Should I disclose my current job to interviewer?

[CA_new_grad, RN]

I recently got a job on a med-surg unit at a hospital that is pretty far away from my house (a little over 2 hours). Because I was a new grad and in desperate need to repay my loans, I took the first opportunity that came.

I have only been working for a week and I heard back from a local community hospital in my home city. They want me to come in for an interview.

My question at this time is: Do I disclose that I am currently hired somewhere to the interviewer during the interview?

I have heard different opinions about this. Some people have told me to be transparent and tell the truth. I want to do this because it allows me to work at my current job as I am getting my background check and etc. done with the new hospital without having to worry about them objecting me doing so.

I have also heard, however, that I should not disclose this information because it may hinder my chances of landing this job.

Being 2 hours away from home has been tough and I will continue until I do not land a job closer to home, but I don't know how I would go about this issue since this is my first paid work experience as an RN.

Any help would be appreciated!

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

People talk and 2 hours away isn't that far away when it comes to the small community of nursing...heck, go 2 hours away here and you're still part of the same hospital network! See what I mean? So, folks from the community hospital could very easily figure out that you were working at med surg 2 hours away and didn't tell the truth.

[CA_new_grad, RN]

29 minutes ago, River&MountainRN said:

People talk and 2 hours away isn't that far away when it comes to the small community of nursing...heck, go 2 hours away here and you're still part of the same hospital network! See what I mean? So, folks from the community hospital could very easily figure out that you were working at med surg 2 hours away and didn't tell the truth.

How do you recommend I go about it? I don't want to be secretive but I also don't want them to to not give me a chance because of my situation.

[crazin01]

Most interviewers will ask when you would be able to start employment with them. And they are used to hearing you'll need to give a 2 week notice to current employer.

Being a new grad and only there for a week, they may not even ask for the normal 2 weeks and may just say to not come back, since it's only a week. I would most definitely ensure you have the new job, before giving notice to current, just in case they boot you out the door then & there.

I'm not sure how being honest in the interview would hinder your chances with the more local employer.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

Nursing is a small world. Especially within some specialties (ex for those of us in the OR - everyone knows someone who knows this other person (or knows someone who does).

I would be honest. I'd be surprised if there isn't a statement that says something along the lines that failure to disclose relevant information is considered falsification of your application and punishable up to/including termination. VERY common in most community hospitals and health systems. While you CAN explain that the information about your employment at Health System A may not have existed at the time you submitted your application to Health System B...completely omitting it and hoping for the best would suck.

PS - I completed a MSN program within the last year. Someone from EVERY health system in a three state region was in my classes. Even outside of specialties that are so small/everyone knows everyone, it is possible for this to backfire on you if you are not transparent.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

There's no reason not to disclose your employment status. Oddly enough it seems to be easier to get a job when you already have a job. A perfect time to bring it up casually is when you are asked the question "when would you be available to start?" At that time simply mention you would need two weeks to give your current employer proper notice. They might then ask why you are leaving your current employ and the easiest truthful answer is you are looking for a position with a shorter commute. Whatever you do don't badmouth your current employer in any way during the interview and this should be a relative nonissue.

ETA: I see this post was from a couple of weeks ago. If you already had that interview I hope it went well!

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

As others have stated, best to be honest.

One thing to be sure though is that you definitely aren’t willing to move closer to your current employer to keep the job you just started. Leaving after such a short period could land you on a do not rehire list for that entire organization if it doesn’t sit well with whom you give your resignation. As well as what was already mentioned by someone else, if your still training, they might just let you go on the spot and not allow you to full fill your two week notice.

I cannot see making a 2 hour commute each way everyday. That is a lot of windshield time, gas, car wear and tear, and with the long hours of nursing and shifts back to back is a recipe for disaster. I’m assuming you don’t have 12 hour shifts? Because that’s 16 hours a day! Not to mention many 12 hour shifts can turn into longer at times-I did 1hour each way at one time and made the choice of sleeping over eating dinner since I had to be up again in 7 hours. If you can’t move closer, then I can’t see you staying there long term. It will get tiresome.

[medic981, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

My first position out of nursing school was an hour and a half commute so I understand where you are coming from.

My caution to you is that hospitals are more and more becoming part of health systems. Do not burn your bridges.

A classmate of mine was hired by an HCA hospital after graduation. She came to disdain her manager and quite after months. She is now, so she says, blacklisted by HCA and can't even get an interview for a position at an HCA hospital.

If you didn't know, HCA is one of the largest health systems in the US. She didn't know it at the time. Just be careful about how you go about leaving your current employer no matter what job you have and try not to burn bridges as you go.