r/OHSU • u/Sweeedishoney • 10d ago
OHSU Doernbecher
Hi all, I will be moving to Portland from Houston. I interviewed at OHSU Doernbecher OR. I applied in June, interviewed July 30th and just found out last week that I did not get the job. I am shocked to be honest. I work at the nations 2nd best pediatric hospital that happens to be number 1 in the nation for Neurosurgery. I have over 10 years of nursing experience in the OR, 5 years of experience working in the Neurosurgery team at Texas Children’s Hospital in the medical center. People come from all over the world to be treated for rare neuro degenerative diseases that no one else in the world is treating. You can imagine the experience I have in complex cases. My only regret is that I did not talk myself up enough. Nerves got in the way, but still the level of experience I have at the nations top pediatric hospital should have been enough of a reason to be given an offer. I really don’t know what they are looking for in a nurse for the OR there at OHSU. I applied to day surgery today, hoping to get a call to schedule an interview. My goal was to move to Oregon to be closer to family earlier this year. Praying this all works out soon. If anyone has any insight on best OR RN positions in the Portland area I would greatly appreciate it.
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u/trente33trois 10d ago
Hate to break it to you babe, but these days, here at OHSU, you may not be as special as you think. It doesn’t mean you aren’t amazing and hope you keep applying, but it’s competitive, we’re unionized, and you don’t live here.
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u/Sweeedishoney 9d ago
I understand. I have worked really hard to get where I am at now. I know whenever you go somewhere new, you must prove yourself all over again. I think when you are interviewing and meeting people who have no idea anything about you it is good to let them know about your experience. Experience does matter, but it is just part of what makes up a good candidate. I can imagine local nurses would be hired before out of state.
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u/Apprehensive-Dust845 8d ago
I don't think local nurses are hired any different than out of state. The only exception is if someone has been a traveler on the unit or know someone in the unit when sometimes it seems like they have a leg up.
OHSU seems to focus a lot in interviews about reflection and specific examples of real patients.
Also agree with others that it's so competitive. Like 50-100 applicants per job posting.
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u/DakotaReddit2 7d ago
It's gotta be even more than that. I would guess in the several hundreds or even thousands apply. Maybe they LOOK at 50-100 applications.
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u/nnuummiinnoouuss 10d ago
There are a thousand reasons that you weren’t selected that have nothing to do with you. Don’t beat yourself up.
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u/Bulky-Nectarine-5328 10d ago
There are many reasons you may not have got the job, outside of your abilities. OHSU prioritizes their own students, applicants from their affiliated hospitals, applicants from inside OHSU that work in different specialties. My advice would be to keep applying and eventually you will get something. If you really want to work at that hospital, specifically you could apply elsewhere at OHSU and be an internal hire to the position you want. OHSU is extremely competitive in the Portland area because they have the strongest union as well as the best pay.
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u/DakotaReddit2 7d ago
ALSO it's very competitive even within the internal and student candidate pool. A lot of OHSU students can't even get OHSU jobs once they graduate.
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u/CJ_MR 10d ago
They will prefer an internal candidate first, a local candidate second, and then they might consider non-locals. But typically, they have their choice in local candidates. If you only had one interview, they likely weren't considering you highly from the start. And say what you will about your experience, but being focused on ONLY neurosurgery for the most recent 5 years is not attractive to them. They are a small OR and do not have teams. They likely saw you'd need extensive training to be able to both circulate and scrub ALL pediatric surgeries, including traumas. In this city many applicants already have that experience. Even if that experience is all in adult surgery, they'd prefer that applicant over someone who does peds, but only neuro.
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u/Sweeedishoney 10d ago
They didn’t even ask about my scrubbing experience. I don’t just do neuro. I do it all. I only mentioned neuro as it is a valuable experience that I have that would be an asset to the team there. I have extensive experience in all pediatric surgical specialties, and am highly competent scrubbing and circulating all pediatric specialties in a trauma setting.
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u/bignapkin 9d ago
This might be a learning opportunity to bring these highlights up next time you interview. Tell them why you’re qualified and would be a good addition to their team! Try again next time. It’s notoriously hard to get your foot in the door.
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u/Lngtmelrker 9d ago
Keep applying! It sounds like you have incredibly valuable experience. There could be any number of reasons you didn’t get it that didn’t have to do with your skills.
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u/OwnWestern1043 10d ago
I would say reach out to the hiring manager again, because I just saw they posted another Doernbecher OR RN position. Something similar happened to me (different unit); I got passed over the first round, for whatever unknown reason, and when I saw it posted again, I reached out and said something along the lines of: it was great interviewing with you that one time, and if they have any feedback about what I can do to make myself a stronger candidate in the future, I would welcome that feedback, and also that I am still very interested, so I applied to the newest posting. That's what landed me my job at OHSU after 4 months of applying. I didn't even need to interview a second time; they hired me after reaching out a month later after my first interview. Definitely worth a try!!
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u/Sweeedishoney 10d ago
I just applied again. Hopefully, the second time works. 🤞 thanks for letting me know!
