Having trouble finding an agency?

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Feb 5, 2008

i don't know where you are located, but here in central va only one hospital owned agency employs lpn/lvn's. for smaller agencies (like mine) it isn't cost effective, as there is so much of the paperwork and a chunk of clincal needs that only rn's can do. we are all rn's. have you considered shift care in the home (usually medicaide)? tends to use a lot of lpn's, at least around here. :idea:

caliotter3 · Feb 6, 2008

You could be in the situation a friend found himself in many years ago. He was looking around for new employment and wondered what the problem was (I knew him to be an excellent nurse). One day a person told him that his current employer was bad mouthing him when they were getting the phone calls because they wanted to keep him so badly. Unethical but understandable.

Have had the same problem. A lot has to do with the response they get when they call your present or former employer. Also some agencies may just be collecting applications for future use or are "cherry picking", continuing to look for only the perfect fit for only the one person they want to hire at the time. It would be a simple act of courtesy to drop a call or a form letter letting those not selected know their status. But companies no longer believe that they should engage in polite behavior anymore. They treat employees, clients, prospective employees and clients, like dust that blows in their door. To be swept out of the way.

radrook · Feb 7, 2008

You know I was just talking to someone tonight and we were thinking the same thing, that my employer right now may be bad mouthing me when they call because they want to keep me! I am doing a case that they have a VERY hard time staffing and I am the "fool" who does it , but I am burnt out! I will proalby stay some with them, but I don't want to rely on them soley because of certain business practices I have seen happen and I will lave it at that for now. What do I do if this may be happening? Do I call everyone I put in applications with and warn them if this has happened to not listen? Because I have put in 10 applications at different agencies and I have NOT GOT ONE INTERVIEW!!! I know I am very capable and a very good nurse! I have NO DOUBTS in my mind! Any suggestions? Has anyone been in this situation before?

caliotter3 · Feb 7, 2008

I was in just such a situation. I did not get a job in anything until I physically left the area and then continued to get bad things said about me by God knows who. Years later, after several jobs, I was still trying to "place that positive spin" that they talk about in job hunting seminars, books, etc. Sometimes it is just plain time and distance. Nobody has the time or money to hire people to start and finish a fight for defamation or discrimination or any of the other employment related legal remedies. At some point you have to get a job, any job. So you do the best you can.

I've often wondered what happens to those people who have employment problems that are justified. It's bad enough dealing with liars and unethical excuses for humans when you don't deserve what they do to you.

radrook · Feb 8, 2008

Well,If and when I get a management postion I will remember this very moment in my life. Even if the person was a lousy worker I will remember this is a person who has a family maybe and needs to move on just like everyone else! But I know that I am a very good employee and I do my job very well! THe case I do NO BODY wants to do it, or will do it with a sane mind. It is two patients and I am only getting PAID for one. (they are twins) and since they have a hard time staffing the case I think they are trying to hang onto me (but not giving me a raise or benefits) but giving me a bad reference when people or other agencies call. I am at my wits end and just placing this in God's hands now..........if I keep worrying and trying to figure out what is going to happen or where I will go next it isn't going to help matters.

caliotter3 · Feb 9, 2008

Since you have been trying to get employment and have run into this brick wall it might be helpful if you bring up the situation as you see it yourself and try to get a word in edgewise before they are given the official side of the story. Try contacting the places where you applied and approaching it from this angle. You might just say that you would like to know if there was something wrong with your references because you can't understand why you weren't positively considered. They probably won't tell you anything for fear of getting involved in a lawsuit, but you have a right to know that you are being criticized and to put forth your side. During the conversation the other party just might give away something that will alert you to what the problem is. It is rare, but occasionally a prospective employer will tell an applicant that they were given a bad reference. When you find out the truth then you can deal with it. Don't give up.