You're Hired!......Then......

[All4NursingRN]

So I interviewed for a position in November '13, the process went unusually fast, in fact my interview with the recruiter and NM was quite informal. I was not formally interviewed (which was a nice change from the typical interrogative interview). I was only told of the salary, benefits, orientation schedule and etc... and then I was asked how soon I could start. The NM explained how orientation would be structured and seemed very excited to hire me in her expanding unit (as she said) She told me which shift I would work and said that I would get a response either by the same day or the following Wednesday, if no response get back to her because in her words she gets real busy and admittedly forgets things.

Fast foward I call the recruitment office on the following Wed and the recruiter emails me info that I would be hired for a certain shift, pending the usuals (you know reference check, etc.. etc...) I submit all required info and hearing nothing back, although the pending start date was creeping up on just 2 weeks away (mid-December)

So I call to follow up and was told that I would not be starting in December but would be waitlisted.

Now I'm thinking did something go wrong? Am I not being considered? So I email the recruiter with my concerns and she says that everything on my part is fine, the NM is just waiting for approval for the positions. So I'm thinking ok this shouldn't take longer than 4 weeks to hear back about a start date.

Now its 1 month since my original start date and 2 months since I've been offered the position. I finally last week searched for the NM's contact info and emailed her. She responded within about 30-40 minutes (which I was happy that she got back to me so quickly)

She thanked me for reaching out to her and stated that I was at the top of the waitlist and that unfortunately she does not have a start date confirmed for her positions but to keep in touch. She also seemed happy to know I was still interested in the position.

The NM seemed a bit deflated as well because she was so energetic during the interview because they are expanding their unit (lots of construction and new physicians & Procedures being added to what they do)

I've been waitlisted before in a previous job but they only delayed my start date by 1-2 weeks. Has anyone ever experienced such a delay? I'm being patient, but I just wonder how long they will waitlist before a start date? I've had another offer and some interviews but I've been wanting to work in this area for a few years now so I want to wait it out.

So many questions.... *sigh*

[Shinnichi, ADN, RN]

(I'm only a student and my husband isn't in healthcare, but I wanted to share a similar experience.)

My husband was transferring from one IT department to another. His manager had 2 positions, one which was going to my husband (it was a lateral move, just changing location) and the other was going to be filled by either an internal or external candidate. His manager also had to fill my husband's vacancy at the other facility.

My husband was supposed to be good to go as soon as someone was hired to fill his spot. Well, budget time came around right as the hiring process started...the positions (both at the other facility and my husband's old spot) were frozen. This was after our house was put up for sale, my school transferred, and our childcare arrangements cancelled for my next semester. His manager managed to work around it by some stretch of imagination, but it took 6 months. And in the end, his manager filled my husband's old position without ever opening it to external candidates again.

So, unfortunately, as others have said... the NM's hand are likely tied by HR. I'd hope for the best but expect the worst.

[Davey Do]

I've experienced two similar situations in my Nursing career, All4NursingRN, and both were in Administration.

Back in 1995, I interviewed for a DON Position with the LTC Facility's Administrator. She told me, after the Initial Interview, that I was a "shoe in" and needed only to have a Follow Up Interview with her and the District Manager to set the Decision in Stone.

A few days later, the Follow Up Interview took place, as planned. Basically, the District Manager informed me that he believed that I did not have enough experience in long term care in order to adequately fulfill the Position of DON.

At that time, I had worked about three months with LTC Facility after graduating with my LPN in 1983. I also had a year and a half's experience as a Nursing Supervisor with a Home Health Agency, from 1993 to 1995.

However, the Director said they would contact me with their final decision.

During the Follow Up Interview, the Administrator never made eye contact with me. I also noted that the Director merely gave me fleeting eye contact and kept biting on his right bluish-colored thumbnail that had obviously been injured. Not good signs.

I received no return calls from either the Administrator or the Director, although I had left several messages on the Administrator's Voicemail. I just had to accept the fact that I wasn't going to be hired.

The other questionable hiring situation took place in 2002, as a Nursing Supervisor over Medical Services and Methadone Clinic in a Community Mental Health Center. I was interviewed by an MD who was the Medical Director, and she too, let me know that as far as she was concerned, I had the job.

A short time later, I received a call from the HR Director to set up an Interview for the Nursing Supervisor Position. I informed the HR Director of the Medical Director's words when she told me that the final decision was to be made by the Administrator of the Clinic and herself. I attended the Interview and the decision was finalized: I got the job!

However, the year I worked as the Nursing Supervisor for that particular Community Mental Health Center was, to say the least, A Chaotic Trip!

The Position was described as a 35 hour per week salaried position and I typically worked 50 to 60 hours per week. The MD who had initially hired me left before I started the job and I ended up training THREE MD's for their Duties as Directors in the year I worked there.

