Small Town Politics (rant)

[a_crftyldy]

I am so fed up with small town politics right now, I'm ready to scream.

Several years ago, my family and I moved to a small community (population is apprx. 50,000). Unfortunately, the majority of the people in this community where either born here, or have lived here long enough to be a part of it all. I just recently graduated from our local college's nursing program and am now trying to get a job. So far, I've applied at the hospital and the local medical center and have been turned down by both (they claim it's a lack of experience, but several of my classmates have gotten positions there with no experience either). From what I've seen and been told, it's more a matter of WHO you know rather than WHAT you know.

For example, at the medical center I recently applied at, the human resource director asked me during my interview who I knew that worked there. Well, I knew several of my classmates who had gotten hired there and mentioned them. Come to find out, one of the woman I went to school with and works there is good friends with the director of human resources (from his own words!). Then, at the end of the interview, he said he would talk with these people and see what they have to say about me. Now, I was unfortunate to have one of those classes that had a lot of cliques, none of which I really fit in with. Everyone in my class either grew up around here or knew everyone else before we started the program (with the exception of a few others like me who were also treated as outcasts).

The job interview went very well and was told that the supervisor hiring for the dept I wanted to go into was out of town at the moment and wouldn't be back till today. I was told to basically wait until she got back, yet received a rejection letter last Friday :angryfire . So now I'm left wondering what the heck was said about me.

Worst of all is that there is bad blood between me and the director of the nursing program at the college because of an incident that happened over a grade (trust me, it's a loooooong story, pm me if you want to hear it). My husband and I can't help but wonder if this doesn't have something to do with all of this.

I'm angry because I went through three years of school, put myself in debt with student loans, and am now having a hard time getting a job. I have my RN license but it doesn't seem to be doing me any good. I don't want to have to move but if that's what it's going to take to get a job I guess we'll have to.

Anybody else ever experience this? Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks for letting me rant.

[mattsmom81]

I grew up in a city of 100K and it was much like this too. It was not what you know but who you know. I was glad to get away from it personally. Big city life has its advantages.

Glad you got the nursing home job and hope it works out for you.

[purplesdk]

I too live in a small town (pop. 6,000) where everyone knows everyone. I too am considered an outsider of sorts (only lived in my town for 15 years):chair: , but am married to a hometown boy. I worked in the local hospital for 10 months when they fired me for whatever reason (politics).:angryfire It took me 9 months to find work. I drive 38 miles one way to another small town (pop. 4,000) and work in a LTC facility. I love it there. They have made me a part of their family (besides they need the nurse body count.HA_HA_HA):rotfl: Seriously, they are good people. During a very rough time in my life (hubby diagnosed with CHF), I had to take a leave for 8 weeks to be with hubby at a large town hospital (otherwise I would have no hubby now). When I came back to work, I was only able to come back part time and only on weekends. They found me work. The other place would have fired me on the spot (oh wait, they already did).:chuckle

50,000 pop. does not sound like a small town to me.

Try looking in towns close by and commute. It is not that bad. Stay away from big hospitals. You are just a number there, not a person.:stone

If at interviews they ask if you know anyone there say "No". Give different references on your applications (only people you trust and know well), do not give your School's director's name. :angryfire That director may not even be there any more. If she is the one holding everything back, be safe, do not put her down as a reference. Get letters of recommendation from instructors that you enjoyed and had a good repore. (be sure to make several copies of these letters, you will need them later when you least expect that you will).

Good luck in your job hunt. I know it is frustrating. I've been there too. Pray a whole lot. Don't worry about it, and give it all up to GOD. (or whoever you pray to). There is a saying. "Let go and let GOD.". As soon as I practiced that everything fell into place. I do not get paid as much as I used too, but that is ok, I like where I work, and they seem to like me, and they all have asked when I will be comming back to work full time, and that they hope it will be soon.

KEEP YOUR CHIN UP AND GIVE IT UP. It will happen. You did not work that hard in school for nothing. You just haven't found the right place yet. You will. If I can/did, you will too.

[purplesdk]

Great! I left a reply before noticing you had found work. Oh well. Congradulations.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

From my point of view in my town of 128, Fifty thousand souls is a metropolis!

My town has no stop light , 1 gas station and a closed post office. The next little town has a grocery, 3 gas stations, 4 doctors, 2 dentists, 1 pharmacy one florist and 1 ostrich farm.....along with horses, cows, sheep, goats and CHICKEN houses EVERYWHERE!

Anyway yes there is small town mentality. I've been married to the home town boy for 39 years and I'm still a relative newcomer. But the local doc gave me a job, and I stayed there 7 years. He convinced me to finish my RN. I made so little money it would make you gag. But I got a lifetime of learning at the side of a real teaching physician. I went back to the university I had left 3 years before and finished dean's list, president's list all As. There are certain families who have "social status", but they are just as likely to sit next to you in church, be in your garden club or Eastern Star Chapter.

You know what they say if a shoe doesn't fit, toss it. You weren't meant to be in the clique-otel. Be thankful. Congrats on the job you did get. Next new peerson will certainly benefit from you taking her under a wing for support.

[purplesdk]

P RN

Thanks for your post. I like to think that I will NOT be like some of the nurses I've worked with in the past (you know, the ones who 'Eat their young'). I will remember the generosity of the place where I work now. I do not care how much I make in salary. That is not important to me. The people I work with and the patients/recidents are the important points (especially the patients/recidents). The facility helped me out in my time of need on more than one occation. They have earned my loyalty thus far. Even if I eventually get another job someplace else, I will still work for them at least on an on call basis. For now, I am happy being able to work there part time, and eventually return to a full time position. (Family's health permitting).

[mattsmom81]

Glad to hear you have found another position and hope it works out for ya! :)