Hi, everyone! I'm pretty new here and I'm a brand new grad, :grad: albeit a 36-year-old grad! I need input on making a pretty big decision...I live in the Norfolk/Va Beach area of Virginia (also known as the Tidewater or Hampton Roads area) and RN jobs are pretty hard to come by here, as it is in most of the country. Relocating is impossible, as my miserable ex-husband will not "allow" me to move with my daughter (long story for a different board) We have 3 hospital affiliations here...Sentara, Bon Secours, and an independent hospital called Chesapeake Regional.
Three weeks ago I spoke with the nurse recruiter at Bon Secours who acknowledged my online application and resume and told me to "be on the lookout" for some openings at the company. In my endless search for anyjob on the internet, I came across a posting for an "information session" for an emergency nursing fellowship with Bon Secours. It sounds like a wonderful residency program...a lot of intense training over a 6 month orientation, but a formal support system for a new grad like me for another 6 months after that. I mingled with the nurse recruiter, nurse managers, dept heads, and nurse educators at the session. The next day, I was scheduled for a telephone interview...YIPEE! That was last Thursday and took 2 hours...Whew! I came away feeling good, sent the thank you card, prayed and waited. Monday, I got the call for a follow-up PANEL INTERVIEW...Again, YAY for me! I survived the panel interview of 12 people yesterday (12/10/10)...which leads me to my dilemma
The nurse recruiter just called me today and told me that everyone was very impressed with me and they would like me to return for a PEER INTERVIEW. Nothing is on the table yet, though...The HUGE dilemma is that she said the peer interviews are to take place next Thursday on December 16th between 12:00 and 4:00 pm. Great, right?! Well, after 4 yrs of struggling through nursing school as a middle-aged single mother with fibromyalgia, going through a nasty divorce and custody battle, and no family in the area for support, I can finally be proud of myself for my accomplishments and look forward to a new life for my daughter and I.
However, my PINNING ceremony is the same day as the interview, and my mom is coming down from Philly and my dad is flying in from Florida. I have to be at the hall for pinning at 10:00 am, even though it doesn't start till 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00. No iffs, ands, or butts (I tried). And, even if I can persuade the recruiter to let me interview that evening, I'd never make it in rush hour traffic. I'm asking for advice because I don't know what to do.
The pinning means a lot to me, but jobs are SO hard to come by...I'd kick myself if I declined and find myself sitting here 6 months from now still without a job (or badly needed health insurance!) I blurted out that Thursday was my pinning ceremony, but she said that this is the only day/time slot they have for the interview. I don't even have a clue as to how many of us are up for the position. I'd also kick myself if I skipped my pinning for an interview where I had little chance to make it. Plus, talk about going through the ringer...I had one "informal" interview on the phone, then a formal telephone interview for 2 hrs, then a panel interview for 30 minutes with 9 head honchos...I don't even know what a peer interview is, or what my chances are...
Sorry, to me this is a "no-brainer". Skip the pinning ceremony and land the job. You can do your own private pinning ceremony/"got a job" celebration later. I mean, what's more important, a job or a ceremony??
If the answer for you is the ceremony, then, by all means, go for it!
Please contact your program director and explain the situation, as well as your parents' travel plans. Ask if s/he would pin you privately in her office at a more convenient time.
This is a good chance to use your skills of prioritization!
What is more important? A job that will provide a life for you, or a ceremony that will provide a memory? Hopefully you can celebrate a new job with your parents while they are in town. Pinning is "special" you could say but when it comes down to it you will spend about 2 hours watching people speak and 15 seconds walking across a stage to get a pin that they can mail to you. That mailed pin will not mean any less, you'll still be a nurse. The only difference is you will be a nurse with a job! I would miss a speech or two for that. You can always watch the video!!
Specializes in Oncology; med/surg; geriatric; OB; CM.
Interview; interview, INTERVIEW. As one who graduated from a school that STOPPED Pinning Ceremonies d/t ignorant attendees, it's a no-brainer.
Do what we did--we asked our class sponsor to please pin us after graduation. She did and it was great.
BTW--a peer interview is an interview with employees from the unit you are being considered for hire. I've interviewed on 3 myself and have been an interviewer on quite a few.
Generally speaking, peer interviews are to see if you will "click" with the unit. There are frequently "good nurse-bad nurse" type of people; people who are completely non-committal and people who are sympathetic/empathetic on these interview committees.
A few things NOT to say---1. "How hard is it to get a vacation?" 2. "I never miss any of my child's school happenings so I'll need very specific days off" 3. "My ex-husband is a jerk and sometimes can't take my child when he's supposed to so I may have to call off" (honest to God things I've heard at a peer interview).
We have peer interviews at our facility. You have your HR interview and then the manager of your floor interview first. They send only the people they would hire to the peer interview. Unless they have several people to interview your chances of getting the job is very good if you make it to the peer interview level. I would get to the peer interview at 1145 or earlier try to be the first one in and then go with your family to the pinning ceremony. Even if you can't be involved at least you could enjoy watching your friends get pinned. Then you and your family could have your own private pinning and probable new job celebration afterwords.
Trust me a job will feel much better than the pinning will.
No brainer ... go to the interview. In 10 years, memories of the pinning ceremony would fade. It's only a ceremony. The job is the "real thing" and getting your career off to a good start can help you and your children for the rest of your life.
Go to the peer interview and skip the pinning. Your mission is to get employed and by the looks of it, this may be your jackpot. You can arrange to have a special late lunch / dinner with your parents and friends instead of the pinning ceremony. Nail that job! You've worked too hard at school to pass up a seemingly good potential for employment. - Quiet Storm
I skipped both pinning and graduation because the LAST thing I wanted to do on the 4 precious days I had off between the spring and summer semesters (if you were graduating in summer you went to the 'graduation' ceremony the prior spring) was spend yet more time at school. LOL
Kidding aside, when you have a dependent to consider, getting and keeping a cash flowing going hands down trumps a Kodak moment with Mom and Dad. Go the interview and give it your all. If you get it, congratulations...you've landed a job. If you don't, you won't forever wonder what if. Best wishes and please consider editing out the name of your prospective employer.
Go to the interview. Do not even ask if things can be rearranged for the pinning, you're on a good roll with them, you don't want to risk messing anything up. I agree with another post that you should try to mention it in the interview in order to hopefully get kudos for the sacrifice. Actions speak louder then words.
Saysfaa
905 Posts
Interview. Make your own pinning ceremony, you could make it really elaborate/special.