might be a stupid question...(job related)

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

so I am a relitively new RN. I will have been licensed a year come July 6th, but only started my first job this past April (I was pregnant and had my son in January). I just came off of orientation last week for my current position, of which I am per diem. I am currently working mostly acute rehab and sometimes floating to one of the med/surg units in the hospital. Not my dream job, but its a start and I am learning a ton, all of which I am a grateful and appreciative of.

I have an interview on Wednesday for a per diem position in L&D/maternity (my dream position) at a different, but local hospital from the one I currently work. My references for this position are all maternity related. I did my externship and capstone project while in school on a maternity unit and have two references from there, as well as one of my OB instructors from school. While set with references, my question now is whether I let the interviewers contact my current place of employment. I haven't told my current bosses that I am interviewing elsewhere. But I'd like the extra hours, and to get my foot in the door to work L&D, which is why I've applied and thus accepted this interview. My husband says yes, let them contact my current employer, as do some of my classmates/nurse friends from school who also work per diem. They say its 100% acceptable and known that per diem nurses often work more than one job. Which I know. But still, being so new at this, I am unsure what proper etiquette is.

And of course, if the general census is that to let them contact my current place of employment, I'd of course give my current bosses a heads up that they'll likely be contacted. I was going to do that after I have my interview.

Just looking for some thoughts/guidance. Thanks in advance!

[TiddlDwink]

Of course, this is situational, but I'm gonna give my 2 Cents:

First, you've worked at your present per diem job what... 2 months? Hardly enough for a reference...

Second, the work you do in rehab and the knowledge you've obtained there is much different from the work and knowledge you need/get in OB... not sure what your present employer could say about your ability in OB...

Third, if you announce to your present employer that you're looking for another job, well... would that alert them to the fact that you're only "using" them for a paycheck until you get something else?

You know the whole milieu in your area better than I do, but my gut tells me, "Don't mention it"

[Flo., BSN, RN]

Since you are per diem I don't think it matters if you tell your current employer. Many nurses have more than one job. It is easier to get a job when you already have one.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Of course, this is situational, but I'm gonna give my 2 Cents:

First, you've worked at your present per diem job what... 2 months? Hardly enough for a reference...

Second, the work you do in rehab and the knowledge you've obtained there is much different from the work and knowledge you need/get in OB... not sure what your present employer could say about your ability in OB...

Third, if you announce to your present employer that you're looking for another job, well... would that alert them to the fact that you're only "using" them for a paycheck until you get something else?

You know the whole milieu in your area better than I do, but my gut tells me, "Don't mention it"

I am not asking my current employers for a reference. I know that with my current position my bosses won't be able to speak much about my abilities in L&D. However, I do have OB/L&D specific references from school and my externships. I am still in contact with my preceptors from that and they've all been encouraging and supportive in my endeavor of trying to get into this specialty.

I am not using anyone. I got a job after a long, hard job search as a new grad and I plan on keeping it. However, its per diem and now that I am off orientation, my hours are a hit or miss depending on the week. Which is why I continued my job search. I just happened to land an interview in the specialty that I want to eventually work in long term.

I don't mean to sound defensive and do appreciate your response. But all I am asking what is proper etiquette here. On my application they asked if they could contact my current employer and I just want to know what the right approach is here when they ask me this in my interview.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Since you are per diem I don't think it matters if you tell your current employer. Many nurses have more than one job. It is easier to get a job when you already have one.

thanks. So you suggest not even bothering telling my current employer that I am interviewing? That they just find out when HR from the job that I am interview for contact them?

I feel so nervous and awkward for some reason and usually interviews don't unnerve me at all!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I would tell the Maternity job people that, "Yes, you can contact my current employer. However, I would prefer you do so late in hiring process and only if you think it likely that you will offer me the job. I've only worked there a short time and I am not sure how they react to the knowledge that I was interviewing for another position."

The Maternity people should understand your situation and cooperate with that request.

As for telling your current boss, I don't think I would. If she gets contacted and says something to you, I would brush it off as a minor event. "Oh, they contacted you? Since my position here is only per diem, I did talk to them about picking up some hours -- but I hadn't realized their efforts to recruit me had gone that far. Thank you for telling me. Perhaps it's time we talked about what would happen if they did offer me a position."

As a general rule ... When you are looking for another job, you don't tell your current employer until you absolutely have to -- or unless there is some special reason to.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

thanks llg! that makes perfect sense. I'll go with that angle/approach!

[FedupLPN]

A lot of times when they contact your current employer and past employers, they are just asking are you in good standings. They also ask if you can be rehired with your past employers.... You have not worked that much in health care, so IMO you need to show that you have held a job within the nursing field. Plus you are per diem...I held 3 diff per diem positions at one time and none of them had a problem

[mazy]

My experience with job hunting is that it is acceptable and common to list your current employer and then say you would prefer they not contact them because you don't want them to know you are looking for other work. I always do it and have never had a problem.