Did I mess up my second interview??? (kinda long...)

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi all,

I am a recent grad (May 2015) and I passed my NCLEX in June. I have been working for hospital "X" as a nursing assistant for 2 1/2 years. Prior to passing the NCLEX I had contacted the nurse recruiter for hospital "X" to inquire about applying for position as an RN. After scheduling the NCLEX she met with me for interview #1 and it went well. She then scheduled me for a second interview with a nurse manager and said as long as everything goes well then I should start in August!

So: 2nd interview comes around. The nurse manager who interviewed me seemed pretty nice.....

We sat down in the conference room and she opened my file the nursing recruiter had given her and for some reason my resume was not included in the folder. She asked if I had a copy on me and I stupidly didn't bring one because I assumed the nurse recruiter put it in my file which was the case when I interviewed for hospital "X" the first time when I applied for the nursing assistant position 2 1/2 years ago. The nurse manager said it wasn't a big deal and we continued with the interview.

I felt that the interview went pretty well aside from a few questions. Some questions were "How do you feel about continuing education" and "How do you feel about certifications".

I said I'm definitely open to continuing education if my job called for it although I wasn't sure at this time when and in what I would continue my nursing education/go back for my masters. She said "its not about if the job calls for it, its kind of an expectation" almost in a rude tone. I said "well I am open to going back to school for my masters eventually." She then was saying how nurses are life-long learners as if I said something that made it seem like I wasn't interested in continuing my education? I responded by saying "I knew going into the nursing profession that nurses are life-long learners and continuing education is expected to always learn and keep on top of the changing medical profession etc..."

The next question was about certification. She literally asked "Do you know what certifications are?" Again in a rude way, as if I am a moron and don't know what certifications are. I said "Yes, I am aware of certifications." She said "how do you feel about certifications?" I told her I definitely plan on becoming certified in areas that relate to the field of nursing I go into which is hopefully cardiac (since hospital X is a cardiac hospital). She says "So you are saying you would only get certifications in something you are interested in?" again in a very rude tone and she had a confused look on her face when asking that. I said "Yes, well for example: if I am not on an oncology floor than there is no need to become a certified oncology nurse. I will get certifications that will allow me to better myself in the career field that I am in."

She also asked me if I attend nursing conferences...... I honestly said I haven't because I have just finished school and have been studying for the NCLEX but I plan on attending in the future.

Lastly, she asked what nursing journals I read.... again, as if I have HAD THE TIME to read nursing journals.... I just BS-ed and said I haven't been reading journals but I am very into the American Heart Association and now that I am done with school I plan on becoming a member of the AHA as I go onto their website and read articles often etc.....

At the very end of the interview she asked if I had any vacations planned and if I prefer day or night shifts, and then asked if I had any questions and after I asked her 2 questions: one of which was about what happens next/best way to follow up. She said "well we still have other applicants to go through and we still want to talk to the managers on your unit, then you will be hearing from nursing recruitment once we make our decision."

So after walking out of the conference room she joked and said "so I guess I don't need to show you out?" (since I work there already), we laughed and shook hands, I thanked her for taking the time to meet with me and that was it.

My red flags for this interview:

  • I didn't bring a copy of my resume (stupidly assumed the nursing recruiter would include it in the folder she gave the nurse manager, plus I had already gone over my resume with the recruiter but I should have taken it!!!!! UGH!)
  • The questions on continuing education, certifications, nursing journals and nursing conferences: I don't think she liked my answers.
  • The icing on the cake: When I went to work later that night and told one of the nurses on my unit the nurse manager who interviewed me, she told me that this manager is "the devil" and is a horrible mean person and that she is sorry for me and she will pray for me that I get the job (GEE THANKS THAT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT!)
  • ALSO: Another nurse told me that she was a nursing assistant at hospital "X" for 3 years and she interviewed with the same nurse manager and was rejected because the nurse manager claimed that "she was not enthusiastic enough about the nursing profession", so the nurse had to wait 6 months to re-apply.

This is making me crazy and I am thinking I failed this second interview miserably. I can totally see this nurse manager saying I am not enthusiastic about nursing because I don't read nursing journals or attend conferences or that I don't seem interested about continuing education (all BS...) To make matters worse I have to wait until July 16th to hear an answer because the nursing recruiter is on vacation until then. It makes me upset to think I didn't get this job, meanwhile I graduated with a 3.91GPA and had my current nurse manager endorse me along with references from two assistant nurse managers and two nurses on my unit. I also have BLS, ACLS, and feel as if I am MORE than qualified to work at this hospital especially after seeing some of the new grads they end up hiring.

As of right now I am considering this interview a loss especially after when the nurses on my unit told me about the manager who interviewed me. I feel like it is a shame to miss out on this job opportunity after working at hospital "X" for 2 1/2 years and having a good academic record as well as references from my own nurse managers/ANMs/RNs on my unit. After this interview I came home and sent out 20+ applications to other hospitals. Hospital "X" was my first choice, and it saddens me that it only takes one woman's opinion even after all the qualifications and references I had to ruin my chance although I can't help but feel I ruined this interview for myself.

