How to Fight HR for RN job I want

[mdiamond68]

This is a strange situation and I found nothing on this site that was similar.

My hospital's HR / Nurse Recruitment are preventing me from getting the job I want, and who want to hire me. I want to go to Employee Relations and fight this. They want me to take an RN job I don't want.

HELP!

Now the details:

I am a new grad RN who has worked as a tech in an ICU for the last 2 years, (4 years in the hospital). I took this job while still in nursing school with the intention of obtaining a position in the ICU as a new grad RN. Well just before my last semester of school I officially met with my nurse manager and told her I would like to apply for a new grad RN position in the ICU. They hire new grads and had just hired several in the last year. She said great talk to me in a couple months.

I had my performance review a month later and got a glowing review and again expressed my desire to have a position once I graduated and passed the NCLEX in about 4 months. She said that she would have a position for me and that I will need to apply, etc. once I was about to graduate.

Well, I did as I was told and then everything changed. I submitted my paper work and was contacted by nurse recruitment and said they would like to work with me to help me get an RN job in the hospital. I was told that they "like to promote from within" and "take care of their own". GREAT I said.

She then explained to me that the department I work in as a tech does not have any RN openings at this time. She said that she had other positions that she would like to have me interview for.

Well, needless to say I was very disappointed as the ICU is what I always wanted and was told that they were hiring by my manager. I explained this to HR and was very clear in expressing my goals and that this was a big part of why I went into nursing.

So I did what they suggested and interviewed for the other position. The interview went great and I liked the nurse manager. I had heard that this floor was insane and a crazy place. A day later I get the call that they want to hire me. I was excited and sad to see that what I really wanted wasn't meant to be. I figured I would work in this new job for a year and then transfer to the ICU. I thought about it for a 5 days and then accepted the position.

A few days later I went back to work at my tech job on the ICU and was told from nurses that a position was going to be available and that I should talk to our manager ASAP. So I did and expressed my sincere desire again that this was where I saw myself and where I wanted to be. She went to her boss and they agreed to hire me.

My manger then contacted HR to explain the situation and that they would now like to offer me a position that just became available in the ICU. Well HR said NO, that I accepted the position on the other floor and that they could not overturn this and that it was unprofessional, BLAH BLAH!!! It was only 4 days before that I accepted the position.

I was so furious, angry, sad and just confused how HR/ Nurse Recruitment could stop the ICU nurse management from hiring me. HR knew that this is the job I have wanted from the beginning. I only accepted the other job as they told be that they had no other options for me. Well now I do have an option and I want to work on my ICU! My manager said she was so sorry and that there was nothing she could do.

I am planning on contacting Employee Relations and letting them know what is going on and that I want everyone to know how I am being treated. Granted I should be thrilled to have a job period and I am, but, I made so many sacrifices, both pay and time wise to obtain the job I want.

So, what can I do. I want to ask Employee Relations for help or guidance. I have such a bad taste in my mouth I am not sure I even want to take the other job they offered me as I feel like I am going to be starting my nursing career with a negative attitude and be bitter and angry that all my hard work wasn't good enough for me to have the job I should have. To think that some guy sitting behind a desk, Who I Don't Even Know is making decisions over my career makes me CRAZY. It's all political and bull ****.

I just can't take this lying down. I am so determined to fight this. I want to do this the smart way without causing more problems for myself. I don't think they can take back the job offer that I accepted due to me complaining about this situation or not. I can't imagine they can, or I could sue.

If you made it this far in my LONG WINDED story Thanks!

Now please please give me some insight, feed back, advice, psych readings. LOL

Seriously, I would love to hear from anyone who can give me words of wisdom.

Thanks So Much!

[mdiamond68]

That should be... HOW TO FIGHT HR

[Batman24]

Talk to employee relations and remain calm and professional. My guess is they want you to keep the job you originally accepted as it is a hard slot to fill. While I can understand their frustration that's really not your problem and under these circumstances they should do what is right. Let them know in a polite but firm manner that they will lose a good worker and a great nurse because you will resign before taking a position when the job you really want became available 4 days later. Let them know you have experience in this unit and the manager wants to hire you and has stated as much to HR. There is also nothing wrong with being contrite about the situation as that can go a long way as well. They might still let you walk but I would go running anyway if they were that inflexible. Best to start your new career on positive footing not where you feel bitter, sad and disappointed.

[laketrash]

The post is not but the title is toooo funny.Ditto to everything Batman 24 says.

