I am a new nurse. I have been doing interviews everywhere and sending more applications than I can keep track of! I had an interview at a LTC facility a few weeks ago. The interview was going great and she asked "Do you have kids?" I had to keep my jaw from dropping. I stammered, "no..." She then asked, "Are kids in your near future?" At this point I was annoyed and said "Yes they are!" She gave me a worried look. She told me to call her at a later date to follow up, but I never did. I don't want to work in a place that behaves in that manner. If I got pregnant, I do not want to fear for my job!
COME ON! Isn't this illegal? I learned in my management class during nursing school that you can't ask about race/family/personal life/religion/sexual orientation/etc. And if you want to inquire about kids, you ask something like "Would anything prevent you from working 2nd shift?"
Had something "illegal" asked every single time. I am an immigrant, speak with noticeable accent and sort of don't mind - after all, folks may be just plain curious. But - something is here, every single time.
- how did you come here?
- will you go home? Ah, you're a US citizen... wait, how THAT comes??
- you look like just like an American (thanks, maam)... how long it took to adapt to your new life?
- where is your family and why they are not here?
- you are not Catholic, right?... there are no Catholics in your country (in Catholic hospital... and there are millions of them there, to tell the truth).
- what other languages do you speak? Which one is your home language?
- how many kids... how old they are?
And more of the same. The worst one was being asked to explain "in just two words - how a foreigner may become a US citizen if one was not even born in America":roflmao:
as someone who was not brought up in US culture, I like the quote describing this situation "highly sensitive, easily offended". To be fair, correct me if I am in the wrong:
Religion: if the employer is not run by tax money, I believe this is fair question, but shouldn't have anything to do with increasing/decreasing chances. For example, I work at Christianity-affiliated system, and in their mission, vision statement, it clearly shows that they want to endorse Christianity way of life and philosophy, yet I work with people of all religions and absence of it. I actually had a interviewer tell me "just fyi, I want to shine a light on the fact that we are faith-based organization, and we want you to be comfortable about it", to which I said I don't mind at all. It's not like my evaluation will be based on how many chapels I attend?! They are hiring you and they are not demanding you to do 10 Hail Mary every time you clock in?
Race: again, I work with all colors, and I wouldn't mind interviewer ask me what kind of nationality I come from since they might want to see if my cultural skills and language could be to their advantage.
Sexual Orientation: This, I do agree. Whether someone is gay, lesbian, bi, trans, whatever has nothing to do with competency. I knew two lesbian nurses who worked with me on same floor (agency ladies). They were one of the most competent and awesome nurses I have ever had the pleasure of knowing (well, one of them at least).
And to people who think they do matter because they could potentially convince the employer to choose person A over person B, well, why do you think people interview?
Yes, I was asked "Do you have children?" and I stammered....."N....N...No"....(because I was shocked). The interviewer went on to say "Well, do you WANT children, and if so will it be anytime soon?" I said something like "Well, I don't have any plans for that....at this time......" because I was simply dumbfounded at her questions. This was 22 years ago. Today I'd probably have a better comeback, but at the time I just thought about how I couldn't get out of there fast enough!
I know this wasn't the place for OP to be highjacked, but I just want to say a special "thank you" to NurseDirtyBird! I agree with amoLucia, YES you defended well!!
Had something "illegal" asked every single time....
- what other languages do you speak? Which one is your home language?
KatieMI, I don't think it's illegal or wrong to ask about languages- I've seen it on many applications and it's really helpful to have bilingual/multilingual staff, and for others to know if staff are proficient in other languages besides English.
...but it is nobody's business to know what language I speak at home. Even if they "just curious".
I put my linguistic skills in resume and let NMs know that I'm able and more than happy to care for patients with language barrier/cultural barrier problems (that's one of my favorite parts of nursing). I never, ever speak anything but English while in the hospital unless patient/family needs it. Even when I call my home from breakroom, I speak English. But I was asked, several times, what language(s) we speak and home and why, during interviews. Some even came so far as to "suggest" that I should speak English exclusively because "you're an American now".
If asking "are kids are in your near future" annoyed you, and "I don't want to work in a place that behaves in that manner. You not only did yourself a favor your certainly did them a favor.
Specializes in L&D, CCU, ICU, PCU, RICU, PCICU, & LTC..
Ouch. Better duck; some serious fireballs are coming your way. And, I believe, you rightfully deserve them.
Yes, I literally lol'd when I read her OP because where I worked for my last 15 years it was just the opposite. The HOSPITAL nurses were the ones who sent our residents back with problems like "when the foley came out, it had disgusting tissues along with it, urine extremely foul, many patients who didn't have any oral care, perineal care, skin care." AND huge decubs that they did not even have starting when they left us. Sometimes they would have broken down in just 4 or 5 days after we had kept them sore-free for YEARS.
We hated having to send people out to any of the 6 hospitals around us, because the nursing care in ALL of them was deplorable.
laKrugRN
479 Posts
How did you respond Owlie? Was this for a religious hospital?