References

[wincha]

I have just found out the policy of my hospital is to just verify employment thats all. I put 2 managers down as references as I have worked for this hospital for 15 years. I would hope just seeing that I have worked for this hospital for 15 years will be good enough for any future jobs. One job asked for a coworker so I gave that phone number. Is this the way hospitals are now? What can they do for references?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

This is the way many places have gone due to fear of lawsuits by disgruntled former employees. HIPAA might have something to do with it also. What you have to do is decide who will give you a good reference and ask them personally if they are willing to do that for you. Then, you need to get their home address and phone number where a prospective employer can contact them. Most hospital personnel offices tell prospective employers who are looking for references that they are not permitted to give out any information other than date of hire and termination and your job title. If you worked at one place for 15 years, surely you made some friendships with colleagues who would be willing to testify to your nursing abilities for you.

[mtngrl, ASN, RN]

Does anyone else think having personal references is stupid?? I mean, I always put down my best friends and usually one of them is a fellow nurse I knew in nursing school. Of course they are going to say nice things! Who would say something bad??? So what is really the point of checking personal references when they know darn well you only put down people who love you! I have just always wondered that.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Good point. Like I'm not going to put down someone that I had the smallest disagreement with either.