Any thoughts??? Thanks :(

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Um...only thoughts are...that I wouldn't want to work for that manager and always always have a copy of your resume at the interview. A general rule in nursing is that you can only depend on yourself to be prepared. If somebody else helps you out, always check their work. Those questions were unfair questions for a new grad.

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Specializes in ER.

She sounds like a witch and I think you dodged a bullet.

Next time, give enthusiastic answers that you know they want to hear, like a politician running for office. "Are you interested in continuing education? " "Oh yes, I'm excited to continue expanding my knowledge base. I look forward to it!"

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Thanks for your responses!

I forgot to mention: another question she asked me was "Tell me: who has been your favorite manager on your unit?" (referring to the unit I work on as a nursing assistant.)............... honestly? That is a ridiculously inappropriate question. Who has been my favorite manager? Wow... I said "All my managers have been great, my current manager goes above and beyond and is always willing to help on the floor."

Ughh this job would have been ideal cause I would have started in just 3-4 weeks. Now I may have to wait months to hear back from other places. Wish me luck.... :(

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I know it would've been ideal to start soon & work at that hospital but from the sounds of things, why would you want her to be your boss? It would *not* have been ideal, it probably would've been hell. You got lucky by being able to be on the in & ask questions about her. Take it as a blessing if you don't get that job.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
I know it would've been ideal to start soon & work at that hospital but from the sounds of things, why would you want her to be your boss? It would *not* have been ideal, it probably would've been hell. You got lucky by being able to be on the in & ask questions about her. Take it as a blessing if you don't get that job.

Agree here. Use this interview as a learning experience. Something better will come along and you will nail the questions.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Also as far as the journal question - having been in research for many years prior to nursing I always read at least 1 abstract prior to interviewing as part of my prep. Usually something from the place I was interviewing. That may be s little different in nursing but something to think about.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

What a no-win. It sounds more like an attack than an interview. You may still get the job, though. And then I wouldn't know whether to say "Congrats" or "Good luck"...or "Run fast".

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As far as her having been my boss: She mentioned I was interviewing for the "whole hospital" and not for just her unit. When I told other people she said this they said it may be for the float pool or that after they decide to offer the job they tell you what floor you will be sent to (strange I know).

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
As far as her having been my boss: She mentioned I was interviewing for the "whole hospital" and not for just her unit. When I told other people she said this they said it may be for the float pool or that after they decide to offer the job they tell you what floor you will be sent to (strange I know).

Float pool as a new grad? Yikes. Well if you get a job & it's not on her unit that would be great. But if they offer you a position on her unit I would run & fast! You saw how she was in the interview, I wouldn't want to work with her.

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Yeah I am nervous about the float pool idea, this hospital just incorporated a float pool and I feel like the are trying to get more people into it. If I somehow get the job and it ends up being for solely her unit I will not accept the position.

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Some of the questions this manager asked are pretty standard. I've been asked the nursing journal one and the conference one many times. I don't read journals and I don't go to conferences, and I tell them so. I tell them that I prefer to use facility approved resources to get my CEU's so that I am practicing per the state's nursing act and per facility policy. Hasn't been an issue so far.

I think where you went wrong with the continuing education part was in assuming she meant another degree, when she probably meant CEUs (continuing education units, in case you aren't familiar). Depending on your state, it is a requirement to have a certain number of CEUs to renew your license. It is also an industry expectation that nurses keep their practice current by constant learning, as healthcare is ever changing. An example is the back and forth over inflating a Foley cath balloon before placement. Currently, the consensus is that testing the balloon can weaken it, that the balloon will never fully deflate once stretched, and that the newly stretched balloon can cause microtears that are a source for infection. (I'm just using this as an example in case you weren't aware, most new grads are taught to inflate the balloon.)

I think you recovered well on the certification question.

I do think it's odd that she was interviewing you for the whole hospital. Usually the second interview is unit specific. However, I guess if they have a new grad program, she could be interviewing you for all the new grad spots in the facility.

As far as not having a copy of your resumé with you, this is a common newbie mistake.

Here are my tips for interviewing:

1) Bring extra pens, a list of questions that you need answered, and five copies of your resumé. Why five? In case they like you so much they pull in nurses from the unit for an immediate panel interview.

2) Bring a notepad or scratch paper to write answers to your questions and any important info you need to know, such as the interviewer's name. They should give you a business card, but if they don't, make sure to get a phone number and email address.

3) Don't be afraid to take your time and think about the questions. I tell interviewers all the time, "Hmmm, that's an interesting question. Give me a minute to think about that." They're more impressed that you know you don't have a quick answer than they are by fumbling.

4) Good questions for a new grad to ask are a) how long will my orientation be b) what are my unit resources (charge nurse, educator, clinical manager, etc.) c) can my orientation be extended if I feel I need more time d) how will I be evaluated e) when will I be evaluated, and of course, what are my next steps.

Good luck! I hope you did get accepted and that you don't have to work for that person. She sounds kind of... off.

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