I had my interview and now I'm worried

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 12, 2010

At my hospital, they don't do the background checks until after the job has been offered (conditionally) and accepted. They're expensive: so the hospital runs them only after everything is all set.

The way we do it ... the new employee comes in for a pre-employment with HR and Occupational Health 1-2 weeks before their start date. All the paperwork is taken care of at that visit.

That's also how we handle the NCLEX issue. The job is offered conditionally -- and then the person doesn't come in for that pre-employment visit until after they pass boards. If they don't pass boards, very little has been invested in the candidate up to that point. The hiring process stops there and other candidates are considered for the job.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

Most places will not do the background check until an offer has been made and accepted. So if you pass then it's OK but if you fail then nothing ventured on their part because part of being able to be hired is you must pass the checks. The background check includes but is not limited to a drug screen and being fingerprinted for a federal check in my experience.

I appears that that wasn't the last interview. And yes; you sign all kinds of releases for them to do the checks.

LauRN · Oct 12, 2010

Try to relax...I know it's hard because I was there recently. I had to wait a few weeks to find out. But as the others have said, they do not run background checks until after the offer was made. I will say if you didn't do so already, send a thank you note with the person(s) you interviewed with. Good luck!:)

himilayaneyes · Oct 12, 2010

My job doesn't run background checks until the position has actually been offered. Then it's offered on the condition that you pass your background check and drug test. I understand what you're going through...the new job jitters. It took my current job a whole month after my interview to offer me a job. It's hard to relax, but try. In the meantime keep applying for other jobs. Good luck.

Aymese · Oct 12, 2010

As previous posters mentioned, employers don't usually run background checks until they make an offer. They have to pay 50-75 bucks to run them, so they wouldn't start investing in your employment until you accepted.

Also, I was not offered a position as a new grad until exactly 2 weeks after the interview. In my mind, I had already moved on in my job search! So it was a very gratifying phone call! Sometimes it just depends on how on top of the game the nurse manager is. Some have so many things on their plate that they don't prioritize job hiring decisions as efficiently as you would like Once I got to know my first manager, I totally realized why I hadn't heard from HR for 2 weeks...was so ecstatic the day she resigned

Lizzie21 · Oct 13, 2010

okay. So when i got my job it was contingent on me passing my drug test, background check, physical and all that stuff they make you do. It takes a few days for people to review your resume and decide whether they want to give you and offer or not. I'm sure you did great. If you don't hear anything soon, then I would call and see how they are doing and if they had made a decision yet.

NerdyNurse24 · Oct 13, 2010

Thank you all for your help! I feel a bit better now, I realized that on my application I did give them permission/release to obtain any additional information from outside parties. For now I'm just trying my hardest not to worry about it. Also continuing my search :)

skyegirl · Apr 5, 2012

I know this is an old link, but I have the same type of question.

Last week I went for an interview (new grad), and they asked me to come back the next morning for a peer interview. After, they sent me to HR to sign off on a background check. Tomorrow will be a week and I haven't heard anything. The manager said she'll be making a hiring decision in 2 weeks, but oh my goodness, the waiting is killing me! Is being sent for the background still a good sign in this economy, or do a lot of hospitals do this before formally offering you a postion? Also, the manager gave me their benefits/relocation package information, which I thought was hopeful. Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated:) Thanks!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 5, 2012

I know this is an old link, but I have the same type of question.
Last week I went for an interview (new grad), and they asked me to come back the next morning for a peer interview. After, they sent me to HR to sign off on a background check. Tomorrow will be a week and I haven't heard anything. The manager said she'll be making a hiring decision in 2 weeks, but oh my goodness, the waiting is killing me! Is being sent for the background still a good sign in this economy, or do a lot of hospitals do this before formally offering you a postion? Also, the manager gave me their benefits/relocation package information, which I thought was hopeful. Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated:) Thanks!

Hi, Skyegirl:

This next two weeks is going to be murder, but hang in there. It isn't really a sign either way about the background check, as they'd have you sign off the "ok" whether or not they're going to actually do them. Giving you the benefits package IS a good sign, but I don't want you to do cartwheels just yet....might be a formality.

Answer is, do something to occupy your time while the wait eats away at you! Sorry, I remember what it was like to be hoping for a job and not sure if it's coming my way or not, and it wasn't even in nursing (yep, same scenarios play out for every hopeful job hunter). Keep positive. One thing I'll tell you that'll help: RESIST the urge to call HR now and then to "check in". I see that as a mistake that's often made, the applicant who annoys HR or the nurse manager with frequent calls or emails "just to see how it's going". That's a way to lose a job.

Please let us know how it goes?