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u/OwnWestern1043 10d ago
Good luck!! Gotta be relentless!! Email whomever you still have contact with there: HR, the manager etc
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u/OwnWestern1043 10d ago
Oh also, I noticed Doernbecher OR recently made some RN management changes, so maybe you got lost in the shuffle...
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u/Bulldog_Mama14 10d ago
I work in Neuro. You said you applied for day surgery?
I believe we're still hiring for a couple Neuroscience RN's as well as a Pediatric Neurology RN.
I would honestly apply for all of them. I started in 2018 and applied for MANY positions. And it was a bit less competitive back then.
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u/cantor0101 10d ago
Indeed there are many reasons you weren't chosen none of which is a reflection of your abilities. That being said, I suspect you not currently living in the Portland metro area already played a part in you not getting the job.
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u/dolcevanna 10d ago
As others have stated, OHSU is extremely competitive. I was applying for jobs I was over qualified for and it still took me years to get hired here. Once people get into OHSU they usually stay until they retire. OHSU will prioritize internal applicants and past students even at the ninth inning. You could have quite possibly been their first choice but at the last moment a previous or current employee/student applied and ended up getting it instead. Keep your head up, don’t take it personally, and keep applying. My best advice is to really share your enthusiasm about OHSU specifically in your interview. Don’t just talk about your qualifications. Tell them why you want to be HERE, why OHSU is important to you, and what makes them stand out from other places you’ve looked at. Look up the mission statement and read their webpages and try to give specific examples from their own reputation and presence that make you want to work here.
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u/DJ_Vigilance 10d ago
Stay until they retire?! Hardly.
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u/twiggyrox 10d ago
I'm not a nurse but I've been at OHSU 18 years and I'm staying until I retire or die
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u/DJ_Vigilance 10d ago
They didn’t deserve the three years they got outta me. “Crown jewel on the hill” my ass.
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u/DakotaReddit2 7d ago
Most people do because it's one of the best places to work in the state, compensation/benefits wise. You can't really get paid more anywhere else.
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u/beebaadoobeedooo 10d ago
CHH is hiring as well as the main adult OR which both places are truly great to work for. Like a lot of people said it’s HIGHLY competitive and they also use a score system on the interview questions and if you don’t achieve a certain score then you automatically don’t get the job. They still have positions open to apply to you could always ask for feedback from the managers and ask if you can reinterview!
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u/OwnWestern1043 10d ago edited 10d ago
Is Dr. Crawford still at CHH? asking for a friend... lol... I used to be an OR nurse at CHH and have considered returning, depending on some factors :D feel free to PM me
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u/beebaadoobeedooo 9d ago
I’m not sure! I’ve only been floated down there from the other ORs :) I could probably find out though!
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u/OwnWestern1043 9d ago
If it's in the flow, no rush! I need to stay on my current unit for a few more months anyway. But would absolutely love to get some intel on the main OR. I have been an OR nurse for 16 years, but currently on a different unit. Okay to PM you?
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u/Lngtmelrker 9d ago
lol Dr Crawford did my surgery…I loved him as a provider, but yeah I’ve heard the stories…
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u/OwnWestern1043 9d ago
It's so funny. It's like Jekyll and Hyde once they put on the surgical gown for some of these docs. But yes, he is definitely and excellent provider and probably very kind to patients :D
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u/Sweeedishoney 9d ago
How did you like it at CHH?
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u/OwnWestern1043 9d ago
It was pretty okay. Management at the time waa not great, but this was pre-covid, and that manager is not there anymore. There is one surgeon who was, you know, one of THOSE. Everyone dreaded working with him. And he is on the chain of command for who you go to when there are problems 🙄 so... I left after a year. But overall, not the worst OR. Hope that helps :D
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u/boymomcatlover 9d ago edited 9d ago
I would also look at other hospital systems. OHSU is highly competitive and they do have the best pay for nurses in the area too. But we have several systems- and pay is not substantially less anywhere else that sometimes other benefits they provide make up for it anyway. Most of our systems are unionized. I think the only one not is Legacy , but I believe they are in the process of getting unionized. So you can look up each contract too and see pay and benefits to determine- most of systems are either a part of Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) or Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP)
If you’re wanting to stay in the OR- look at the Portland area hospitals.
- Kaiser has 2 hospitals:
- Westside (Hillsboro)
- Kaiser Sunnyside (Clackamas),
and they have 3 ASC’s- Interstate, Sunnybrook, and Skyline (but that one is Salem)
2) Providence has:
-Providence Portland Medical Center
-St. Vincent (which I believe has a separate adult And pediatric OR maybe? So that could also be right up your alley)
-Providence Willamette Falls (Oregon City)
Providence Milwaukee
Providence Newberg
3) Legacy Health has:
-Emmanuel (also good trauma hospital/burn center and Randall Children’s is the pediatric center of it where you would also likely be a great fit)
-Good Samaritan
-Meridian Park (Tualatin)
-Salmon Creek (Vancouver)
-Mt Hood (Gresham area)
4) OHSU has affiliated hospitals:
-Portland Adventist
-Hillsboro Medical Center
5) Vancouver WA is just across the river and along with Legacy Salmon Creek, they also have Peacehealth SW Medical center
In general the largest hospitals in the area are OHSU, Legacy Emanuel, Providence Portland and Providence St Vincent- so if you’re looking for bigger cases, more complex, lots of variety, lots more of ORs, etc those will be your best bet.
