What do you look for in an employee?

debRN0417 · May 14, 2005

There are many things that I look for when interviewing, and I won't bore you with the details of the review of the application and resume, but when I interview for a position, I look for things like, how the person communicates, how they carry themself, are they confident, do they make good eye contact. I ask them to tell me about their experience and ask them why they are interested in the position that I have available. I ask them to tell me why they are the "best person" for this position (maybe not just in those words, but you know what I mean). I talk with them about the position, the expectations of the job and what it entails. If they have had no experience in the area for which I am interviewing, I still don't discount the fact that many nurses are seeking to further their experience, so I talk with them and during this time I evaluate their willingness to learn, their objectives and their expectations of what they hope to gain from their relationship with me/my unit. I try to ask questions that would help me to "feel out" how they feel about team work and the care of the patients. There are many things I look for, and it is really hard to try to put it all down. Sometimes you just get the "feeling" if someone is being honest, and you can tell if they will do well or if they are "biting off more than they can chew". Sometimes I tell them that I feel that it may not be the right psotion for them depending on the outcome of the interview, but I don't believe that I have ever denied anyone the opportunity to try if they really wanted that opportunity. Experience does go a long way, but the ambition and desire to learn count for a great deal also. I try to remember how it was for me when starting out and that I would never have gotten where I am if I had not been given a chance.

So really, it just depends on how the person comes across on the interview, with all things taken into consideration, but I have learned over the years that there are some poeple who can really fool you on an interview also....so basically you are always taking a chance. It is the same for the person seeking the job, you can be painted a pretty picture on an interview, and are shocked when you find out what the "real world" is like. Oh, I also check references carefully....and it does not matter to me if they are young , or old, or pretty, or not so pretty.. lol....hope this helps...

mountaingrl · May 24, 2005

I let my staff interview the canidate. If they do not get a good feeling about the person, I usually do not hire them. In the OR, I can teach just about anything a person needs to know. The one thing I cannot teach is attitude. It is usually a gut feeling and it is usually right. If I am unsure, I ask them to come in and " work" along side my staff for a day or so. It lets the staff get to know that person, and lets the canidate see how the department functions. By the end of the day, you usually have a feel for whether that person is a good fit or not. It can also be a crap shoot! :)

Mili · May 26, 2005

For the most part, I hire for attitude. The caveat is, of course, that I wouldn't hire someone who has proven themselves incompetent--even if they had the best personality in the world. Given the choice, however, I would hire a new grad with a great attitude before I would hire an experienced nurse with a poor attitude. Whenever I interview a candidate, the thought that is uppermost in my mind is, "How will this person affect our team?" If it is not a good fit, I pass. This seems to work quite well, because I have very little turnover. I also have had all of my RN positions filled for the past 18 months--and on a 48 bed Medical/Cardiac unit, that is pretty unusual.

Jami RN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2005

As a recruiter for a hospital, I try very hard to work with experienced nurses to enable them to move into the positions of their choosing. One thing that I have experienced over and over, and this was an eye-opener for me when I moved into this position, is the entitlement and arrogance of some (not all) experienced RNs. Let me tell you, this attitude is a deal-breaker!

For example, just a few weeks ago, I had an experienced nurse from another state call me and tell me, "Listen, you're going to have to work with me here. I need a letter for my mortgage company by next week stating that I have a position at your hospital. I'm moving to your area next month and have decided to work for you." This person had not even applied, and this was the first time she had spoken to anyone at our hospital! Needless to say, she wasn't hired.

I spoke with another nurse who had 30 years of impressive experience on paper, but when we met in person, she spent an hour running down our benefits, the way our units were organized, our computer charting, and continually demanded ridiculous information from me in order to prove her superiority. She said she would refuse to join any union (we are a fair share bargaining unit, so this isn't an option if you want to work here). She was negative, entitled, condescending and rude. She didn't get a job. She called back a month later with a different attitude, but she had already made her impression.

