Looking for a new job....

I have been working in LTC for about 7 months. I love my residents but I'm tired of all the problems at my facility. It is impossible to do everything in a 8 hour shift when we have up to 25 residents on a skilled nursing unit. I know many areas of nursing are difficult but I'm ready for something new. My question is who do I put down for a contact at my current job when I am filling out applications. DON, HR, nursing supervisor? I don't really want my DON to know I am looking for another job because I feel she may be upset (quite a few people are leaving). And if I put my nursing supervisor how will they get in contact with her during the day? She works 3-11. Could I put her cell phone # down? I would rather just be upfront with my boss about looking for another job but we all know how people can be. My mom said I shouldn't worry too much about it because they probably won't call unless they are really interested in hiring me anyway.
I would put the DON's name down. Just continue to be courteous, professional, and open. Good luck.

If possible, when you fill out online applications, check the "NO" box if asked whether they can call your current employer. You should not tell anyone at work that you are looking for a job elsewhere. If you spend time reading posts on this board, you'll find that your current employer might: fire you, treat you poorly, give you a poor reference.

Onaclearday, I am in the same boat as prinsessa. When I am filing out applications, they are telling me to put my supervisors name and number for reference. Than it ask can they call them "Yes" or "NO". I feel that if I put no than there are chances they will not hire me. Is this true because I do not want to put my superviors name as a reference and they end up calling him and give me a bad reference, which will be totally unfair!! Please anybody tell me your thoughts on this....Thanks!!

I always say no. My rationale is that no matter how well-liked you think you are at your current workplace, you will be forcing them to have to find someone to replace you. Tough! But, you have to know that they just see this as you dumping on them. Remember people don't like a person who finds a way out of Hell and leaves them behind, especially in nursing! I am a second career nurse, I have worked with people from many different professions and I have never seen the type of nasty retaliatory atmosphere that I see in nursing. I step back and always need to remind myself that I work with a large percentage of people who are just plain hairpin crazy LOL!!! (but true). I try and think what they might do if they should get angry with me, then I chart my course of action to avoid that where possible!!

WOW, onaclearday, I just may have screwed myself out of 3 good jobs that I did list my supervisor and said yes to contact him for a reference (didn't know what else to do, thought it was the right thing to do). He is not on my good list right now and I am not on his and my job is not even in nursing right now but I am trying to find an LPN position. OMG, I pray they don't call him. I thought it was illegal for a manager/supervisor to do such a thing to an employee. Where I am is "HELL" and I am trying really hard and will take just about any nursing job, well not exactly any nursing job but I am looking towards clinics right now. Thank you for your information onaclearday!!!

Well, like anything, sometimes you just have to feel your way through it and decide what seems right for you at that time. You never really know what people are gonna do when it gets down to it.

Quote from NurseLil-leaI thought it was illegal for a manager/supervisor to do such a thing to an employee.

Thanks everyone! Has anyone ever asked why they can't contact your current employer?