So i'm a new grad and I've been trying to find ways to find a job in this tough market. I've been very interested in this particular hospital for a long time so I thought why not volunteer there. I've been trying to "get my foot in the door" somehow by volunteering and possibly try to network from there, and eventually see if this organization is for me. do you agree with me?
So today I did my tour around the hospital. I ended at chatting with charge nurses, CNAs, asking them how they like it here. Letting them know I might volunteer on their unit, and if they normally see new grads around here being hired. So I got a lot of good info on which unit was hiring and which isn't, how the employees are being treated, getting a general feel on the unit. I thought it was important to find out and work on a unit that does hire- before I commit myself to hundred+ hours of service.
I was excited to find out that one of the unit is a potential new grad friendly unit and it was the field I was aiming for, so I told the volunteer coordinator I wanted that specific unit. she was so curious as to why I wanted that particular floor. I already let her know that I was there because I'm interested in knowing more about the organization and see if its a great fit for a future career. She asked if I am a licensed and I told her yes. She blew up at me instantly and told me I shouldn't be there to solicit jobs?...?! She said I made her feel super uncomfortable i'm being so aggressive and i'm not being there to volunteer, rather than to find a job. arg!
if any of you new grads out there know how hard it is to find a job, and getting a connection within the hospital or "foot in the door" is probably the best way to go. I've had so many people telling me that the way they got the job is being aggressive and just showing up on the unit with a resume. That would be soliciting, but i'm probably not going to do that. I"m not quite sure if I agreed to her but I ended up "apologizing", and she even said " i would kick you out if I know you're here to look for a job". (my god) and that i'm "crossing the line, because i'm chatting with then nurses already". ***
Shouldn't the volunteer lady be even more willing to find you a placement that is fitting and understand that people come here to also volunteer to see if its a fitting organization for future job potential? I guess she was ****** off that I wasn't doing this for the greatness of my heart and to give back to the community. If i'm here because i'm interested in a possibly career with that organization... Isn't that legit enough?!
I'm trying my best to survive as a new grad (as if thats not hard enough), people like her really discourage me in taking the initiative to network.
i'm confused i always thought doing vol work was a way to gain experience/makecontacts in order to eventually get a job - no? it seems that although this is accepted that you have to pretend to be doing vol work out of the goodness of your heart & keep on pretending untilyou make enough contacts & gain enough experience to get a job, then its ok. oh so we all have to PRETEND aka LIE about what were really doing as to not upset/offend those poor soulswho cant deal in truth! please is this a joke?
I went to Haiti and spent a week of my personal vacation time helping to treat the poor. That to me was "volunteering." What you're referring to in the above, is instead, called "networking and job hunting." Your comment that "this is accepted..." I would ask, by whom? As this thread has shown, rather than being accepted, a substantial number of nurses seem to reject that line of argument, as do I.
When you have to "...pretend, aka lie" then you're found your poor soul's kernel of truth. You're doing something wrong hence it can't be seen in the light of day, and your need for deceit. Is this a joke? No, not at all.
I agree with the one who said that *everyone* has ulterior motives.
For some, even volunteering for the sake of volunteering serves a social purpose in their lives. It gives them what they perceive as a club of grandiose integrity that creates a moral separation between themselves and others, and becomes a source a great self satisfaction when they encounter an opportunity to wield it.
I went to Haiti and spent a week of my personal vacation time helping to treat the poor. That to me was "volunteering." What you're referring to in the above, is instead, called "networking and job hunting." Your comment that "this is accepted..." I would ask, by whom? As this thread has shown, rather than being accepted, a substantial number of nurses seem to reject that line of argument, as do I.
When you have to "...pretend, aka lie" then you're found your poor soul's kernel of truth. You're doing something wrong hence it can't be seen in the light of day, and your need for deceit. Is this a joke? No, not at all.
Well if you used vacation time you were getting paid, which, makes one wonder if it was truly volunteering. Would you of done it for free? So before you jump down someones throat for having other motives, maybe you should look at your own.
You are knocking someone and saying they are being deceitful when in fact they mentioned their purpose to the lady. What is deceitful about that?
Its getting disgusting having to listen to people pass judgment on someone on here without even reading the posts or taking in to consideration facts that they don't know about since they were not there. So many people here are on their high horses and really need to get knocked down a level. Is this really the type of people you are because if that's the case I would sure hate to have someone like that taking care of me in a time of need. If you can't say something constructive, then do everyone in here a favor and just keep your comments to yourself.
