Waitlist for job

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Hello all!!

I am a newly graduated male nurse who passed their boards. I do have a wonderful job on a orthopedic floor at a decent size hospital. I like what I do but I do not see myself as an orthopedic nurse for long... I love working with children. I have been looking for new job opportunities. I recently have interviewed and shadowed for a position in the NICU at another hospital. The manager said that they would be offering me a job and I would just have to wait for HR to contact me. However after three weeks of waiting I found out that I have been put on a waitlist for the job. What does this mean? Do I still have a job offer? Should I continue to look for other opportunities? What should I do?

Any advice would help!!

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While better than an outright rejection, I would continue with the job search. If they come through for you before you get another offer, no harm, no foul.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

If you really want to change, keep looking because

1) the job hasn't opened up yet; or

2) there's someone (or more) ahead of you.

Sometimes it does take time for your kind of situation to work out. And your discussion with that manager may have been a bit premature as that person may not have the sole authority to be offering a job. So unless you have a concrete offer in writing ...

Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

This is not an uncommon situation for popular units - where everyone wants to work. These environments usually have very low turnover & when an opening occurs, there is literally, a line of qualified applicants available to fill it. Traditionally, NICU is an area (along with Peri-Op) in which this is often found.

Be patient

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

If you are reasonably happy where you are ... but really want that NICU job ... I would be patient and wait before accepting a position that is not in your ideal specialty. But I also recommend looking around to see if another really attractive job might be available now.

In other words, don't take "just any job" to get out of where you are now. Only take another job if it is at least as desirable as the NICU job you are in line for.

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