Looking for new job while already employed: how to handle references?

owlRN01 · Oct 30, 2012

I am interested in hearing what everyone has to say about this as well. Good luck :)

J&B-RN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Oct 30, 2012

I have experienced this same problem twice now. Since nursing is sooooo competitive to get a job in, especially as a new grad, moving around a lot is pretty common. I worked for a LTC center for about a year as an LPN then 6 months as an RN. At this position I did not tell my manager about my potential to leave until I had an interview that I knew went well enough that they would call my references and possibly my current boss (which took me 6 months of applying). I used my coworkers as references. When talking with my manager I explained my reason for leaving was because I wanted to gain experience in a hospital. She was very understanding. But since I was close with my coworkers and knew that they would not feel "butt hurt" that I was leaving I figured they would be the best references. Of course I gave my two weeks notice, and ensured that my manager knew that I was possibly leaving so it wouldn't be a shock if someone from a hospital called.

At the second job which was the hospital job (med/surg) that I had left the LTC facility for I worked there for 10 months before I started applying for another job. This time I wanted to use my manager for my first reference because I knew she would give me a good one and help me get the dream job of ICU. I made sure to create a good working relationship with my boss, it also helps that she was very approachable and understanding. When the time came that I wanted to start looking I told her before I even started that I was going to start applying for jobs. I made sure to handle this situation delicately, and explained to her that while I loved working on med/surg at that hospital I did not like living in the area. (I had to relocate 3 hours away to a very rural area for my first new grad hospital job) I explained to her (in person) that I was ready to move because I wasn't happy living in the VERY small town that the hospital was located in and that I also wanted to try out an ICU job since I had also thought about doing critical care. In the end after 3 months of applying I got my ICU job and my med/surg boss was a great references!

Since this is your only RN job and your only supply of good references you are going to have to use your boss or one of the charge nurses as a reference

Recommendations: be honest, tell your boss before you start applying what you are planning on doing and the reasons why, be sure to state things like "the opportunity that she gave you was invaluable but you just aren't happy living so far away from family" or "you love the unit and the hospital, just not the area". (since that is your real reason of leaving right??)

Nursing still has a very high turnover rate, and I stayed longer on my units than some of the other new grads I worked with so I knew a head of time that the bosses would be ok with my leaving. But since I knew from day one that I was going to be leaving the nursing home and the med/surg unit after a year of employment I made sure to be the best employee and a valuable team member so that my bosses would say I was worth the time and effort even though I was there just a year.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2012

I had two Nursing Jobs before the one I'm in now... My first was so crappy and so many things wrong that I didn't care if my manager knew or not. I used two coworkers as references who were also both leaving (they were older nurses but could give me great references). I ended up leaving my first job and commuting an hour to my second job (I applied all over and had three interviews at major hospitals before my final interview of that process and what I'd pick for a while). One of my coworkers at the first also worked the second job and had worked there for years...I really think that's how I got my second job...I applied and two days later had an interview...and the assistant manager called me with an offer before I'd gotten home from the interview! I worked there and some days I miss it. Others I don't. Some things changed during the time I worked my second job. My manager became a different person, hired some less than ideal people, and things generally got bad on that unit (my boss just didn't care).

I left my second job, but when I did I left in a mass exodus of people and a lot of talent. I found the job I have now, applied for it thinking it can't hurt me to apply. Did not expect to get called for an interview. My interview went well but it was super competitive...and I didn't expect to get a call 10 days later with an offer. About the time I got the dream job offer, that's when my then manager kind of woke up some to some of the issues (but I hear things haven't changed for the better...). So I went to her with my two weeks notice. Staffing was still horrible and I could work more than two weeks...so I told her, if it made things any easier I could work an additional four weeks to help... So I worked four weeks past turning in my two weeks.

All I can say is - you are the best judge of your unit. If your unit is a unit with snitches and clicques it may be best not to tell your manager until you've had an interview that they may be contacted about you. Depends on your state what they can say when they are called by HR from another facility. My first job, I had a few people I could trust well and they knew they were my references plus I used references from school (at only 8 weeks working...may as well ask my senior practicum preceptor). I didn't tell anyone else at that job until I had a start date for my new job and I wrote a notice and called my manager to make sure she got the message (out sick when I was going to turn my two weeks in). And be honest. It will look better if news of a new job/interview comes from you and not coworkers gossiping about you...

mariebailey, MSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

During my 1st job out of nursing school, when I decided to start looking around, I used former nursing instructors, former colleagues (fellow nursing students), & co-workers no longer employed at my place of employment as references.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

They won't check your references usually until after the interview so you can put people down your cofident will say good things and then give them the heads up if you actually get an interview....that's what i did.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

How about some nurses you met while in school and they liked you when you were a student and said good things about you to your instructors?

Your rabbi/pastor/imam/priest/other clergy for a personal ref?

Plus, you can usually indicate on your applications whether or not you want the prospective employer to contact your current boss. The potential employer will understand you not wanting the current job to be contacted yet.

Good luck.

eCCU · Oct 31, 2012

Hi everyone,
I'm almost one year into my first RN position. While I love my job (most days anyway!), I moved to the other side of the country to work here and I'm honestly not really loving this city. So, I'm looking for a new job closer to friends and family.
My question is, how should I handle professional references on employment applications? Since this is my first and only nursing position, I feel like my references should come from managers and colleagues at my current position. BUT I don't really want to tell anyone that I'm thinking about leaving until I actually have an offer or at least an interview.
Thoughts? What do you guys think I should do? Thanks!

Hmmmm....i don't know how different it is but in my side of town the recruiters do not call references until the position is offered and they always let the candidate aware of this. Interested in hearing from other parts of the country though. I would probably suggest one of your colleagues working in a different unit you can ask them to be discreet. Other option perhaps one of the physicians that you work with. Best wishes.

T-Bird78 · Oct 31, 2012

Most of the interviews I've been on have told me they'd let me know prior to calling any references and which references so that person can be anticipating a phone call. I was under the impression that all they can do is ask if you were employed there and if they'd hire you again. I'd use nursing school classmates and instructors and ask if your manager will be a good reference because you're looking to move back home. They can't hold it against you that you want to be with your family, and it's a lot harder to leave a job and go across the country than it is to leave and stay and work locally, so you won't leave until all your ducks are in a row. Good luck!!

emjoy123 · Oct 31, 2012

I work in the human resources department for a hospice organization where we hire nurse practioners and LVNs and RNs, etc. We understand that leaving your current job can be delicate and so we are happy to get references from colleagues as well. We are required to get one supervisor reference though. We are usually happy to wait to contact your current reference once we know we will be giving you an official offer and we've received the "ok" from you to contact them.

bleemadden · Oct 31, 2012

I was lucky enough that my prospective employer asked me in my interview whether or not I needed a heads up to talk to my current employer before she called my references; my staff coordinator, DON, and ADON. It worked great. She called and offered me the position, told me exactly when she would be calling them, and I was able to go to my employer right then to give them the heads up and turn in my two weeks. It would be worth a shot to ask for that in an interview. Most prospective employers understand that you don't want to throw yourself under the bus by saying you may leave then not get the job.

MotherRN · Oct 31, 2012

I wasn't aware that they needed to talk to your current employer if they know they want to offer you the job. What if that employer is aggrevated you are leaving and says something negative, are they then going to pull their offer? And then you have no job?

If you put 'don't contact' do you ever have to give permission for them to contact?