Possible dilemma

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

So I may be having to make a hard decision coming up and it may be a non issue, and I guess I am just looking for words of adivce.

I am a new nurse and after a long and heart breaking job search found a job and for the last 6 months I have been working at a SNF. My dream job is to work in the ED, I worked in the ED as a tech during nursing school and did my preceptoship in the ED...Loved it.

The area that I am at is saturated with new grads and jobs are really hard to come by, especially acute care hospital positions.

I applied to a large truama hospital for an ED intership last month and I have moved on to the next step in the selection process:yeah: after my application review I had to write an essay stating what is an ED nurse and why do I want to work for XYZ hospital, after the essays they will contact people for interviews, the interviews take place the last week in June.

Here comes the possible dilemma, the last week in June I am suppossed to be the camp nurse for my son's summer camp, which is 2.5 hours away from the hospital. I called and spoke with the interview coordinator about the days of the interview and if they could possibly do an over the phone interview or if selected to interview, do it a week earlier. She told me no, that the interviews are scheduled for those certain days because it is a group interview and that is when they have the group scheduled, also that they must be in person, so if you want the job it you must go in person, that they couldn't bend the rules for me, then they would have to do it for everyone. The only thing that she could do for me, is if I get my essay into her first and they aprove my essay then she could schedule me first.

So if they don't like my essay and I am not asked to interview no dilemma, but if I do get asked to interview I am not sure what I can do, I need to be at the camp, of course as soon as I get word that I have an interview then I plan on calling the camp to see if there is any way I could be gone for 6 - 7 hours. It is a non-profit camp and the nurses bascially volunteer a week of their time, so maybe another nurse for an up coming week could come in for a few hours :confused: I really dont know. I would hate to loose out on an interview for my dream job:crying2:because I can not be in 2 places at once.

Has anyone ever been in a situation like this before and what ended up happening?

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Specializes in Home Care.

If you really want that ED position I guess you're going to have to make sure you are available to interview.

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Give the camp as much notice as possible so they can seek out other options for the time you won't be there.

While it's good to honor your commitments, in this case you have a commitment to provide for your family the best way you know how that conflicts with a volunteer commitment made in good faith before you knew about the job possibility.

I suggest leveling with the camp folks and trying together to brainstorm a solution.

Best wishes with all of it.

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If this is what you want, and it sounds like it is, I would be finding someone to fill in for you at your son's summer camp. As soon as possible, too. You can also do the whole "Hey, if you need to get away for a day, we can swap" sort of thing. In any case, I would not miss the opportunity to interview.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

What I am wondering is, should I call the camp tomorrow and give them a heads up without knowing if I have an interview or not, the hospital said that they would be contacting for interviews by June 10th, I would hate to make the camp worry, if it turns out that I dont get an interview, or call them as soon as I have an interview scheduled.

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What I am wondering is, should I call the camp tomorrow and give them a heads up without knowing if I have an interview or not, the hospital said that they would be contacting for interviews by June 10th, I would hate to make the camp worry, if it turns out that I dont get an interview, or call them as soon as I have an interview scheduled.

Let the camp know. I "filled" in one year for someone with an outside obligation for a few hours...

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What I am wondering is, should I call the camp tomorrow and give them a heads up without knowing if I have an interview or not, the hospital said that they would be contacting for interviews by June 10th, I would hate to make the camp worry, if it turns out that I dont get an interview, or call them as soon as I have an interview scheduled.

The more notice the camp has, the greater the number of options they have to work things out. Let them know this is tentative and that you will tell them as soon as you know something for sure. June 10th is a Friday. If you haven't heard anything by then, I'd call on Monday or Tuesday to find out if they have notified everyone they are interested in. You don't want to call the camp and say, "Don't worry about it," and then get called Monday afternoon.

If you don't communicate, you are the one who is going to worry.

This is real life. Things happen. You actually show more respect for the camp folks by calling and telling them the situation early than trying not to worry them and keeping it under your hat while the possibilities for handling the situation dwindle.

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contact the camp and see if you can switch a whole week?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Okay, I called the camp and left a message that I needed to talk with the coordinator and I sent him a detailed email explaining what may or may not happen.

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lmb: suggestion on your essay-- have somebody proof it for you for spelling and usage errors. i see a number of problems there. as to the camp, let them know now that this may happen, and offer to help find coverage for that day. worst that can happen is that you don't get called for the interview day and you have a day off from camp, or you call your coverage and s/he has a day off from camp! good luck.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

The hospital called, last Friday and I have an interview scheduled!!! Was able to get in contact with the camp and they are very supportive and will work with me. The coordinator said he has a list of people that he is going to be calling to stand in for me.

So now I need to get ready for the interview!!!

The hospital said that before the interview I would have to take a test to see where I am at clinically and then a panal interview.

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Glad you were up front with everyone. Hope you do a stellar job and impress the heck out of them. And have fun at camp. :up:

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