Had to disclose job opportunity to current supervisor - HELP

[VivaRN]

Long story short, I am close to receiving a final offer from an institution that is devilish about references. In the process of fulfilling their very specific reference requirements, no other person in my professional career fit what they wanted except my current supervisor. They would not take a recommendation letter from HR, they wanted to talk to a supervisor, they wanted that supervisor to be more "current" than those I had provided from earlier in my career. The hiring manager kept rejecting the references I gave until there was no other choice.

I want the job so I complied and spoke with my supervisor. She seemed nice about it, but I'm worried as I don't know what she might say when they contact her. I know she likes me and would rather keep me. I guess it upsets me that I had to do this as it puts me in an awkward position.

Is there a way I should've handled this differently? What should I do now?

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Unfortunately, you got trapped...I don't see what else you could have done

You also can't "un-ask" your current supervisor...so try to relax, keep working as hard as ever at your current job, and hope for the best.

[VivaRN]

Thanks for your reply. Thus far the sky hasn't fallen though I'm still holding my breath. She told me today she completed the reference, though nothing about what she said or what they asked about. I should know the final decision on the job fairly soon. Ah, the waiting game!

[caliotter3]

Supervisors don't usually give bad references and if they do, they usually have enough integrity to let you know that they did so, or intend to do so, and why. I would not worry about what your supervisor said unless you don't get the position and you are told that a bad reference was given. If that were the case, then it might be appropriate to step up the job search.

[LoveANurse09]

Supervisors don't usually give bad references and if they do, they usually have enough integrity to let you know that they did so, or intend to do so, and why. I would not worry about what your supervisor said unless you don't get the position and you are told that a bad reference was given. If that were the case, then it might be appropriate to step up the job search.

Hopefully they don't. The unit I'm working on has a recently new manager although he's been on the unit for years. Alot of RNs are unhappy with current situation on our unit (unsafe assiagnments,uncaring manager) and we are losing experienced Rns by the boatload! when I started almost a year ago there were 8 of us new grads orientating together. One of the other girls has applied for about 5 positions within our hospital system for jobs she should be perfectly qualified for (no ICU,L&D jobs) and isnt even getting considered. She has a theory that our mangaer is giving false bad references! I wouldnt put it past him,he is very sneaky and we have lost about 10 RNs within the last 6 months.

I am having the same dilemma I have applied to alot of other places,out of state too, and cannot get anywhere! So I'm curious..I have never had a problem with my evalutaions with him or any complaints.

[caliotter3]

For about $85 you can engage a reference checking service to check on the reference from this individual and your employer. It might be worth the money to go through the process as it is unlikely that anyone will divulge that he gave a bad reference. I was getting nowhere when I was told that my former manager gave a bad reference, after insuring that he would act as a good reference for me. I consulted an attorney who acted in my behalf with the corporate headquarters of the employer. Had I not been told, who knows how long it would have taken to find out. That is what the reference checking services are for. Worth the modest expense.

[VivaRN]

I've heard way too many stories of managers behaving badly, from finding out a nurse wanted to transfer to another department and blocking her behind the scenes (she found out a few months later after not getting the job after a stellar interview) to trying to fire on the spot when resignation was given. One would hope HR would be aware that managers can be immature too. In my opinion they give too much weight to allow one bad reference to sink a good candidate. What makes that manager so trustworthy?

From talking with my other references it seems the only one they checked is my current supervisor. Strange? I don't know. I'm in contact with HR and will hopefully have a final yea or nay this week. Thanks for all of your support.

[LoveANurse09]

Good Luck!