Cringe worthy follow up Note

[MrChicagoRN]

I recently interviewed someone for a non-nursing clinical position.

At the end, he was told it would be two weeks before I made a decision. He didn't send a thank you note, but did send me a note this week telling me he was still interested. Unfortunately, his note was basically two run on sentences. The clincher was that the entire note was in lower case! My name, his name, first person reference...everything.

This is a college grad that I was on the fence about hiring after interviewing him. However, the literacy of his note was extremely poor. Why would anyone even send such a poorly written e-mail?

The point is, that follow up notes can be a plus, or a huge negative factor. So, remember that every contact or interaction creates an impression.

Make sure it's a good one.

[amoLucia]

Lawyers have field days and salivate when they review poorly documented notes. In the legal arena, it smacks of lack of skills/aptitude that may spill over into other areas of the writer's skill set besides just documentation skill. In summary, a poor note may equal poor care in the eyes of a jury. (Sloppy note = sloppy care.)

In today's work environment, our nursing's documentation is almost as big a part of what we must do as is our providing hands-on care. If we expect excellent care, should we not expect excellent documentation?

Good documentation is just as critical a skill as sterile technique starting an IV or suctioning a trach.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Lawyers have field days and salivate when they review poorly documented notes. In the legal arena, it smacks of lack of skills/aptitude that may spill over into other areas of the writer's skill set besides just documentation skill. In summary, a poor note may equal poor care in the eyes of a jury. (Sloppy note = sloppy care.)

In today's work environment, our nursing's documentation is almost as big a part of what we must do as is our providing hands-on care. If we expect excellent care, should we not expect excellent documentation?

Good documentation is just as critical a skill as sterile technique starting an IV or suctioning a trach.

^^^^^ THIS!!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Lawyers have field days and salivate when they review poorly documented notes. In the legal arena, it smacks of lack of skills/aptitude that may spill over into other areas of the writer's skill set besides just documentation skill. In summary, a poor note may equal poor care in the eyes of a jury. (Sloppy note = sloppy care.)

In today's work environment, our nursing's documentation is almost as big a part of what we must do as is our providing hands-on care. If we expect excellent care, should we not expect excellent documentation?

Good documentation is just as critical a skill as sterile technique starting an IV or suctioning a trach.

Good grammar=good documentation.

I did chart reviews for CMS...guess which charts help maintain the highest reimbursement???

I saw excellent documentation, I've seen sloppy documentation, EMR AND written; the sloppy documentation did not give supporting evidence in maintaing or covering reimbursement.

Perception is EVERYTHING; doesn't make it right, however, there is ALWAYS a sense of professional etiquette; and that would include understanding and constructing proper sentences. There is a higher level of comprehension and standard needed, especially when dealing with the evidence of the care we give; it's a legal document.

Where I work, as a Charge Nurse, I look over witness statements with the unit manager and the DON. The lack of punctuation, proper syntax and sentence structure is rewritten. I've had to go back to coworkers and have them rewrite their statement because it didn't look coherent enough; these individuals give GREAT care; however, the PERCEPTION if they went to court would be in tatters; unless you have been a part of a disposition for anything in your life- Side-note: it was a personal injury case for myself; they decided to question my abilities and functions as a nurse-I was a LPN at the time; even though I had intact documentation; their approach was to question my knowledge base as a LPN; I won he case btw-then you would understand my position and the other posters position.

I cannot reason with poor grammar and sentence structure ; I was taught better than that-from my parents, primary and secondary teachers and my nursing instructors. Exercise with the pen and the keyboard when communicating professionally.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I realize my opinion is unpopular here - I'm used to my opinion being unpopular as unlike the other "sheeple" I deal with on a daily basis, I like to think outside the box. I refuse to follow convention simply because "that's how everyone else does it."

Because championing mediocrity is soooo outside the box.

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

The very basic English writing and communication skills are essential in any industry today. If someone can not demonstrate proper writing skills, do you really want them on your team?? I understand where the OP is coming from. I know I have written enough papers in college to know basic sentence structure skills and most likely, so has the grad he is talking about.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Does not matter a single iota. As a professional, attempting to gain professional employment, it's HIS responsibility to ensure his note is professional as well.

This whole new culture of blaming stuff like this on technology, or allowing it to be done out of laziness and "inclusion" is becoming ridiculous.

Hm, I wonder why that happened. Perhaps he wrote it on a phone or iPad and didn't realize autocap wasn't on? I don't know.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Preach it!

But he obviously is flawed in other ways since OP was already on the fence about hiring him.

Sure society expects us to "jump through hoops" but if we didn't, why bother interview anyone then? I find interviews with stuffy suits to be the biggest hoop. So lets just give jobs to the first person who applies. Oh, but then we aren't being equal because Sally Jo couldn't hit enter fast enough.

I know it seems like people are jumping through hoops, but honestly, I send a HAND WRITTEN thank you note and triple check my wording and capitalization before putting pen to card and mailing it. I truly take great care when I am writing to someone, because I want them to know their valuable time was appreciated.

Are you saying that my great care shouldn't matter? Saying that my preparation for interviews doesn't matter? Saying using spell check in an EMAIL doesn't matter? Saying that taking the time to brush up on computer skills doesn't matter? Saying that reading over your own email before hitting send doesn't matter?

If anything, this applicant is demonstrating a lack of motivation to do much of anything. OP says this is a non clinical job. What if part of that role requires email communications? Is this someone who shows great care when sending emails?

Everyone these days has a sob story. Believe me. I've got one too. The difference is, I don't EXPECT preferential treatment. I don't expect anyone to look past my flaws if they shine bright. I'm a new grad, so I work hard to do more to show my desire to learn. If you don't have motivation to sell yourself, what sets you apart from every other sob story about no food on the table, power and water shut off, no car that's out there?

Forget about what you can't do, focus on how you plan to improve yourself and set the plan into action!

For OP, if there is another candidate you are more interested in, then proceed with them.

If not, perhaps provide feedback to this applicant about professional correspondence, particularly if that would be in his/her job description!!!! Then proceed with hiring.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

For someone so vocally opposed to snap judgements, you sure do make a lot of them.

Now, as humans so love to do, carry on berating me with your mob mentality for being a decent person unwilling to resort to snap judgements. Please, the more the merrier - the bandwagon effect is mildly entertaining.

[ORNursetobe33]

I love when people berate "humans" for their "deplorable" actions as if they are not human. Newsflash: you are one of us. And yes, a follow up thank you is pretty standard these days and I know, for a fact, has gotten me hired more than once. But hey, do what works for you if you think it is not needed or if you think 3rd grade grammar rules don't apply.

I am not sure why capitalizing proper nouns makes me a sheep, but ok.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

albert einstien was nortorious (sic) for messy writing filled with poor syntax and spelling mistakes.

He did have that whole theory of relativity thing going for him, however. Lessor mortals better know how to spell and punctuate.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I agree with the OP. My hires represent me to my patients, and I don't care to be represented by a lazy idiot, which this person appears to be even if they are not. Appearances do matter. You don't have to like it, but it is true nonetheless.

And to whomever asked, yes the follow up thank you note is critical. I wouldn't hire someone that didn't send one because it becomes clear they know nothing about business etiquette, and again, I don't with to be represented by people who make me look bad by association.

[SaoirseRN]

I'm not sure why caring about proper English makes me a "sheeple". I care about English because it matters to me, not because somebody says I should. Bottom line is written communication is part of how an individual represents his or herself. Lack of attention to even basic rules of written English makes a poor impression of the writer, no matter what their circumstances.