Besides my regular duties of Supervising Medical Services and the Methadone Clinic and all the Bureaucratic Crap that goes with such a Position, I carried a Caseload of about 135 Clients, set up and ran both a Sample Medication and a Patient Assistance Medication Program, and filled in whenever the Nurses I Supervised had or needed a day off or called off, which was on a regular basis.

I was terminated from this Position by the third MD, basically as a result of enforcing a Documented Policy and Procedure.

Although it was a great Learning Experience that I benefitted from though empirical endeavors, I was physically and mentally exhausted when I left. And as I left , I did not let the screen door hit me on my behind.

I relay these stories in order to convey this: The Interview Process can be an Indication of the way the Facility is run.

It may just be to your Advantage, All4nursingRN, to shake the dust from your sandals of this palce and move it on down the road. You know?

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

$$$$$

[roseonye]

wow disappointing. Please keep searching and don't wait for them. They so unprofessional.

[All4NursingRN]

Thanks daveydo and all who respondend. I'm surprised because this is one of the best hospital's in the country. i have kept looking even after I got their offer, but like I said I'm still considering, especially since I was told I'm on the top of the hiring list.

[Drowsyrn]

Sounds like a place I would not want to work! This reflects bad on them in my eyes. If this is how the manager runs her unit, not good. Something similar happened to me where the manager was back and forth with me then I was finally hired. Worst job I've had.

Keep looking, you will find the right job for you.

[PamelaJRN]

Hi! I'm in a similar spot! I'm not exactly sure how to proceed. I've been waitlisted for a position that also came after an interview that seemed to go so well. The next orientation date is in March and if a position doesn't become available by then, the next one is June! I'm a new grad and I wasn't expecting the job hunt to take so long. Has your situation resolved yet?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Folks, there is NO such thing as a "wait list" for a job. It is code for "You are not hired but if you want to wait around and stay available just in case budget gets approved/the person we did hire flops/more people quit/insert reason here, that would be ideal for us". If you are told you are wait listed YOU DO NOT HAVE A JOB. Period. It is much like dating. They are saying they are going to call and they might if all the cards play right but more than less likely not. You weren't their first choice. They just aren't that into you. Move on. The right one will come along.

[tinybbynurse]

I know this is an old topic... but I was kind of relieved to find similar situations as mine.

I interviewed for a job in February at a job fair and it went really well and I knew it did. I didn’t hear anything after that. A month later, I saw an opening for that same job online, so I applied for it along with a few other openings. (The job fair was an open thing, you interviewed for units but there was no formal submission of an application).

A couple weeks later I get a call from HR more or less telling me they saw I applied to multiple positions and to take my pick of what I’m interested in.

I end up going in to interview with the same unit I did in feb at the job fair, which I thought was a little weird, because I already had a full interview with the NM, director above her, and the peer interview.

I get there, the NM and director recognize me and we don’t even interview - we stand in the hall while they tell me they loved me and their staff loved me and they extended an offer to me a month ago... but HR MISSED IT IN THEIR EMAIL!!

They thanked me for being persistent and immediately emailed the HR recruiter to extend me an offer.

That was a Wed. I hear nothing the rest of the week. Monday, I email the recruiter to follow up, she says she did indeed receive notification from the NM that they’d like to extend an offer and she is drawing up my offer letter and will contact me in 24 hours. Nothing.

thinking she’s super busy as the hospital is mass hiring people right now, I don’t reach out again til the following Monday. No reply to my email, so I call Tues. When I finally got a reply back, apparently the position is still in the process of being “approved” and as soon as it’s avaialble and sent to her she can send me the official offer letter.

i have never had to wait so long for an offer letter - I know the unit is in dire need of nurses, and I know the NM wants me but I guess it’s the higher ups that have to approve it within the budget of the hospital?

She said things may have been slowed down from spring break and she anticipates it’ll be soon. But it’s alreadu been two weeks since I got verbally offered the job (technically for the second time, I could’ve been working a month ago).

I am in desperate need for a job as I’ve been out of the nursing world for a bit and am working a couple jobs that really have me barely getting by (while I was awaiting nursing licensure in a new state... my previous state wasn’t compact) and was counting on the next orientation start date this Monday to be able to pay my bills with ease next month!! Now I’m delayed and super stressed and obviously I know that nothing is official until it’s in writing.

I really don’t think it’s fair to make it seem like a hospital is in dire need for help, tell you they’re extending a formal offer within 24 hours, and then don’t, after having already forgot to offer it to me the first time.... it’s one thing if you’re told that a position isn’t open right NOW but that you’ll be the first to be considered when there is. Like others, I was told I was being extended an offer and then things stalled. I may not have renewed my lease during this time had I known I may not be able to afford it... it really messes with someone’s life.

