To email or not to email the NM, that is the question.

[blah_blah_blah]

So I have seen nurses seeking jobs on this site asking if they should email the nurse manager of the floor that they applied to or that is hiring.

Given that the candidate has actually filled out the appropriate application online, how do you guys feel about candidates sending the nurse manager of that unit an email?

yay or nay? why or why not?

Would you opt for an email or a phone call if given the choice?

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

it won't hurt to try it

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

An email would probably go over a lot better than ambushing her/him with a floor visit. I'd try it, you'd have nothing to lose. But I'd also just send the one email and that's it. If they're interested, they'll write back. Otherwise, repeated e-mails from you will be more pesky than fruitful.

[Jules A, MSN]

I'd email once but my preferred approach is to get an introduction from someone who works on the unit. Its not all that hard to find someone who knows someone who will set up a brief intro in my experience and having an "in" can open the door.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I emailed the manager and it allowed me to schedule an interview the next day (and I got the job). A lot of people applied for this job so I know the email helped this new grad out. I would only email one time.

[blah_blah_blah]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I have heard mixed reviews through reading other posts. What really shocked me and caught me off guard was when some people brought up that some NM's do not like to be contacted by outside candidates (which I understand, but I do not see the harm in one email, however multiple emails/calls and showing up on the unit is unacceptable) and may even not hire them because they dislike when candidates try to "jump in line" and email them without going by the book and applying through the proper channels.

I have just decided to send the NM of the unit that I applied to an email. I have a friend from NS that works with her that is going to put in a good word for me. Hopefully this time I'll at least get a call!

Keep the responses coming!

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I emailed a former manager to give a friend a recomendation for employment. She emailed me back and said she would have HR pull his profile. He had an interview and offer of employment before the end of the following week.

If you have a friend working within the facility, I would ask him or her to do the same for you.

[blah_blah_blah]

I emailed a former manager to give a friend a recomendation for employment. She emailed me back and said she would have HR pull his profile. He had an interview and offer of employment before the end of the following week.

If you have a friend working within the facility, I would ask him or her to do the same for you.

It's great to see that managers and HR take referrals from employees/former employees in good standing seriously. My friend from school told me that when she works next that she'll tell the unit manager about me so needless to say i'm excited =]

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

It's great to see that managers and HR take referrals from employees/former employees in good standing seriously. My friend from school told me that when she works next that she'll tell the unit manager about me so needless to say i'm excited =]

I had left tnat position four years ago, and was working on the other coast, but I had my former manager's email address in a folder. It is a really good idea to have a system of saving your colleagues contact information.

[blah_blah_blah]

I had left tnat position four years ago, and was working on the other coast, but I had my former manager's email address in a folder. It is a really good idea to have a system of saving your colleagues contact information.

I'll definitely keep that in mind as I begin my career! You must be one awesome nurse if you former manager from 4 years ago took your referral seriously. Thanks for the advice!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I have heard mixed reviews through reading other posts. What really shocked me and caught me off guard was when some people brought up that some NM's do not like to be contacted by outside candidates (which I understand, but I do not see the harm in one email, however multiple emails/calls and showing up on the unit is unacceptable) and may even not hire them because they dislike when candidates try to "jump in line" and email them without going by the book and applying through the proper channels.

That is because in some cases, that is TRUE. A lot of facilities frown upon applicants who circumvent the hiring process by skipping the website/HR and instead ambushing NMs in person/by phone/by e-mail. Some places do automatically disqualify such applicants for doing that. That's why for anyone who asks about whether they should visit a unit/NM in person, I tell them that it's not without risk. It may go over well...or it may not...

That being said, I also don't see the harm in sending one well-worded email, especially if you can mention your friend by name in it so the NM sees it's not a message coming from some random person but someone that knows a specific employee. But again, keep it to ONE e-mail--I wouldn't do a follow-up message because you have your friend going to put in that word for you. If NM doesn't write or call after you send her the message, then consider that to mean "it's probably not going to happen" and move on.

Best of luck.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

You can send one email, more than that and the manager may be rolling her eyes. Our manager will respond with a sent a note to HR about your inquiry, but our HR is notoriously awful about pulling apps, etc.