I can't count the times that experienced nurses come in to talk to me in sweats, with dirty hair, dragging along 3 screaming kids, etc. You would be surprised how rude some experienced nurses are to our front desk people -- and that's the worst thing anyone could do! And while I realize that money is important (and the reason most of us work in the first place), it's very rude to ask about sign-on and relocation right off the bat. My hospital has a low turnover rate and we try to keep it that way by avoiding people who are only in it for the money. We figure that if a big sign-on bonus is all they're interested in, they'll leave as soon as their obligation is finished to seek another big bonus. It's okay to ask eventually, but don't let this be the first question out of your mouth.

Also, there are so many areas of nursing that require so many different kinds of experience. Honestly, if a nurse has been out of bedside nursing for 20 years, it might actually be easier to orient a new grad to a bedside position. If you have been in an administrative position for a long time, you might want to think about a re-entry type program.

This has turned into a vent instead of advice, and I apologize for that. I know that all nurses are not like this, and I am not implying that you are rude, entitled or arrogant in any way. I just wanted to share my experience with you. Like I said at the beginning, I was shocked at the behavior and attitude of some nurses when I started this job.

Jami

Kitty-MayRN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2005

Thank you for starting this subject, barefootlady! :wink2:

I know someone who is having a terrible time getting hired as a new grad. This person is not young, is male, but is very knowlegdeable. He has been working as a student nurse, but now that he's looking for a job as an RN, several interviews have been unsuccessful.

Is there a male thing too? Are there only certain stereotypical males that get hired too? ( such as the tall, dark, handsome, with Fabio graces...) :coollook:

Is there such a thing as coming across as too confident?

Kitty-MayRN

:nurse:

Jami RN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2005

Is there such a thing as coming across as too confident?
Kitty-MayRN

Yes, especially as a new grad. If a new grad comes across as a "know-it-all-already", this brings great fear to recruiters and managers. If they already know it all (which no nurse, let alone new grad does), they won't ask questions, and might kill your patients! :uhoh21: A little humility goes a long way for both new grads and experienced nurses in the hiring process!

llg, PhD, RN · May 26, 2005

I totally agree with what the other posters have said. Experience, confidence, etc. are all good things -- if used properly. However, too many experienced nurses fail to "sell themselves" at all during the application process and while on the job. Too many have developed an "I'm experienced ... so you owe me the world" attitude that only causes trouble for an employer. An inexperienced nurse with a positive attitude is a much preferable hire.

Of course ... there are some wonderful experienced nurses who have not developed bad attitudes ... and my hospital loves to hire them!

llg

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 26, 2005

An inexperienced nurse with a positive attitude is a much preferable hire.
llg

Hey, weren't we all that at one time? :chuckle

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 2, 2005

Thanks to one and all for taking the time to answer my query. I understand the attitude issue. I hated working with one nurse who came to the facility touting her experience only to learn she was a very poor sticker, very poor in hands on care, and very poor in med knowledge. I did not feel she was interested in a few tips but asked anyway, was rebuffed and so I just let her do her thing. No, I was more interested in finding out why experienced nurses, with decent attitudes, good experience at the bedside, and a willingness to learn a new way of doing things are often passed over for a new grad or a less experienced nurse. No working nurse has a great day EVERY DAY, no person has such a lovable personality that they never feel down, pressured, or stressed. I know that appearance counts. It counts on how you dress for work on the floor, much less dressing for a job interview. Those nurses who wear scrubs that are wrinkled, spotted, too big, too small, faded or torn are not the example I aspire to follow. The chains, rings on fingers, big ear-rings, and bracelets are an issue with me too. I think cosmetics are great, just remember to use them in moderation, same with scents. Soap and water with just a little body spray in a clean scent are best I have found. Cotton is big with me. Now that I have expressed all of these opinions, I still do not know the answer to my question. I have a friend who would love to go to ICU, one who would love to go to Cardiac, and one would love Peds, but over 55 is too old it seems. So these good nurses, steady workers, good skills, good attitudes, and doctors respect them never get the job they apply for. They stay on the m/s unit, outworking several younger nurses, and starting to hate it more everyday. Like I said, we just don't seem to get the consideration and respect from the managers of these units that younger, less experienced are accorded.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 2, 2005

It sounds to me as if you have questions about why your particular friends did not get hired -- not why experienced nurses in general sometimes have trouble.

