there seems to suddenly be a target on their backs.

I can't help but think that some of these NMs having been forced to hire someone, might be angry about it so much that they do their best to get rid of that person, whether they turn out a good nurse or not. I'd elaborate, with some of what's happened but, I don't want to make things worse.

[caliotter3]

Such is life in the workplace. Nursing is no different.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

I agree with you. I'm beginning to think nsg is nothing but a popularity contest.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Yes, but in nursing this gets dangerous. It gets dangerous for the patients that are used for fodder. It gets dangerous for the nurse who may never work in the field or perhaps any field of responsibility again. Real finger pointing in nursing means that you are being accused of possible or real bodily harm.

I have about 25 years in business. The stakes are not so high.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

I could see how a NM could resent a new grad they were forced to hire if the new grad wasn't up to snuff. However, if the new grad was good, you'd think the NM would treat them well. Seems logical to me.

It sounds like the situation you are observed defies the logic described above. Maybe the NM is ****** off because she wants all autonomy in choosing nurses for her floor? Or, maybe she believes you should get a nursing job by proving yourself as a PCT/CNA first?

When I worked food service as a part of my nutrition undergrad, one of the managers always had an attitude with me and I couldn't figure out why (I was on time/early, never complained, always smiled, did a good job, was well liked by others, etc.). One day she turned to me and said, "who's your daddy?!" I was really shocked and told her my dad's name and this did not satisfy her so she yelled again, "no, who's your daddy?! how did you get this job?"

Despite food service not being a glamorous job, it was difficult to get a job just for just the summer and in addition to doing the regular food service work I was also working with the dietitians. I had gotten the job through my uncle who was one of the head pharmacists at the hospital. He works closely with the dietitians and the head dietitian helped get me the job. I explain this to her and her response was, "I knew it!" Her dislike for me grew following this conversation.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

I have seen real animosity on exactly three occasions towards nurses who were 'forced" onto a UM. This was a long time ago, and fortunately I haven't seen it since.

However, the kind of intimidation and threatening tactics that you describe were not used, just generally creating an unpleasant working environment for the individual, and "pushing" the victim in the desired direction, ie out the door. In two of the cases I can honestly say I could not blame the UM for being unhappy. One resigned, the other was transferred to other departments, one after the other, and was found unsatisfactory in each one. The third case deeply saddened me, as the nurse concerned was a truly caring, hardworking person who was the victim of prejudice. She eventually resigned, having been made so unhappy she couldn't stand it any more.

[Burlshoe114]

I saw this in spades at my last job. Only it wasn't because the NM was forced to hire the boss's neice, but people whom the CC clique determined to be "weak." You were either "in" or "out." Once you had been targeted as an "out," you had better watch your back, because every last sneeze was documented, QA'd, and reported and blown up to be the biggest problem in the world.

I don't think I worked with the same group of co-workers for longer than a month. We had more new-hires come through than I could remember, and so many co-workers suddenly "disappear."

I really wish nurses would learn that teamwork can be a valuable thing, good nurses are trained by consistent experience and not made overnight, and that we are stronger together than alone.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

In nursing school, being a second career nurse, I knew people at clinical sites. Had done business for some in my old career. And when I worked private practice for a while, had some docs/nurses as patients, and had worked with docs for my doc in consult/referral handling. I remember now, having a little shoving match with an instructor who suddenly asked me if I knew people from "around here" during a clinical. You work in an area for a while, and build respect and people are gonna come up to you and say, "Hey onaclearday, whassup?" This instructor and I are the same age, and I always felt she was competing with me somehow (you know the type). Well, on my way out of clinical one day, I bumped into a surgeon I know. He had seen me on my way out and done a doubletake and jogged back down the hall to chat. Well, my instructor was so focused on the two of us from the other end of the hall, she actually called me away from him twice. He looked around me and shouted back to her, "What ever it is, I'm sure it can wait!" The shoving match stopped.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I think that at least one of these nurses can fight back with a good result. She has set up a coffee with her CNO to do just that - professionally, with just the facts as she has documented and typed up.

Go "get some" girl!!!

[belgarion]

I too am a second career nurse. I worked in manufacturing for a long time, starting on a production floor and working my way up into management. When my career ended (very long story) I decided to go into nusing and move back to the area I grew up in.

When I got out of school I used contacts and my family name to get my job. I had a couple of old friends on the county commission and my grandparents gave quite a bit of money to the hospital when it was being built.

I really didn't think about it at the time since this is a small west Texas town and nepotism is practically a religion around here. Maybe for this reason I haven't experienced any of the predjudice or resentment described. I DID see this in my previous career where a big wig's kid or someones neice or nephew got a job they were totally unqualified for because someone wanted to score brownie points. There wasn't so much open hostility as there was a total lack of respect and exclusion from major projects and assignments.

I guess because I made my own way in my first career I'm starting to get restless and intend to start looking around this year. There are other reasons of course but I think everyone who get a job through thier contacts or family name wonder at some point if they can make it on their own.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I understand where you are coming from, Clear. I work with someone who was promoted waaaayyy too early in her career because she had ties to a big wig. Thankfully everyone is quite aware of this and she holds no actual authority over anyone. I often wonder if my NM grits her teeth when things get out of hand in a hurry and this gal can't keep up...leaving my NM to hold the bag.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

And on an off note, how 'bout a big SHOUT OUT to all the second career nurses like us?!?!? It isn't an easy transition.