When people start pulling out the martyrdom card (great for the resume, and to add a few to threads like this one btw ). I knew it, just knew it, this thread has gone down that long never ending road.
People may rationalize behavioral responses to be something more politically correct in order to justify them. But if a starving man steals a loaf of bread to feed his starving family, he remains a thief. While he may have had ample humanitarian reasons to have done it, those reasons certainly doesn't change the lexicon in regards to his act. Stealing is still an act of theft; thus that man is by definition, a thief.
If all one ever sees is black and white, they'll never experience the beauty of a red rose or a bright blue sky.
Applying for a position as a "volunteer" but in reality, actually trying to get a job is misrepresentation, no matter how you may try to sugar coat it. It is deceitful, self serving, and rather unprofessional IMHO. If I were the nurse manager in the position to hire, I would certainly think twice before bringing on board someone who obviously isn't above such behavior.
Well then, that nurse manager can pretty much disqualify from employment every unemployed new grad who is volunteering. I'm quite sure that after spending lots of money, energy, and time in getting a degree, they'd rather be working than volunteering. But, I guess wanting to feed your family and pay back student loans is incredibly self-serving.
Well if you used vacation time you were getting paid, which, makes one wonder if it was truly volunteering. Would you of done it for free? So before you jump down someones throat for having other motives, maybe you should look at your own.
You are knocking someone and saying they are being deceitful when in fact they mentioned their purpose to the lady. What is deceitful about that?
Its getting disgusting having to listen to people pass judgment on someone on here without even reading the posts or taking in to consideration facts that they don't know about since they were not there. So many people here are on their high horses and really need to get knocked down a level. Is this really the type of people you are because if that's the case I would sure hate to have someone like that taking care of me in a time of need. If you can't say something constructive, then do everyone in here a favor and just keep your comments to yourself.
So it's, do as you say, and not as you do? Because you've taken a lot of the responses on here and turned them into something other than what they were, also. Which very likely could mean you're not reading the posts either. You seem to think I am attacking you, and I'm not, but your replies are sticking out to me so I am replying to them. If to you, that is "attitude," so be it. A good number of people supported the volunteer aspect but not the approach, and yet it seems that anyone that did not support the OP is branded as thinking the entire thing is bad, wrong, whatever.
Why is it always "being on a high horse" to not agree with someone's actions, or to find fault with someone's actions? To do so does NOT equate to believing one's own self to be perfect. I don't understand that black and white way of thinking, and I see it here SO much. It THEN is always brought back to, "I'd hate to have that type of nurse taking care of me." At least come up with something original, and that's not just you, airborne. Not everyone is going to agree with and/or support what someone says or does, and will have their own, often very good reasons for doing so. That does not make them "bad nurses." (It probably makes them "good nurses.") If someone sees nothing wrong with how everything went down (and you don't have to again say, "we weren't there," because EVERYONE is basing their opinions on what is stated, that's the whole point), that is their opinion, that's fine. I can respect that, even if I don't agree with it. But I don't think it's fair to say that anyone that doesn't needs to be "taken down a peg," for heaven's sake. Maybe the same could be said in reverse, then? Because the same attitude is going back and forth...
So it's, do as you say, and not as you do? Because you've taken a lot of the responses on here and turned them into something other than what they were, also. Which very likely could mean you're not reading the posts either. You seem to think I am attacking you, and I'm not, but your replies are sticking out to me so I am replying to them. If to you, that is "attitude," so be it. A good number of people supported the volunteer aspect but not the approach, and yet it seems that anyone that did not support the OP is branded as thinking the entire thing is bad, wrong, whatever.
Why is it always "being on a high horse" to not agree with someone's actions, or to find fault with someone's actions? To do so does NOT equate to believing one's own self to be perfect. I don't understand that black and white way of thinking, and I see it here SO much. It THEN is always brought back to, "I'd hate to have that type of nurse taking care of me." At least come up with something original, and that's not just you, airborne. Not everyone is going to agree with and/or support what someone says or does, and will have their own, often very good reasons for doing so. That does not make them "bad nurses." (It probably makes them "good nurses.") If someone sees nothing wrong with how everything went down (and you don't have to again say, "we weren't there," because EVERYONE is basing their opinions on what is stated, that's the whole point), that is their opinion, that's fine. I can respect that, even if I don't agree with it. But I don't think it's fair to say that anyone that doesn't needs to be "taken down a peg," for heaven's sake. Maybe the same could be said in reverse, then? Because the same attitude is going back and forth...
