Visiting the Units: Appropriate?

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Hello AN!

I hear a lot online that a nurse should visit the unit they are interested in working in, and drop of a resume/ cover letter in person.

Isn't it inappropriate to just waltz into the ICU, mother/baby, etc unit you are interested in, approach the nurse's station, and ask for the manager? Especially when you are a stranger entering a place where patients need to be safe and their privacy respected? Wouldn't it break security to just let people unrelated to the patients' care/ hospital walk in and out of the unit?

Thank you :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Many of the critical care and mother-baby units are locked units so you would be hard pressed to gain access just to "drop by" to randomly meet the unit manager. Most facilities use online applications an fall applications it's be screened by HR before being forwarded to the unit manager for consideration. Trying to skip this step can cause automatic rejection as HR offices have various regulations to comply with. In years past dropping by unannounced was seen as a move that showed initiative. Now it may be considered rude, someone who thinks the hiring process does not apply to them/entitled

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Around here, it maybe the only way to get in...No one that I know of has gotten an interview by applying online. The only way any of my classmates have gotten interviews was by knowing a nurse on the floor and talking to the nurse manager or talking to the nurse manager themselves. The nurse manager then goes to HR and pulls their application. I myself haven't gotten the nerve to introduce myself to a nurse manager but at some hospitals it's the only way to get an interview.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I know that if you tried to get onto a psych unit, security would be escorting you out. In addition, if someone let you on the unit without the proper authorization, they may find themselves having to hunt for a new job as well.

Visiting units is a double-edged sword: for every person who had good luck doing this, there's two who found that going in person had no effect or--even worse--backfired in their face. It does help them put a face to an application and shows determination. And you may be the 50th person coming by to put their face to an application and they're downright tired of this. They may appreciate your moxie for being so assertive. Or they may wonder why you are unable to read such simple sentences as "Applications accepted online only."

I won't say "Yes, do it" or "No, don't do it" because you need to weigh the risk vs. benefit for yourself. If you insist on storming the Bastille, I have some guidelines that you may want to consider first.

1. Scope out their website. If everything says, "Apply online only," going in person may not go over too well.

2. Find out the name of the person on the unit that you're going to visit.

3. Dress as though you're going to an interview.

4. Bring resumes and envelopes (in case you need to leave the resume without meeting anyone).

5. Avoid going at the following times: an hour on either side of shift change, right at 9am, lunchtime (12ish), right at 5pm.

6. Remember that you are intruding uninvited on their workday. They may be happy to see you, they may be indifferent, or they may be less than thrilled. Don't expect them to grant an interview on-the-spot or even be able/willing to talk to you.

7. Whatever reaction you get from them, YOU remain polite and respectful at all times. Re-read #6 several times if you don't get it.

If you decide to do it, best of luck.

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It's totally inappropriate and impossible for most units! Besides, due to security measures you could NEVER "waltz into the ICU, mother/baby" units as these are high security areas and locked units (hello infant abductions!?! That's why RFID-enabled wristbands are placed on newborns and mom + dad have to wear ID and are "security cleared" whenever exiting/entering the unit).

If you didn't work on/ invest in networking as much as you worked on/invested in your studies then landing a job will take a little bit longer. All those nurses you viewed as "mean" or "rude" during your clinical rotations were actually just tired/overworked nurses and your best-friends/gateway to getting a job. This will all become more clear when you're working as a licensed nurse, trust me because I once felt the same way as you did but I learnt quickly how things work. If you didn't bother to form relationships with these nurses, they have NO incentive or responsibility to help you & do not owe you any favors. NONE whatsoever! That is, unless you get lucky and who knows you might!

The only way most nurses I know (RN or RPN) landed their jobs shortly after graduating & getting their license was via tenacious yet tactful networking or family connections. At least you have your RN degree... where I live it's not too difficult to get a job with the degree than us diploma nurses. I'm a diploma nurse and I work in a hospital, but I had to network like crazy to get where I am and things are still less than ideal for my preferences. My best advice is be willing to relocate because you'll stand a higher change at obtaining your "ideal" job. Also, most jobs will never leave the realm of internal postings. So makes friends with people who work in hospitals FAST to find out about internal job vacancies and have them speak to their manager. Or better yet, try to get a job as an unregulated care provider in a hospital and that helps to obtain access to internal job postings. That way, once you've passed your probationary period... if a nursing position becomes available then you just submit a dept. transfer application.

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Specializes in N/A.

Thanks for the post! I too thought it seemed odd that people suggest walking into a unit unannounced begging for a job. It seems kind of desperate to me and screams "I don't value patient privacy or your busy work day." I have worked as a non-nurse in healthcare for over 10 years and this practice of just walking up to a nurse manager and trying to sell yourself just seems off putting and wrong.

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Well I guess I disagree because where Im from the nurses on the unit tell grads that's its a good idea to visit the unit to speak with the managers. If you sit and do nothing you are relying on someone in HR or recruiting to get you an interview.

These people may very well be sending resumes for ppl they know and picking and choosing who they want to get hired. There are regulations that should be followed but I would highly doubt that what worked years ago is now a bad idea, that's just ridiculous and the hiring staff already knows that this is what some grads do, they network!

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I also used to teach a medical assisting program and that's the same thing that career services tell the grads, network and go inside instead of just sending a resume. You gota follow up and put a face with the resume to set yourself apart from the 1000's of other applicants. IJS

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