I’m left hanging. I’m of course remaining polite and not pinning blame on anyone. I guess all the departments have to work together and clearly that is not a smooth or short process this time.

I am considering reaching out to a temp agency to fulfill a temp job that pays more than my jobs right now, doesn’t even have to be nursing, while I wait for my real offer letter from this potential job. I need to pay my bills. But I don’t want to necessarily take another full time nursing job while I wait because I really want the unit I interviewed for but maybe I should?

definitely a sucky predicament to be in and I feel for everyone who has been left hanging after seemingly having the cat in the bag.

[TriciaJ, RN]

11 hours ago, tinybbynurse said:

I know this is an old topic... but I was kind of relieved to find similar situations as mine.

I interviewed for a job in February at a job fair and it went really well and I knew it did. I didn’t hear anything after that. A month later, I saw an opening for that same job online, so I applied for it along with a few other openings. (The job fair was an open thing, you interviewed for units but there was no formal submission of an application).

A couple weeks later I get a call from HR more or less telling me they saw I applied to multiple positions and to take my pick of what I’m interested in.

I end up going in to interview with the same unit I did in feb at the job fair, which I thought was a little weird, because I already had a full interview with the NM, director above her, and the peer interview.

I get there, the NM and director recognize me and we don’t even interview - we stand in the hall while they tell me they loved me and their staff loved me and they extended an offer to me a month ago... but HR MISSED IT IN THEIR EMAIL!!

They thanked me for being persistent and immediately emailed the HR recruiter to extend me an offer.

That was a Wed. I hear nothing the rest of the week. Monday, I email the recruiter to follow up, she says she did indeed receive notification from the NM that they’d like to extend an offer and she is drawing up my offer letter and will contact me in 24 hours. Nothing.

thinking she’s super busy as the hospital is mass hiring people right now, I don’t reach out again til the following Monday. No reply to my email, so I call Tues. When I finally got a reply back, apparently the position is still in the process of being “approved” and as soon as it’s avaialble and sent to her she can send me the official offer letter.

i have never had to wait so long for an offer letter - I know the unit is in dire need of nurses, and I know the NM wants me but I guess it’s the higher ups that have to approve it within the budget of the hospital?

She said things may have been slowed down from spring break and she anticipates it’ll be soon. But it’s alreadu been two weeks since I got verbally offered the job (technically for the second time, I could’ve been working a month ago).

I am in desperate need for a job as I’ve been out of the nursing world for a bit and am working a couple jobs that really have me barely getting by (while I was awaiting nursing licensure in a new state... my previous state wasn’t compact) and was counting on the next orientation start date this Monday to be able to pay my bills with ease next month!! Now I’m delayed and super stressed and obviously I know that nothing is official until it’s in writing.

I really don’t think it’s fair to make it seem like a hospital is in dire need for help, tell you they’re extending a formal offer within 24 hours, and then don’t, after having already forgot to offer it to me the first time.... it’s one thing if you’re told that a position isn’t open right NOW but that you’ll be the first to be considered when there is. Like others, I was told I was being extended an offer and then things stalled. I may not have renewed my lease during this time had I known I may not be able to afford it... it really messes with someone’s life.

I’m left hanging. I’m of course remaining polite and not pinning blame on anyone. I guess all the departments have to work together and clearly that is not a smooth or short process this time.

I am considering reaching out to a temp agency to fulfill a temp job that pays more than my jobs right now, doesn’t even have to be nursing, while I wait for my real offer letter from this potential job. I need to pay my bills. But I don’t want to necessarily take another full time nursing job while I wait because I really want the unit I interviewed for but maybe I should?

definitely a sucky predicament to be in and I feel for everyone who has been left hanging after seemingly having the cat in the bag.

They keep advertising a position and keep hiring you into it, then tell you it hasn't been "approved" yet. WTH?

I would contact the NM who hired you and level with her. The left hand clearly doesn't know what the right hand is doing, and doesn't care. Let the NM know that you are starving and before you dumpster dive, you will be working for someone else. They need to bring you on board this week or you'll be moving on. Say it in a matter-of-fact and slightly regretful way. If she can do anything at all, she will. Otherwise, you dodged a bullet. You don't want to work for an outfit that dicks people around like that.

[tinybbynurse]

Yeah, it’s totally clear to me that the unit and HR and whatever other areas exist behind the scenes are not functioning properly and communicating properly! I think I will definitely reach out to the NM... I’ve been in correspondence with HR but who knows if the unit even knows what’s going on because they sure as heck had no clue previously that I didn’t get the job offer the first time!