My interview at a Hospital with the lions

Nurses Job Hunt

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I had an interview at a Hospital this morning in Ga for one of their ICU units. Basically the interview went horrible and I was ripped to shreds from the moment they walked in through the door. I was interviewed by two nurses and the director. I went to shake their hand one of the RNs did not even extend to shake my hand upon greeting. The entire interview process made me feel horrible.

My background: I graduated from nursing school with my BSN July 2012. I was an extern (float nurse's aide) from December 2010-last October 2012. I have one year experience as an RN on a med surg ortho/spine surgical unit in a level two trauma hospital. I am chair of shared governance on my floor, and I have also charged quite a few times on my unit.

They told me verbatim that "I have no experience". They implied to me that if I get a job here I need to know how to access a patient which offended me because I felt like they were basically telling me I don't know how to assess a patient which is something all nurses do. They asked me if I had any experience with central lines and foleys. They laughed in my face when I told them my hospital I currently work at has an IV team.

At times I would answer questions they cut me off and even re asked the same question which led me to believe that they were not interested to begin with. I would have personally preferred to receive an automated rejection response from HR than to sit in an interview for 30 minutes and be hazed and asked do I know what I'm getting myself into by coming to work here.

The hospital looked nice on the inside and I really feel bad because I want to learn and grow as a nurse and this is the best hospital to be at. However, I felt degraded and as though I haven't accomplished anything at all. The unit director asked me what was our patient satisfaction scores on the unit I work for. I actually don't know that answer but I know it is accessible to the public if she was curious. I thought the interview was about me not the unit I work for???

The unit director then left in the middle of the interview and let the other two nurses finish. Where is nursing going these days? Why are people so rude? If I met the qualifications for applying for the job and I was offered the interview why was it necessary to bring me in to humiliate me?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Holy Smoke!!! THANK GOD!!!!! They showed their colors in the interview!!!!

Could you imagine getting the position and having to work with these people? I would rather stab myself in the eye!!!!

That was a close call...they could have been your co-workers....:banghead: your guardian angel was looking out for you!!!

Celebrate your near miss and move forward....((HUGS))

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

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Screw that! If I was being put into a situation like that I would have gotten up and left. IF the interview is like that, think what working there is like?!

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

They treated me like that when I went to Grady Nursing School (back when there was such a thing). Lowered my confidence so much that I didn't go back to school for years. I'm a happy BSN now though. Be glad of your good luck in not being hired. You sound like an awesome nurse with great qualifications.

PS You should have replied "why no...what is a foley anyway? I've heard of them and always wondered".

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Just be glad they showed their true colors during the interview like Esme said.

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If the interview made you feel "horrible" you'd never make it working there. Especially in the ICUs. Staff there is NOT warm and fuzzy. They know their stuff and if you're in a trauma somewhere in the state, you're going to be lucky if you end up there. But warm and fuzzy is not their culture.

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Maybe Johnson and Johnson will want to come to that hospital to shoot some video for their Discover Nursing campaign. What a great recruitment tool for our profession! Ha ha ha! Wow, seriously, that's pretty unbelievable. You should send them a pamphlet for a remedial reading course since they apparently struggled with reading comprehension when they had your resume in hand before THEY DECIDED to call you in for an interview. Wow.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

That is appalling. One can be an exceptional nurse/clinician and still have good manners. If their culture really is a stoic and harsh one, this may have been a tactic to weed out those who aren't able to survive or thrive in that environment. I think that would rule out the majority of nurses who are still young in their practice, which may be no accident. I am sorry you had to go through that. Remember, their behavior is a reflection of them, not you.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
If the interview made you feel "horrible" you'd never make it working there. Especially in the ICUs. Staff there is NOT warm and fuzzy. They know their stuff and if you're in a trauma somewhere in the state, you're going to be lucky if you end up there. But warm and fuzzy is not their culture.

Wow... well, I'd never make it there, that's for darn sure. That interview would have made ME feel like crap, and I've been a nurse for ten years.

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A little pressure and you balk. I notice you have a lot of "I am this or am that...". I applaud you. It is always good to recognize your efforts, but also recognize that in a different situations, those skills might mean zit. It takes humility to recognize that. Sadly, not everyone has that.

Why be so quick at taking offense? And another suggestion, be better assertive. Assertive does not mean being rude, it means standing up for yourself (even if you are seething on the inside).

Learn from the experience- take what matters and discard the rest. Success in your next step:).

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Evidently this is not "the best hospital to be at". I've noted that the bigger they are , the nastier they are. You can learn in any setting.

You're best avenue in that situation ( I know 20- 20 hindsight) would have been to mirror their behavior. They were seeing if you could take it, and you caved.

Good luck in your next interview, hopefully you won't be exposed to this drama again.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

May I offer a different perspective?

You started as an RN October 2012, so just shy of 1 year experience, admit to not starting IV'S and was concerned that someone did not shake your hand at start of interview which could have been reflected in your posture. Patient satisfaction scores today are heavily discussed and focused on in most institutions. The interview team quickly realized you did not have the skill sets they needed: skilled IV insertion, > 1 yr nursing + wide range patient situations, knowledge patient satisfaction scores. You now understand what is needed to work there: develop the skills and reapply later or decide this is not the facility for you and chalk to learning experience.

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