I think what some folks are taking issue with (and what seems to differentiate those who support the intent, but not the approach) is that some of the responders are attacking the individual and not the actions. Some here have been able to express dissatisfaction with the action, without insinuating that the OP is, at the base of her soul, morally deficient to varying extents. Others have not.
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
Yeah. You're just trying to find a job, and the idea you had seemed like a good one at the time, but you do already have a license, so that would pose many issues for them--that's why they can't allow you to help them out. Yet the woman did not remain professional and/or friendly when she reacted that way in front of you. Stung a bit, but you're okay.
Having had a somewhat similar problem before even entering nursing school, your plight is familiar to me. At sixteen years old I volunteered at a pre-school for the mentally disabled, because i couldn't have a paying job and i might as well volunteer in a medical-like environment, because i enjoyed medical stuff way back then. Well, the time came when i was of legal age to work there in some capacity, and when i asked for the "real" job they weren't willing, or maybe not allowed to, give me the training, etc, to obtain the required cert? And probably, i needed some college courses, and also it's possible i wasn't the person they were looking for etc, etc. -.. i just wasn't getting the job with this company....
To make a long story even longer:yawn:-- when i persisted a bit to get in the door, they weren't exactly friendly about it. Stung a bit, but i was okay. BTW, you weren't persisting too much-- she didn't give you time to persist too much-- and reacted with a typical knee-jerk reaction, delivered by a person who didn't stop to think about how her reaction might affect you, or even her later on in the future. She thought someone was trying to put one over on her, and she reacted in haste. And she also might have thought she could get reprimanded for even talking to you about it, or, etc, etc...
Remember, in your future nursing career, try not to react in haste to anybody:redpinkhe; doctor, patient, drunk family member, irritating/pestering patient, any co-workers/ancillaries, even if they're sucking up all your time. Always try to think, "is what i am going to say/do, or how i am going to say/do it going to hit them the wrong way, and reflect badly on me later on. Always be mindful of body language and tone of voice. Always treat any people, patients (yes, pt's are a breed completely different), etc.. exactly the way you wish they would treat you. It is terrifying to think that we have to operate our lives this way as nurses, but sometimes nurses are in trouble for what seems like nothing at all. Don't get me wrong--Nursing is an excellent career for a very mentally/emotionally/intellectually/fiscally fit person. But, we are in a position where, tragically, martyrdom is expected of nurses by patients, family members, pt's rude/unrealistic relatives, nursing management, list goes on and on.. And, yes, even the patient or family member who appears totally unreasonable, and even stupid, ignorant, unruly, on drugs, drunk, whatever, or just unfair, or a manager who appears overwhelmingly obtuse, will miraculously and surprisingly grow a brain right before your very eyes and right when you don't want them to--and they can lose your nice nursing job for you:confused: Stay . But, remember, nursing is a fantastic career, and you will be treating people with dignity and respect, but you must stay cognisantly vigilant at all times in order to do this career effectively. One can't just plow in like an elephant and do this extraordinary career--that is why people say, "oh my God, you're a nurse, there is no way i could do your job, it takes a special person.....etc" I know strayed a bit:o.
Back to the job search. You were assertive, not aggressive, when you were looking to get in the door, sounds like you're not afraid to stick your neck out:smokin:and you we're doing what you thought you had to do to get in the door. No prob; you're new to this, just take some deep breaths, stay on the computer looking for nursing careers in your free time; use your computer, instead of so much foot-work, the computer is a most efficient way to network; sharpen up your letter writing skills. Network, network. You've probably asked tons of nurses where to find work. May I ask --do you live in a small, med, large town/city?--i didn't see a state in your post. If there's a large town about 30 mins away from you, obviously you might find a job quicker there-but you're smart you'll figure it out.
Back to the job seach. Their is no real nursing shortage--hospitals have done cutbacks/hiring freezes to eliminate cost. Yet, some are slowly lifting their freezes and hiring. This will all change very soon when there won't be any freezes for a looooong time because as the elderly make their way into doctor's offices, ERs, and hospitals more frequently, and become inmates:lol2:, er, patients long-term in LTACs, snfs, and even hospitals; you will be in demand and have job security indeed. You just have to find that starter job. May i suggest endoscopy, outpatient surgery, doctor's offices, maternity, school nursing, urgent care, home health --some of these might not require cert's right away and can be much less stressful, at first, but possibly less paying, for new nurses;). Good Luck
Well if you used vacation time you were getting paid, which, makes one wonder if it was truly volunteering. Would you of done it for free? So before you jump down someones throat for having other motives, maybe you should look at your own.
