Nurses: Hospital Red Flags

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

When I hear interview questions that start, "we are a family here..." Or "teamwork is just absolutely crucial to what we do..." These two things make me think the work load is too heavy. Also, when I ask a direct question about staffing and I get an evasive answer. Another one is when I hear a unit manager asking me about call outs and tardiness. If it sounds like the person is going to be pushy about attendance then I know the unit is short and the manager is a judgmental jerk. (I don't call out but I don't want to be hassled if I get sick either). For the real skinny, I ask around through an extensive of er rns I know. When lots of turnover, I avoid the place.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

Oh wow. I didn't even know that was illegal...
They look happy when i talk to them. It's when the topic turns to the hospital that their smiles wipe off and I have yet to meet someone who genuinely welcomes me aboard, they tell me to run. Literally. But I wonder at times why they stay...

They may very well be stuck. When I was getting ready to leave my job this past spring, SO MANY of the most experienced nurses told me how jealous they were and how they now wished they'd gotten out when they were my age. Now, they have kids and they can't go somewhere where they'll be on the bottom as far as seniority goes.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 2, 2012

They may very well be stuck. When I was getting ready to leave my job this past spring, SO MANY of the most experienced nurses told me how jealous they were and how they now wished they'd gotten out when they were my age. Now, they have kids and they can't go somewhere where they'll be on the bottom as far as seniority goes.

That's a good point.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

We had three nurses quit within the same time frame on my unit. Also have a hard time filling positions. I know exactly why, and I will soon be leaving. If/ when you notice a unit with high turnover, and mostly casual, contract, and new grads....stay away.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

May I ask, why is this considered a red flag?

Would you want to work somewhere you never get a lunch break and are expected to work off the clock for free?

Marshall1 · Dec 2, 2012

I just learned this HCA lesson the hard way over the past few months..applied/interviewed and accepted a position at an HCA facility for a new dept that was suppose to open up in Sept. This is NOT a dept that is having a unit built etc. It's a float pool basically. Was told we would definitely be starting this month. I was willing to try to hold on because the original position would've worked very well for me even though I was not thrilled at going back into the hospital setting. This past Fri. I get a call.. there is still no concrete date for the new dept to open, no concrete wage but I'm still getting the "hang on, don't work anywhere else" speech from whomever is running HR for the month. No longer willing to wait or am interested in working for them. What this means is they don't have the funding or the approval for these positions..what bites is I have declined 2 other jobs and 3 interviews since accepting this position thinking it was just about ready to go. I did ask at one point about working another unit until this one got up & running but was told no they didn't want dept. to "mix" - ??

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 2, 2012

Would you want to work somewhere you never get a lunch break and are expected to work off the clock for free?

I have. The place where I am, the nurses do it all the time on my floor because they absolutely have to get their work done. Sometimes they were there 3-4 hours past the time. Some clocked out, others didn't.

wooh, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

What are some red flags at hospitals that let you know that this might not be the best place to work?

They admit patients...

CCRNDiva, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

I have to admit that I've asked what I thought were pertinent questions (such as how well do your nurses and docs work together, what are the weekend requirements, why do you have open positions etc.) and have been misled by the unit director. I did not find out all of this until working my first night of orientation on the unit. I was told by the director that the vacancies were due to nurses finishing grad school and the unit going up 7 beds. Imagine my shock to find out that the overwhelming majority of nurses left due to being unhappy with how the unit was ran. Several nurses had even left while in orientation or within a couple of months of finishing orientation. At least 6 RNs have left or put in their notice since I started there 2 1/2 months ago (none of those for job promotions or finishing school, lol). This is a repeat Magnet facility, by the way!!

I don't know how I could have avoided this situation. I asked around before taking a job here and heard nothing but good things. I didn't find the dirt until I was already working there. Many directors and managers know how to hide the dirt. They are good at selling their units and making it seem like they have the best place to work. I thought I had found the holy grail of nursing care until I actually worked a night on the unit. So sometimes you won't know until you actually work there.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

Turnover is the biggest indicator.

Even when staff is too scared to talk, their actions speak for them.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 2, 2012

Going WAY too much over good things (like - enforced vegan days in cafeteria, green propaganda instructing you the right way to flush the toilet, "family friendliness" to the point that there is no boundaries at all, regardless of situation).

Rules which are impossible to implement and enforce, and therefore not followed (like policy to physically escort every visitor in any place the said visitor expressed wish to see, within hospital walls. Including gift shop and opposite gender restroom).

Luxurious lobby vs. dirty floor and rooms.

Idiotic/illegal questions during interview. I was asked once what, as a nursing extern, I would do if I got to know that a jet where my husband might fly "just might fell down somewhere between here and Inner Mongolia". Two or more personal/illegal question during interview.

Significant difference in social/racial demographics between staff, patients, community and you.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 2, 2012

Going WAY too much over good things (like - enforced vegan days in cafeteria, green propaganda instructing you the right way to flush the toilet, "family friendliness" to the point that there is no boundaries at all, regardless of situation).
Rules which are impossible to implement and enforce, and therefore not followed (like policy to physically escort every visitor in any place the said visitor expressed wish to see, within hospital walls. Including gift shop and opposite gender restroom).
Luxurious lobby vs. dirty floor and rooms.
Idiotic/illegal questions during interview. I was asked once what, as a nursing extern, I would do if I got to know that a jet where my husband might fly "just might fell down somewhere between here and Inner Mongolia". Two or more personal/illegal question during interview.
Significant difference in social/racial demographics between staff, patients, community and you.

Hey, can I ask you why that would be a red flag?