So... have I burned my bridges with this hospital or can I recover?

[Spikey9001]

Long story, about a year ago, I had applied to over 20 positions (housekeeping, food service, etc...) at the hospital only to get rejection after rejection. So I called up there and was frankly frustrated and wanted to know what was it about me that said "do not hire this dude." They basically told me that I had a "jumpy" work history which basically consisted of just big box retail jobs. I then refuted with the fact that I KNOW people that have significant less work history than me and still get hired. Either way, the conversation had an "angry" tone to it.

I was upset but hey, at the time (and now) I didn't have a job or that much money and was in desperate need of both... so that only helped the frustration.

Well, I just called today to ask about a position I had applied for and they basically told me that they still remember that and it's a "black mark" against me.

Now the thing is that I start the nursing program for my school next week. Each summer, this hospital offers a summer internship for RN positions. This position is contingent on letters of recommendation, GPA, and academic accomplishments... as well as good references etc... Also, if you do get this position, they'll pay off all your tuition in exchange for 2 years of work.

Provided I do really good and get all the above accomplished, do you think they'll reconsider me for a summer internship as a nurse in the hospital?

Some facts.

-I don't have a car to travel around to find jobs so easily.

-I don't have any medical experience as of yet.

-Oh yeah, the hospital is literally a stones throw away from the college and I like an hour walk from my house or 10 minute drive by car/bus.

[rnlately]

At our hospital nursing applicants are routed through the nurse recruiter and then the nurse manager. At best, like someone else said, make nice with the nurse managers because they make the ultimate decision to hire or not to hire. HR or the nurse recruiter will only finalize the paperwork.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Even if they looked at your application next to some one with a slightly GPA, experience, ect, as a new grad; if they interview well they will get the job over you with that black mark. Like it or not, people will often get a job with charming personality over some one with a little more experience. They want the nurses to get along well in their units, it help with retention; and they see you as a threat. As a new grad they figure they can train the charming personality applicant to be just a good as you, but then they have some one that does not have a bad personality.

Like others said, your only hope might be to impress the department manager; she might be your only in.

But you have to ask: Are you sure you want to work for a hospital that has a black mark on your record? How are they going to treat you? They could take advantage of you know that you were always hired only after an exception was made.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Go in there and impress the nurses/managers. If you do then they can easily over-ride HR.

However, I would do an apology card to HR explaing briefly how frustated you were, but stsating that is no excuse and you have learned an important lesson and please give you a fresh start.....accompanied by some REALLY good cookies.....:smokin:

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Several issues:

HR has a very ugly job, especially these days. The lowest ones in the office (the secretary or assistant) takes the brunt of every disappointed job seeker/job holder/job loser for a company. Trust me, it ain't pretty. They also do not get paid well and often have little control over the overall situation. In other words, they are often blamed or mistreated for things that they are not responsible for.....much like nurses.

When I worked as an officer manager/first assistance, my boss often asked how an applicant presented themselves to me. They see how an applicant treats the front line person as a major aspect of how they deal with those "beneath them".

It is a hard workplace out there and alot of stressed out people job hunting. Many decisions get made that do not seem fair, and many will not be fair - that unfortunately is life. The more you argue, the lower you fall. And people talk and you rep can follow you to different locales/depts. Remeber this in your interactions with others.

It is highly unlikily that the person that you lost your temper with, had any "fault" or control over whether you got hired. And arguing over who was better and who got the promotion or the job gets you NO WHERE. Please remember that for the furure.

[maxthecat]

Sorry, that black mark is there and it's part of your permanent record, so there's no forgetting. I agree with the folks who say your best hope would be to score points with the managers of various units and get hired by going around HR.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Ok, there's a lot of mixed responses saying write a letter and others saying don't say jack and just go into clinicals and try my best to impress the nursing staff/management.

Thanks for all the advice, I'll loom over all of this and let you guys know what I'm going to do.