That one reference hold out...

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Specializes in Critical care.

I sent my references out last week, and out of five of them, four have been returned. The one who has not returned it is one I was worried I might have problems with. The reference is very nice and thinks highly of me, so I think she will give me a great review, but she's also flighty so it becomes a matter of getting her to turn it in.

I had the app "automatically" send a reminder email; she also told me she would have it done... by yesterday night.

I'm pretty sure this is the last thing holding up a decision/notification from the hospital, so what do I do? Should I call HR (and say what?)? Should I just leave it for another week or so? Should I see if I can swap her out for another reference?

Help please.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

How ridiculous to require 5 references. I would have someone else's information lined up and ready to send to HR if they request but in the meantime wait for them to contact you. As a professor and someone who works multiple jobs I frequently receive requests to give references and can say although I enjoy helping it can be a pita.

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Specializes in Critical care.
How ridiculous to require 5 references. I would have someone else's information lined up and ready to send to HR if they request but in the meantime wait for them to contact you. As a professor and someone who works multiple jobs I frequently receive requests to give references and can say although I enjoy helping it can be a pita.

Agreed that five references is a PITA and slightly ridiculous when most places require three. As the persron BEING referenced, I appreciate yours and others like you time you spend assisting in my job hunt!

I will sit back and be patient, I suppose! So hard to wait...

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Specializes in ICU.

The last couple of places I've gotten hired wanted five. One that I'm working PRN at now wanted five including TWO supervisors/managers. The people with the actual supervisor/manager roles (clinical unit leader, nurse manager) stated it was against company policy for them to give job references. I looked it up, and it actually was against policy. It took me more than a month and a half to go through my reference checking process at that company because of the "supervisor" requirement. I started using the charge nurses and asking them to file the references as "supervisor" but most of them forgot and put "peer" instead, so I had nine references actually fill out the form before I had the two supervisor references that I needed. It was awful.

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Specializes in Critical care.
The last couple of places I've gotten hired wanted five. One that I'm working PRN at now wanted five including TWO supervisors/managers. The people with the actual supervisor/manager roles (clinical unit leader, nurse manager) stated it was against company policy for them to give job references. I looked it up, and it actually was against policy. It took me more than a month and a half to go through my reference checking process at that company because of the "supervisor" requirement. I started using the charge nurses and asking them to file the references as "supervisor" but most of them forgot and put "peer" instead, so I had nine references actually fill out the form before I had the two supervisor references that I needed. It was awful.

Oh my gosh, what a nightmare! And what a horrible policy- how is anyone supposed to get a reference then?!

My happy news is that I finally heard back from this hospital today- and I got the job!!! I'll be working in the ICU. So excited!

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Specializes in ED, Behavioral Health, Home Health.

I often wonder how many places actually check refrences. It can be so frustrating to have to list so micj infoation for a job. I feel like it takes forever to complete an application and I end up not always completing the application for some places because I tell myself its not going to work out for one way or another. I have had some short term employme.t, have been fired from some jobs just because I didnt fit in w the staff. It is frustrating. Now, I want to get back into a hospital but am so scared they won't hire me because I habe done home care and clinic work. Also had a child and took on giardianship of my mother which was a daunting task to say the least. When you give your references out, how far back you go with the people that you put down for references. I know many advice website state to make sure to contact the reference before hand but I usually don't. And I never have had anyone contacted recently at least... But I don't apply to a lot of positons so thats on me...

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

I had to turn in 3 references and only one replied. It didn't hold up my hiring at all.

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