[Mr Ian]

It sounds as if it's the HR dept that are stonewalling you and not perhaps the managers. I would be cautious tho because managers talk to other managers and despite the reassurances you're given by one manager - the managers will remain (fairly) faithful to themselves as a bunch (they have to - or it becomes dog eat dog).

The process doesn't seem to be 'wrong' in the sense everything was done in accordance to proper practice. Tho I do know that Stateside practices can be ruthless and sometimes very dubious - this doesn't sound like anything underhanded has gone on. They're just not being 'friendly'. But they're not obliged to.

The HR issue is (or might be) that the vacancy you filled had no other applicants so, as Batman says, they may be reluctant to be flexible for this reason. I'd guess ICU jobs are better applied for and so they stand a chance of getting fresh blood in with an ICU job rather than another job such as you've already taken.

Having to re-advertise etc would be costly and I guess that would be an influencing factor too.

If they had another suitable but unsuccessful candidate for the first job - they'd probably just go to them to fill the position you've taken.

Technically - you can withdraw your acceptance of the first job and then reapply for the ICU position. Tho you don't have to disclose this on your application - it's highly unlikely they won't notice - but as they know you they will be aware of your reasons.

The ones who will be annoyed will be HR and possibly the manager who was (is) originally hiring you. Whether this disaffects your chances of the ICU job - I couldn't say.

[interleukin]

I can only say beware of that "crazy" floor. That, in nursing, is code word for understaffed, stressed out, unable to give good care, resulting in short-tempered nurses and practicing by the seat of your scrubpants.

Employee beware.

Get into the ICU and never look back. It's no picnic but it beats floor nursing simply because of the reduced geometry of tasks.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I changed the title per the original poster's request.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I wonder if HR has an official policy on such things. IF there is a policy on it, and it is as things are happening to you, you're out of luck most likely. However, if there is no policy or the written policy is in your favor.....

I'd say definitely speak with Employee Relations!

[onfire4gzuz]

THis sounds like such a sticky situation to me. I would definitely want to withdraw from the postion they hired you in, cause it seems like you wouldnt be happy in it. Then again the question is even though you want to work in icu, would hr hire you in this open slot if you interviewed for it? Maybe you could take the postion you dont like, work in it for 6 months and try to transfer to transfer into icu. I'll be prayin that everything works out. Pray about this situation, and I know this is frustrating, but try to remain calm, and think about every decision you will make. hope this helps

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Could the ICU managers put in a good word for you?

Sounds like that other floor is hard to staff because of the "crazy/insane" part and they found you and don't want to lose you.

[mdiamond68]

Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. I am waiting to speak with Employee Relations. Have left them a voice mail and email and just waiting for a reply.

I do plan to fight this and let them know how disappointed I am over how this situation is being handled by HR. I do have the support of both my manager and her boss the Director of the ICU, etc., so that should help. So insane that they can't hire who they want.

The other floor that I have accepted the position would have no problem replacing me prior to my start date in March. I was one of 5 other people they had interviewed for the one position, so I am sure they would be able to fill this position without too much difficulty.

I work at one of the top paying hospitals in Manhattan and it is very competitive to get a position there, so I know they have people begging for a job and would be thrilled to have the position I no long want.

I would think that HR would be thrilled that both my manager and Director want to offer me a position and I want the position. Instead they are blocking it due to "political or logistical" issues. They should acknowledge that I am wanted by both floors and that I have been upfront with HR from the beginning that this is the position I want. I have over 10 emails i sent HR from the past 6 months that states this as well. So, it's no surprise to them.

Now that I have had 24 hours to digest what has happened, I feel that I may have to decline the position I have already accepted as I just feel so angry and disgusted and bitter inside and I don't want to begin a job feeling like I am in the wrong place. It wouldn't be unfair to the patients, my co-workers and to myself. I have even considered staying in my tech job (with my RN license) and continue to apply for an ICU position until HR agrees to hire me, no matter how long it takes, that's how strongly I feel about this. Otherwise I will consider a position at another top NYC hospital that has also shown interest in hiring me in PEDS.

I am hoping that once I talk with Employee Relations they will help me to move forward and resolve this situation. I am willing to meet directly with the person in HR, his boss, the Director of Nursing, and even the President of the hospital to voice my concerns over how poorly I feel this is being handled. I am hoping it won't have to go that far and I can have the job I am meant to have.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[Melinurse]

I wonder if HR has an official policy on such things. IF there is a policy on it, and it is as things are happening to you, you're out of luck most likely. However, if there is no policy or the written policy is in your favor.....

I'd say definitely speak with Employee Relations!

What about having your nurse manager talk to the other nurse manager? Maybe...........................................Sounds like you are on the right track though. Good luck and keep us posted.