How Proactive Should I Be?

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Last month I accepted a position in an ICU. I have been a nurse for a few years and am really excited about this. I had an interview July 20th. The interview went great. I really connected with the manager and then with the staff in the peer interview. After the peer interview the manager spoke with the staff and I was offered the job on the spot. I verbally accepted to the nursing manager but had to wait for the official offer from HR, of course. We discussed a start date of September 17th due to a pre-planned vacation for September 3rd-14th. She also gave me her personal cell phone number for if I had any questions or concerns.

July 26th, HR recruiter calls me to make a verbal contingent job offer. I, of course, accept. We discuss potential pay(they have to verify previous employment before making a written final offer) benefits, schedule, start date, etc. We also discuss my vacation and the reason for the later start. The recruiter goes on vacation the following week and I follow up the week after to see how everything was going. She informed me that we were in a waiting period as they could not do anything before 30 days prior to start date(August 17th). I thought they were pulling employment and everything the week prior and would be expecting to do employee health requirements and drug screening and sitting down to get the written offer.

I sat on my hands until Friday, August 10th when I received two emails. The first requesting references. I had 24 hours to enter names and send the requests. I had them entered before the evening. All my references had completed their surveys before Monday morning. The email requested four references but I provided seven. I used my current manager, one previous charge nurse, three subordinates from my current position as a charge nurse, and two coworkers from a previous job. The second email i received that day was hospital policies. Also, I was told that a certain HR rep would be contacting me to set up the HR appointment which I assume is drug screening and pre-employment physical.

Monday was less than 30 days out. I know that sometimes things slip through the cracks and things are forgotten, so I made a call to the HR rep who was to be contacting me about the appointment. I left a message stating my name, the position I accepted, anticipated start date, contact information, and a basic reminder that I was going on vacation and had discussed that with the recruiter and just wanted to bring it up in case it slipped through the cracks.

Yesterday, I had not received a call back, so I sent the recruiter a reminder email also. I just stated that I attempted to contact the HR rep and was unable to do so. I reminded her that I had the upcoming vacation and that I was just remaining proactive in trying to get everything completed in time to start on the 17th. I was more so just hoping she could help push things along at this time.

Today I have yet to receive anything.No call or return email. I know HR can get busy and my main thing is I don't want to be a nuisance and ruin this chance. However, next week is the last week I am here until orientation and I have nothing set yet. I am getting nervous that I may fall through the cracks and not be able to start when I return or I lose out on the opportunity all together.

I am not sure what my next steps should be and when to take them.

So advice is needed. Do I attempt to call the recruiter or HR rep again? If so when?

If I still do not hear back by the end of the week, Do I call the manager and see if she can help? Should I just sit and wait? Thanks for any advice.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

So did you get an actual written offer from the hospital?

Do you have a business card or other way to contact the manager other than her personal cell phone? If so I would try and contact her via this route. Sometimes managers can light a fire under HR's behind. At the same time, I would keep trying to contact the HR person who is suppose to get in touch with you. Good luck with everything!

FWIW, and this is just my opinion, next time I would not go above the number of references they request. If they want 4, give them 4. You may totally trust these references, but you never know when someone will torpedo you, maybe even unintentionally. It has happened before.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
FWIW, and this is just my opinion, next time I would not go above the number of references they request. If they want 4, give them 4. You may totally trust these references, but you never know when someone will torpedo you, maybe even unintentionally. It has happened before.

I once got a call for a reference on an employee who we had terminated while he was on probation. I was thinking to myself, how desperate for references do you have to be to list the DON of a place where you were fired?

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I once got a call for a reference on an employee who we had terminated while he was on probation. I was thinking to myself, how desperate for references do you have to be to list the DON of a place where you were fired?

Did you give him a good reference?

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OP, I think you should stop contacting HR. They might feel pushed and be resentful. IT seems like they have dropped the ball, but

I think there isn't much you can do about it.

I don't know if this is good advice or not, but I hope it helps you.

It doesn't seem out of line for you to call the Nurse Manager. She gave you her cell phone, so use it.

Do NOT complain about HR to her. Just say you want to make sure she still wants you because you are so very much looking forward

to working for her. If she asks, I guess you could say no, you haven't heard from HR yet.

Best wishes. And have a great vacation.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

I would absolutely use that cell# the manager gave you and use it...

“ Hi, Terry , sorry to disturb you, however I had been under the impression I was to start orientation on x x x, and I have not yet received my hire letter , I’m trying to reach Sally Setton in HR with no response. I have submitted everything that has been requested of me per HR. I was calling you to verify that I’m still being offered the position?” - something along those lines

good luck !

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