And when I thought the job hunt couldn't get any worse....

[DeLana_RN]

.... I was confronted with a questionnaire from he|| when I tried to submit an application to the same hospital where I have previously applied for positions. All of a sudden I had to fill out this personality test and agree to let them score it but not be told the results.

Although I think I answered most questions "correctly" (hard to say since they're so ambiguous, ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree") I probably made a big mistake when I answered that I had looked for work while still employed "2 or 3 times". Well, I've been in the workforce for a long time and you should always look for a job while you still have one - but duh, I'm sure that's not what they wanted to hear :smackingf

Hindsight is 20/20, but when I filled this out it was late and I was tired... big mistake. Now I keep beating myself up, convinced my chances with this hospital are over (unfortunately, it's one of only two in this area and the one where I really want to work; my husband works there as a nurse. I myself worked there until about a year ago, but left on good terms due to lack of available shifts and some personal business at the end of year. I realize now that I shouldn't have - again, too late. BTW, I couldn't return to the same unit where I was because the low pt census has not changed).

Have any of you had to answer such a questionnaire while applying for jobs? If so, were you told the result? Was it a reason not to be considered for any positions? Or do you suddenly just never hear from them again? The HR recruiter had always seemed very nice and helpful (I know, don't trust them) but had never mentioned that such a test would be given. I should have just backed out and researched it first... but it's too late now.

I wish I could just sit out this horrible economy and wait for a real nursing shortage to appear; but I can't

Thanks for any replies,

DeLana

[pandora44]

I took one of those tests for a job at a hospital last year that I really wanted. I took my time and answered honestly. About a week later I received an email that I was not being considered for the position specifically due to my answers on that test.

I ended up finding something better in the long run, but it was very hard at the time.

[Nurserton]

I once had to take one of these "personality inventories" for a CNA position. Afterwards, I was sent a letter informing me that my ideals didn't match up with the companies per the survey or something of that nature. The letter said I was now entitled to a copy of my results and to contact the HR person. I contacted the HR person, expressed to her that I thought the inventory was a false reprentation and that I was buffled I'd been deemed insufficient and "not a good match" for the job, she agreed to pull my record and look it over. Needless to say, she contacted me a few days later and said "there'd been a mistake" and I was offered the position! Long story short, if you really want the job, stay on them despite that.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I have always passed those tests but have frequently lied on them.

(I will tell you as an experienced traveler, the facilities that use those tests invariably treat their staff the poorest)

Some hospitals use the Interview as a basic conversation...and that should cover those personality issues. That test is merely a poor substitute.

[kittykatty]

Carolladybelle--That is soooo interesting because I was always led to believe that those tests were impossible to beat.

By lieing on them do you mean you give the answer that you think they are looking for rather than the true answer that you would normally give?

Just curious in case I run into one on my job quests.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

The tests vary greatly, from ones that are looking for "customer (pt) service" nurses, those that are "customer (MD) service" nurses, those that want a nice compliant obediant nonquestioning nurse, some that want a very assertive nurse, and some that want very extroverted nurses vs. introverted nurses. They are used in business, and I used to work in business.

While I don't exactly lie, I do tend to tailor my responses to what I am and what I feel that they want. If a job wants really wants a quiet obedient nurse, I am probably not that nurse so I am not really worried if I pass or fail. If it is a job that I want, I would probably be more careful and tailor my response.

And think about it....successful nurses tailor and adapt their responses to the individual pt situation. A hospital may want to see how adaptable one is.

A pt at admission may ask, "Has anyone ever dies in this room?"....How do I respond?

"I don't know - I didn't have this room."

or

"Yes, one died in the room an hour ago, and we just cleaned the blood off of the ceiling?"

or

"Let me look in the charts and research whether any of the thousands of patients that have ever died in that room - I know that no one has in the past two monthes"

or

"You sound like you are anxious about being here - How do you feel about being in the hospital?"

or

"Well, quite bluntly, there is probably not a room in this facility that has not had someone die in it...that is the nature of these facilities... Many people get better and leave and some do not. Do you have any specific concerns that I may address?"

Depending on the patient and their personalities and what is going on with them, would tailor how one responds and with what words.

When one's pt responds that s/he sees an obvious open code cart outside, one can explain that it was used earlier elsewhere on the unit, and was used in his/her room.

Thus this test may also test your adaptability.

While "lying" is probably a strong word, how one portrays oneself to an employer on a test, can indicate how palatable they make bad news to a pt, or handle an irrational MD.

But also, if they want a Stepford Nurse, I am probably not their girl. I have tried to be a "Stepford Nurse" before and it just does not work for me. Thus you do need to be fairly upfront about certain personality issues. If you portray yourself on those tests as an obedient, nonquestioning, doormat employee to get that job, you need to expect that this is a workplace that requires that behavior. And the misery that comes from trying to be what you are not and fit where you do not belong.....trust me, it is not worth it.

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

Lol* I agree with the poster above who said those tests are the eiquivalent to a Cosmo quiz. I remember I took a test like that once and it asked me if I believed that most people "lie all the time", "sometimes lie", "never lie", or "only tell white lies". This was for a retail store and I have worked in a number of retail stores in the past, and proud to say in most positions I was able to move up to a management position. People often brought in things from other stores claiming to have bought them at our store wanting to return them for cash without a reciept. So from that experience, I felt and answered, in my mind thinking that I was showing that I am honest but not naive, that most people "tell white lies". I did not get the job - later I learned that those are kind of trick questions...your answer is what they assume you do! Ugh...so now I'm a liar! LOL*** You can't win. Just try and do your best. Good luck!

[perseus29]

The main thing about these tests is to pay attention to the questions because they will repeat in a different manner, and that's how they catch if you're faking it, or it throws a red flag that you're not being honest.

Example questions that get to the same point, but are asked very differently:

1.How often have you had to give up your leisure time to work.

2.If you have plans on a Friday evening and your employer has an important deadline to meet would you cancel private plans?

So if you answer question 1 with, 'very often', and then to number to you say, 'not very likely', that throws a red flag.

If anything when doing these tests, best thing is to answer the questions consistently, and pay attention to what they are asking because the questions repeat themselves in a different manner.