How long did you get a job after applying for a position in LTC and/or hospital?

momoftwoboys · Mar 1, 2008

I have been working in LTC for three yers now. It wasn't hard at all to get this job. I got hired the same day i was interviewed. I am really surprised that you haven't got a call back yet. There is such a shortage of nurses. I have also worked in the hospitl setting a short while and it took probally 2 weeks for before they called me and offered me the job. Hang in there. I'm sure you will hear something soon.

rukiddingme · Mar 1, 2008

I've noticed it takes alot longer for clinics & hospitals to communicate with applicants. I recently started putting out resumes/applications - after being off work since last May, to have a baby - and I applied for a hospital's clinic position over 3 weeks ago. After one week I emailed them, and was told 'to be patient, please' and I haven't heard from them since.

So, I've moved onto working in LTC again, which I didn't really want to do again. Good Luck to you!! Tara

BayouLPN · Mar 1, 2008

I was hired immediently for LTC...she even told me...COME IN TOMORROW after I told her I wanted to wait for a response from state boards. I was working on my temp license before I got the real one. When I applied at the hospital, I applied online...then it would not go through so I had my husband fax it from his job. That was Dec. 18. I got a call on Dec. 19. First interview on Dec 21. HOLIDAYS>>>>> Call back for paperwork, drug screen, background check, ect. Jan 14. Nursing education orientation required before actually working on Jan 23 & 25. First day at work...Jan 29. A little over 4 weeks. Another girl and myself were put on the accelerated nursing ed so we could start work before the other orientation requirements. If we would have had to wait...We would not have started until Feb 14. It was our luck that the Family Birth Center dept we were going to wanted us RIGHT NOW. One of my friends went straight to work at LTC after graduation, hated it, quit, then it took her nearly two months to get another job...she applied at hospitals and dr offices. She loves her job now & says it was worth the wait. If you haven't heard anything, I would make a few polite visits/phone calls. "Just following up on the application I put in". Alot of places get so many applications, If you are not in the forefront, you may not get noticed. You have to remind them that you are there. Good Luck.

bluegeegoo2, LPN · Mar 1, 2008

It depends on where you live. I read somewhere here that a woman in California was having a hard time finding work b/c the area was so saturated with LPN's. I put in an ap and was hired the next day. Have you tried where you had clinicals? Most of the people in my class applied where we had clinicals and most were hired. Also, try putting in aps when hiring managers are most likely to be available and try to talk to them in person. Early AM is not good, they are usually in meetings, and lunch time is out. I like to put in aps around 10-11 AM or 1-3 PM and ALWAYS ask to speak to a hiring manager. That way, it's not just another ap laying there, they will have a face and personality to put with it. It works for me more often than not. It doesn't hurt to practice "selling yourself" in a 30 second "commercial" before you meet the manager either. Focus on why you want to work for their facility, (do some homework on the facility, and include things like "Your facility has a good reputation for quality care of it's residents and I'd like to be part of that team because excellent resident care is important to me...etc.). And focus on what you can bring to the facility, not just skill sets like inserting caths. What is special about you? Now is not the time to be modest. If you are patient, honest, compassionate, and dedicated to the care of the elderly, say so. If they get that "feel good" feeling from you, you'll be remembered when it's hiring time. This strategy has worked for me countless times. Also, if you can find out who the hiring person is and ask for them by name that helps, too. I usually find out the info on the web, as most places have a webiste up. If not, call and ask what the DON's name is. Keep your chin up and good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

I received my initial licensure in January 2006. I applied for a nursing home job one day, and was hired the next day. Luckily, I live in a large metropolitan area with over 6 million people, and the healthcare facilities around here are absolutely hurting for nurses badly.

kat7ap · Mar 1, 2008

At a LTCF I have experienced same day hiring, they usually don't let you leave with out a job offer. I had a place where the woman never looked at my resume or application and had barely spoken 3 words to me and we were talking about when I could start. That kind of scared me.

At hospitals when I applied as a new grad, I NEVER heard back from any recruiter even after calling and leaving messages. After some experience when I applied again, one place in took probably 5-6 weeks then another 4 weeks or so of the interview process. Good thing I had another job at the time! My current place took about 3-4 weeks to call me then I interviewed and due to some delay in took about 7 weeks for me to begin work. You have to be patient and if you don't get your dream job right away you may have to settle for a little while

seneyka · Mar 1, 2008

Wow..I got to say! Thank you so much for your time and input!

Honestly, there was one place that I came to and got a job offered right away. It was a Rehab facility. The pay is awesome $25/hr, the staff patient ratio is awful 1:30. I was deciding to accept the job right away, but then decided to "give you a call back"!

I came back to this website and read several threads about that ratio, they really taught me something: danger and risk! I won't be able to have enough time for all of those in an 8 hour shift! And several other things too are that in case 1 patient got into a critical illness or accident (fall, stroke,...), my time would run out before I am able to care for the rest who are in need of their meds!

And how about assessments? I hate it when leaving just doing nothing but passing meds, though there is no choice for me because my 8 hours just run out!

Now! After trying that much for that long, I am afraid I will need to get that job! I got depression and disappointment! Not knowing where to go anymore! And one of the biggest issue is that what if something happen that would take away my license due to inadequate care for the whole 30 pt (because I do not have enough time)?

Wish me luck! I got a job interview soon and hopefully I will get the job in this new place!

bluegeegoo2, LPN · Mar 2, 2008

Unfortunately, 30+:1 in the norm. In my facility, there are some floors with 60:1. And, no, there is not enough time to do "everything" when there is a critical resident or an incident. However, you learn shortcuts along the way that help expidite things along so you can actually go home once in awhile. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

vivibonita · Mar 2, 2008

Now I'm really jealous... I've been applying to any possible job since January and haven't gotten one response back!! :crying2:

seneyka · Mar 2, 2008

Now I'm really jealous... I've been applying to any possible job since January and haven't gotten one response back!!

Seriously? Oh man, we seem to deal with the same matter! I am trying to apply to VA but still in process of waiting for all of the paper works!

Maybe you should try there too if there's one located nearby!