Looking for hospital job in Seattle

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Hey all,

Here's my dilemma. I've recently moved back from Central WA where I was a tele nurse (first time doing tele) for six months. Had to come back because my living situation was unsafe (in a bad area). Before I had gone to Central WA, I had worked for nine months at the UW on the Gen Med floor. That was an challenging and great job. I left because I felt I needed to get out of the Seattle (relationship issue) for the moment. Now I'm back.

So my problem is: I haven't a year of experience in either med/surg or tele themselves (1.5 yrs total). I really want to work at a teaching hospital but that only leaves Harborview and the UW. I don't know if the UW will hire me back to the same floor (left sort of abruptly but I resigned, they did not terminate). Harborview is great and I did clinicals on their med/tele floor years ago and wouldn't mind working there if there's an opportunity. What do I do? Do I apply to these hospitals as a new grad? Or do I say I'm experienced? Obviously I can explain things to a recruiter but as you might know, many of these hospital applications now are done on the computer for specific jobs (I dislike that format).

I wanted to even learn a new specialty and then pick up shifts in tele to continue to progress in tele experience. I know my nursing history has been awkward but I was dealing with depression, anxiety and certain issues which I have been seriously working on since I got back to the Seattle area.

This post is deeply personal but I feel OK posting it on this site. Thanks for reading this long post.

[SmilingBluEyes]

How about you contact the HR departments of the hospitals you are interested in and get the names/numbers of managers to talk to them? I agree, electronic communications leave a lot to be desired.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Thanks for that advice, the online formats are just so impersonal. Like "ad this job to your cart." I mean please, it's not Amazon.com LOL. Anyway thanks again Smiling.

[kids]

I'm assuming you left UW on good terms...have you been back to *visit* your old units? You might be able to get rehired if you pursue it from the unit up.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

I felt forced to resign from the UW for absences, so while I'm officially "eligible for rehire", I don't know if the NM from my old unit would want me back even though I did good work there.

I am applying at other local hospitals and one already wants to set up an interview so we will see.

[SmilingBluEyes]

what about Harborview?

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Smiling,

I love Harborview and did apply there online a couple weeks ago. But no word yet. It's odd since I know they have needs and I already am an RN, where as a lot of summer graduates haven't taken the NCLEX yet. Plus I speak Spanish. Oh well.

I'm pretty sure I'm being offered (I know that's weird) a job at Overlake so we'll see. If not though, I will have to maybe step up the search and maybe force Harborview to notice me.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I WISH YOU MUCH LUCK my friend! Let us know.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

I WISH YOU MUCH LUCK my friend! Let us know.

Smiling,

Sure enough Harborview called this morning and I have an interview set up for next week. Turns out they didn't call before because there was a computer glitch with my applications (another reason to dislike online apps :)

Of course I have to possibly make a decision between Bellevue and Seattle!

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Interviewed with Harborview....

The nurse recruiter instantly remembered me and the first part of the interview was not good. I kept my cool but the recruiter came at me from every angle. She wanted to know why I only stayed at the UW 9 months and were they unhappy because she expects new grads to stay two years. She asked me why I moved to Yakima and why I moved back from Yakima. I told her about being a victim of crime (didn't want to say that but had to explain) and she asked me why I couldn't just switch to a different apartment in the same town.

The 2nd part of the interview with the actual NM of the floor was great. I could tell she was impressed with me and felt I had a good feeling about her and her ANM. She said she would let me know by today.

I knew it would be a long shot because the nurse recruiter would talk to the NM about her concerns and maybe sway the NM even though the NM is the one who hires.

Sure enough, today they called and said they had selected another candidate. I was disappointed since I love Harborview but also am OK because Overlake is a great hospital and pays more anyway.