Choosing a hospital

[Bicycleboy]

Hello. I am a 3rd year BSN student with a bit more than 3 semesters left until I am unleashed on the hospital population.

I have already got an offer from a hospital looking to guarantee me a job before I even graduate. One has even offered to start paying my tuition before I finish school.

I am going to move to Northern Ontario when I graduate so naturally I have been looking at hospitals in that area. My love of the outdoors goes along with the environment, and my wife is very exited to have the chance to live up north. I like very cold weather and she hates the heat.

So, as well as hospitals offering incentives, the Ontario government is also offering incentives for nurses who move to areas that are in need of nurses, like areas such as Northern Ontario. In some cases it looks like I will be able to pay off 30K worth of tuition in less than 2 years and not have to take one penny out of my pocket.

Incentives are nice but I don't want to loose my license because of lack of support or training.

A bit about myself:

I am a married 35 year old male. I excel in all aspects of nursing school. My wife has a neurological disorder and her drugs costs are well over 1K/month, so full time benefits and a drug plan are needed. I am looking to start out in the hospital and then after I gain some experience I wish to get an advanced degree and work in the community. It is also very important to me that I get to work with native/first nations people because I hope to move up to the Northwest Territories and eventually do outpost nursing. I have a plan to have my PhD by the time I am 60. Of course that is all in the future and my main concern is to get through NS in one piece. I have no children and will not be having any children.

I am looking for questions to ask prospective employers. So far, from searching this site I have found the following information on questions that I should ask prospective employers:

1. What area of consolidation would be beneficial to a new grad to have in order to get a job in your hospital?

2. What type of pt's do you care for?

3. Who can I call when clinical concerns and questions arise?

4. How long is my orientation?

5. What would a new grad get paid?

6. What are the benefits?

7. What insentives do you offer?

8. Will the work be full time?

What are some other questions should I ask so I can make an informed choice.

Thank you.

[nurz2be]

• Why is this position open?
  
• How often has it been filled in the past five to ten years?
  
• What has been the primary reason for people leaving this role?
  
• Why did the last person leave?
  
• In what ways were you pleased with what he or she did?
  
• Where was the greatest need for improvement of the last person in this position?
  
• What would you like done differently by the next person that fills the position?
  
• What are some of the objectives you would like to have completed?
  
• What is the most pressing?
  
• What would you like to have done within the next three months? ...six months? ...one to two years?"
  
• What are some of the longer term objectives you would like to complete?
  
• How have QA, TQI, TQM or compliance been implemented in the organization?
  
• Are any changes foreseen?
  
• Are there any staff mix or staffing ratio issues?
  
• How have they changed in the past year?
  
• What changes do you foresee?
  
• What retention programs are in place or planned?
  
• What has been the greatest financial impact on this facility in the past year?
  
• What is anticipated in the coming year?
  
• What freedom would I have in determining my objectives, deadlines and methods of measurement?
  
• What kind of support does this position receive in the terms of people, finances or education?
  
• What are some of the more difficult problems that one would face in this position?
  
• How do you think these could best be handled?
  
• In terms of status, prestige and influence, how does this department compare with others, especially from the viewpoint of the top person?
  
• How are inter-departmental relationships encouraged? ...disagreements handled?
  
• What is the relationship between the physicians and administration? ... nursing? ...ancillary services?
  
• How would you describe your management style?
  
• How long have you been with this organization?
  
• Why did you decide to join?
  
• How does this compare with your boss and those above him or her, especially the chief executive?
  
• What personality traits do you consider critical for this position?
  
• What do you see as my strengths, shortcomings and chances for this position?
  
• Where could a person go who is successful in this position and within what time frame? In what ways has this organization been most successful in terms of services over the years, particularly more recently?
  
• Are new markets being developed? If so, what are they?
  
• What significant changes do you foresee in the near future? Expansion plans? Reorganization?
  
• What significant changes have happened recently?
  
• What was the impact on this department?
  
• Have any new management philosophies been recently introduced into the organization? How have they impacted leadership goals and objectives?
  
• What construction or remodeling projects have recently been completed?
  
• What is coming up in the next 6-12 months?
  
• Are there plans for mergers or acquisitions?
  
• What is the best thing you know about this organization?
  
• What is the corporate mission statement?
  
• What are the organization's goals?
  
• What formal and informal benchmarks will you use to measure my effectiveness and my contributions?
  
• What educational opportunities are available for my staff ...my leadership team ...myself?

47. What is the nurse to patient ration?

48. Is there a weekly or monthly cap on overtime?

49. Is there any reason (you) would not be considered?

I found these on a nursing website. There are a lot of interesting questions here as well as some that I don't think I have the gumption to ask. I hope these can help you with your interview...good luck