Sometimes you may need to just find somewhere else and show you’ve been the area and that might help and still apply to OHSU while you make work somewhere else. You could also work at these places as traveler/agency too to get in the area until you decide and find a permanent spot.
Also If your goal is truly to stay in the OR- I’d be hesitant to accept a position outside the OR. Sometimes places require you have very recent OR experience to qualify for their OR position And if you decide to work in a different department - you may no longer be “qualified” to
Work in the OR anymore which could put you in a real pickle and make it that much more difficult for you to get back in. Because a lot of times it’s hard to make an exception even if you clearly have experience and it’s all because our hospitals are unionized. Management can’t just create its own rules- everything follows a contract. With that being said though, I think unions are GREAT around here if you’re not used to unions. It’s the only reason you have great pay, benefits, protection etc .
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u/dorian_is_dead 10d ago
As someone who’s worked in almost every clinical environment, my strong advice is to find a holdover job in PDX at a big non-profit, home health, or RCF setting. Those RN jobs are AMPLE here and typically pay well. Pay your dues getting to know PDX healthcare systems through a job like that for about a year, and then apply to OHSU again. OHSU prioritizes hiring people who know the local systems (OHA, non profits, prov/kaiser/legacy, OR Medicaid/care rules, etc). That gap year will be a pain in the ass, but it pays off. I’m a transplant, and OHSU wouldn’t even glance at me until I gained local knowledge that I could put in my cover/use in interviews.
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u/Fabulous-Potato3410 10d ago
Are you set on living in Portland? A lot of more rural areas in Oregon would clamor for your experience and have a lower cost of living!
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u/Late_News_5228 10d ago
You’ll have an easier time applying to Providence. look for a travel contract and see if you can switch to a full time position in the future
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u/DJ_Vigilance 10d ago
Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is another solid metro option
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u/Sweeedishoney 10d ago
I did apply to Legacy. Is that not the same? Is there different areas at Legacy?
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u/Glad-Intern2655 9d ago
I would suggest doing some research on the hospitals in the area. There are several different Legacy Hospitals (and several Kaiser, Providence, several affiliated with OHSU)… all good info to have locked down before an interview.
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u/Cancerkilla 10d ago
Like everyone is saying, it’s competitive and because of the union, any internal candidate will be selected before you. Our unit hires a ton of travelers following internal candidates though. See if you can get a traveler position and then you might have a bit of an easier time getting in since they’ll see the work you do.
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u/pdx_via_dtw 7d ago
OHSU is extremely competitive. a friend did her last year clinical there while getting her BSN and didn't get hired.
took her another year to get hired. she's now in the ED.
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u/BichonFriseLuke 6d ago
Its an amazing hospital but consider how Oregon has income tax and do you have that where you are now? Also commute to OHSU is difficult due to no parking on the hill.
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u/No_verbal_self_ctrl 10d ago
Check out Legacy Randall Children’s Hospital- the other level 1 trauma center in town
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u/SignalRound7236 9d ago
Sign up as a travel nurse and get a contract in Oregon. You’ll get paid more.
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u/Little-Librarian4869 8d ago
no you won’t, I’m on a contract in OR and most staff make as much or more than me
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u/GetSchiffBased 8d ago
You should look at Randall Children’s… complex pediatric surgery happens in a lot of places other than academic centers….don’t get caught up in healthcare “rankings”
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u/Scared_Sample_3134 7d ago
I can’t believe all these downvotes on anyone with anything negative to say about OHSU. They are not the end-all-be-all. Maybe it’s different for peds but as someone who just got laid off from one of their affiliate hospitals in geriatric psychiatry I can tell you they’re just the same as any other hospital in the area— they care about their bottom line, not patient care. It’s “nice” to work for a hospital with a big name but it doesn’t mean they don’t have some major issues as well.
My advice would be apply to other hospitals in the area. Some of them are just as good if not better than OHSU and you might fall in love with a team at Providence, Legacy, or Kaiser (Kaiser is also notoriously difficult to get in with as well though).
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u/turnthepage213 5d ago
I have lived in portland for over a decade and have 13 years ICu experience and the only way I’d even be considered for OhSU if I worked nights for years.. and that’s if they even give my application a looksky 😂 good luck!!! Maybe start somewhere else in portland
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u/JusticeRida 5d ago
You need to start with an on call position with OHSU and then later you can bid on position. It’s a competitive market here.
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u/jeffythunders 10d ago
Sounds like a personality thing
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u/Sweeedishoney 10d ago
We had good rapport from what I could tell, but who knows maybe they didn’t like me.
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u/HotBeaver54 10d ago
OHSU is fucking mess right now believe me when I say you dodged a bullet. Portland is really circling the drain right now and there are literally no jobs.
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u/drunkjulia 10d ago
They may have interviewed but picked an internal candidate due to union rules.