Help with reference

[heronurse]

So if you're active in the last 2 weeks you probably know my story, I'm the nurse who's been struggling and unhappy with my current workplace that almost resigned with notice until everyone here helped me.

So I applied a job while being employed and luckily I landed an interview and it was today. After speaking to the manager and HR they want me to do a reference check through a website survey. They are asking me for 3 reference, 1 NM or supervisor then two co workers. I'm not worried for the co-workers because I've been close to some of them but my problem is with my supervisor. How can I approach my supervisor for this? My supervisor is really really good to me and helps me alot and I'm afraid that if I ask them to be my reference that her relationship with me might change or the facility might put a target on my back. Gossip in my place is worst like Grey's anatomy lol. Another problem is that If I ask them to be my reference, and didn't get a job they might think I'm really really trying to resign and their relationship to me might change.

Any tips how to do this? Thanks!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

You are really, really trying to resign. Ask your supervisor if they will provide a reference for you, there may or may not be a HR policy that prevents supervisors from providing references.

[SaltineQueen]

Does it have to be a current supervisor?

[heronurse]

Does it have to be a current supervisor?

Actually im not really sure but it recquires one supervisor and bad part is, this is my first nursing job.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Do you know another supervisor or manager that knows you and that you can trust to be discreet?

[INN_777, BSN, RN]

Heronurse, do not approach your current supervisor! What if you don't get the job. These checks do not require your current supervisor, rather someone who was your manager at some point. Employers are absolutely aware that employed applicants can not approach their current management for references. They can only expect to talk to your current management after they make and you accept the offer.

So...think prior managers. Even if non-nursing jobs. Internships. Volunteering. Any prior supervisor (that you think has good things to say).

Good luck!

[Shagce1]

Find a manger from a previous job. Any job. Even part time high school or college job. Doesn't have to be nursing.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Employers are absolutely aware that employed applicants can not approach their current management for references. They can only expect to talk to your current management after they make and you accept the offer.

I think you are misinformed, this is not the expectation that hiring managers and human resources have at all. Healthcare employers want to know about the employee's performance as a nurse and the OP has only had one job as a nurse, the references from the Op's nursing employer are what matter.

[INN_777, BSN, RN]

I think you are misinformed, this is not the expectation that hiring managers and human resources have at all. Healthcare employers want to know about the employee's performance as a nurse and the OP has only had one job as a nurse, the references from the Op's nursing employer are what matter.

I am in my first nursing job (second career) and I just went through the process. I offered two former managers from my prior career. Peer references were all from nurses. Employer I was interviewing with was completely understanding of the situation and stated, if needed they can talk to my current management after an accepted offer.

Before nursing I spent 20 years in business and have solid experience both hiring and being hired. Potential employer never expects to speak with your current management while you are still employed with them. They realize this can create complications for you in your current job if they decide not to make an offer or you decide not to accept and stay in your current role.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

If I remember correctly you've barely been at your current nursing job for 3 weeks. I'd ask this potential employer if a clinical nursing instructor from your school might serve as a supervisor reference.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

@INN_777, the OP is an IEN who has no prior experience and has been working in his first nursing job for only a few weeks and is naive about nursing and employment in general. It would be unsafe for a new employer to hire him without checking his performance with his current nursing employer. The priority for healthcare employers is to select nurses who are safest for the patients, not concern themselves that the reference check will create complications for the nurse in their current job.

[INN_777, BSN, RN]

@dishes, sure and they will check references at current employer after an accepted offer. All offer letters have an escape clause "contingent on positive reference and background checks". If they expect to contact current employer before they even decide to make an offer, that is unfair to the candidate. The candidate should discuss this beforehand to make sure everyone is on the same page. As I said, I just went through the process and the employer was of the same understanding on this as was I.

I think that may be why they now started using these online reference surveys. It is a way to get an impression of the candidate and see if there are any red flags prior to offer. But contacting current management should happen after.