You are knocking someone and saying they are being deceitful when in fact they mentioned their purpose to the lady. What is deceitful about that?
Its getting disgusting having to listen to people pass judgment on someone on here without even reading the posts or taking in to consideration facts that they don't know about since they were not there. So many people here are on their high horses and really need to get knocked down a level. Is this really the type of people you are because if that's the case I would sure hate to have someone like that taking care of me in a time of need. If you can't say something constructive, then do everyone in here a favor and just keep your comments to yourself.
If you read through all of my posts in this thread (and I'm not a paying member so I can't go back to re-edit beyond a timed window), none of my comments were directed at the OP on a personal level; they were all about the behavior and the choice of actions, and what my opinions were there of. However, you seem to have felt the need to comment about me on a personal level. You're entitled to disagree with my views but choosing to use ad homimen attacks and to tell me to keep my comments to myself is rather uncalled for. In essence, if you feel that my opinions are so disgusting then my constructive suggestion is that you don't need to read them.
Further, if you feel that spending a week in Haiti while getting vacation pay is not really volunteering, then you're welcomed to also go and spend a paid week in a post disaster, malaria and typhoid ridden third world country in need of UN peace keepers, and call it your usual week at work. And yes, I would have done it for free too, as I'd already spent more than a thousand dollars just on the extra equipment that I needed down there (most of which I'd then donated to some Haitian doctors when I left).
Additionally, your view of the deceit issue is rather off the mark. Had the OP been forthcoming from the outset and had announced a job seeking intention without being asked; then you would have a point. But, the OP only revealed the truth of the situation after the interviewer dug a little deeper. So, when the truth was finally uncovered, the interviewer had an "AHA!" moment that caused her to become angry. So, in essence, based on her reaction, the interviewer certainly felt that she had been deceived, and that the interviewee had been deceitful. Res ipsa loguitur.
When people start pulling out the martyrdom card (great for the resume, and to add a few to threads like this one btw ). I knew it, just knew it, this thread has gone down that long never ending road.
Are you suggesting this thread has jumped the shark?
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
Oh, i forgot to tell you: if you show any anger or sarcasm in any of your posts-- until the folks on this site get to know you better--you won't get many of the responses you want; and they are very wary of giving kudos out.
Volunteering has always been a method recommended by career coaches to get a foot in the door and make contacts. New grad teachers volunteer in schools, new grad accountants can volunteer at non-profits. You get the idea. I see nothing wrong with vounteering with the idea of enhancing your chances of getting a job as long as you are aren't being deceptive about what your ultimate goal is.
That being said, there IS a need for political correctness, even in nursing. The VC was way out of line in the over the top reaction. The OP was out of line by using the tour as the time to start a campaign. The timing was BAD.
Job hunting is a learned art. For a lot of years a new nursing grad was just about guaranteed an immediate job so they didn't have to learn that skill. No more. Most colleges and universities offer career counseling. My advice would be to go have a sit down with someone who actually knows what they are talking about when it comes to job hunting skills. They can go over what happened and offer CONSTRUCTIVE critique on how you handled the situation. You will run into people like that VC everywhere you go. You can't do anything about THEM, but you can learn how to handle YOURSELF in that situation. Plus, sitting down one on one with a career coach would avoid all the static and overly emotional BS you get here.
and that i'm "crossing the line, because i'm chatting with then nurses already". ***
to threads like this one btw 
). I knew it, just knew it, this thread has gone down that long never ending road.
Stay 
. But, remember, nursing is a fantastic career, and you will be treating people with dignity and respect, but you must stay cognisantly vigilant at all times in order to do this career effectively. One can't just plow in like an elephant and do this extraordinary career--that is why people say, "oh my God, you're a nurse, there is no way i could do your job, it takes a special person.....etc" I know strayed a bit:o. 
Emergency RN
544 Posts
I went to Haiti and spent a week of my personal vacation time helping to treat the poor. That to me was "volunteering." What you're referring to in the above, is instead, called "networking and job hunting." Your comment that "this is accepted..." I would ask, by whom? As this thread has shown, rather than being accepted, a substantial number of nurses seem to reject that line of argument, as do I.
When you have to "...pretend, aka lie" then you're found your poor soul's kernel of truth. You're doing something wrong hence it can't be seen in the light of day, and your need for deceit. Is this a joke? No, not at all.