There may be things about your friends that you don't know. That is often the case. You see only a portion of what the manager doing the hiring sees. Have they had attendance problems in the past? ... patient complaints? ... disciplinary problems? .... practice problems? .... etc. In other words, there may be negative things in their employement file of which you are unaware.

Another reason they might not get hired is that they may not interview well. Again, you don't know what they are saying in their interviews. The positive attitude you see many not be coming through during their application process. They may not be selling themselves well at all.

They may be asking for scheduling conditions, etc. that the "new" unit is not willing to provide. For example, they may have so much seniority within the institution that they would be entitled to certain scheduling priviledges that would cause hard feelings among the rest of the staff. The "new person" would be getting a better schedule than staff who had worked on that unit for a few years -- perhaps being allowed to work fewer nights/weekends/holidays than most people. The management might be hesitant to bring someone in who would cause a lot of resentment and unhappiness among the rest of the staff. With all the efforts to improve morale and retention, the management may be hesitant to take such a risk. That doesn't sound fair, but it might be part of the reason they would have trouble transferring within the same hospital.

Obviously, none of us can say why your particular friends were not chosen for the jobs they sought. It might be simply age discrimination, but I am inclined to think that it's probably something more complicated than that. Managers want to staff their units. They don't usually turn people away unless there is a reason. If your friends really want to make a change in their workplace, they may need to have some serious talks with people who would have access to the type of information I mentioned above -- people who could give them an honest assessment of their chances for transfer and give them good career planning tips -- someone like the nurse recruiter, or a staff development educator, etc. -- someone who would actually know the people involved and the hospital systems they work.

llg

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 4, 2005

lig,

That is just it, these nurses do not fit any of the problems you mentioned. Oh sure, I am sure there have been a few patient complaints, any nurse who works and can't be in two places at once may get one of those, but in general, these are great gals. They precept, they are on committees, they are team-players, the go the extra mile. One did talk to a friend at another facility, she told my friend, AGE was a factor but proving it would be difficult. A couple of the managers are just plain afraid to have such knowledgable, hard workers join their staff. You may say that is sour grapes, but 2 I know have hinted that the one who wants to go to peds would be a threat to several of the younger nurses. Her "granny" model would be a tough act to follow. Yes, that is right, she would give those kids lots of TLC and still do a wonderful job. I cannot say schedule is a problem. Nights is what these ladies want and like, they have done them for years and are used to them. Nights is usually the tough shift to fill, so who can figure. I know one of them is already talking of quitting at 62, working for an agency, but she says she will NEVER work for this particular facility again. She will not allow any of her family to be a patient here either. The one who would love ICU is going to go part-time, she paints and says she will hone her skills and sell simple portraits at Christmas to make extra money. She is really fantastic, I think she will do fine. The other one does not say much, I know her mind is attempting to figure something out to allow her to quit.

I read a post about being slow, and how other nurses make remarks to the older, slower nurse, well, I have worked a code or two with more than one of these ladies, they are awsome. No slowpokes there. I just think they are too valuable on the units they work and too hard to replace. One doctor, he is a real PIA, will only deal with one of these nurses if there is a crisis and she is working. Even the charge nurse takes a back seat. He has told the HN, he will not admit patients to her floor if this nurse leaves. I guess he will have to back up that statement, because she will be gone by Nov. As far as interviewing well, I guess telling the truth has gone out of style. These ladies are tactful, kind, caring, and smart. You know, virtues not found in some of the younger nurses today and ones some nurses will never develop. I am sorry to sound so negative, but I have lost a lot of respect for management and administration because I have seem less qualified people get positions these gals are more qualified to perform. One day when we all meet for coffee, a former HN will walk by, attempt to speak, and she will be ignored. That may sound mean but its truthful.

Thanks for taking the time to post and attempting to answer my questions. I wish you well in being a manager, I know it is a hard job.