And what is with the wacky interview questions?

sunshines66, BSN · Mar 19, 2005

don't worry we all get dumb interview questions. One time I was in an interview for a educator position and I was told it was a salaried position and I would be working 60+ hours and week and getting paid less than I make now. Then they wanted me to prove how much I wanted the job. I was flabbergasted. I told them I liked my job/career but it wasn't my whole life I have a life outside the hospital. I didn't get the job and didn't want it. My real thought is can they tell the truth once and tell you that you are working for low wages, will get no backing from the nurse manager if a doc or pt complains.....

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2005

Truce C105, I didn't think you were ignorant, I thought you thought we were! :clown:

cl05 · Mar 19, 2005

Definite truce! I didn't mean to sound cocky!

hypnotic_nurse · Mar 20, 2005

I would think twice about working for someone who would ask such odd interview questions, actually. And what kind of people have they had working there that they have to ask questions about betting on patients? Betting on patients has never even occurred to me.

princess99 · Mar 20, 2005

Thanks for the explanation- there seem to be so many possible definitions, and the interviewer would not clarify. He was only allowed to repeat the question, and then he spelled f-l-o-w in case I hadn't heard!

So you define it in terms of employees doing their job, keeping the flow going... I was thinking of patient flow, and how the caregivers have to react to changes... keeping the flow going, of course.

NurseFirst · Mar 20, 2005

i have bet on pts before. we have had bets in the ed on what a pt bac level would be. (blood alcohol level) it is not like we would not take care of the pt, but sometimes it helps to lighten the situation up. we have also bet on a few of the pts complains coming into the fast track side. it is not like we have a wager board or anything. it is just something that is said in passing an is worth a soda out of the machine if you are right. we also bet when the chronically late staffer will show up. it is a way of bonding and getting a soda out of your co-workers. we usually have at least one bet a day.

hey, that's not betting on a patient!!! that's betting on the pt's bac. i think that's a useful thing to do, because it can help to sharpen your assessment skills so maybe you have a better idea where the pt is at before the labs come back. i remember doing that when i did an er rotation for my emt class, with the doc and a male nurse. i think it was the only time i talked to the doc the whole shift!!! i also "won"--what i "won" was just the knowledge that i beat them. :)

nursefirst

GingerSue · Mar 20, 2005

I had one interview w/HR. It was like a psych test- why?
Weirdest questions:
-Have you ever placed bets on a patient?
-How do you handle flow?
-Are you addicted to a positive personality?
Now, what exactly IS flow??? Change/dynamics? Menstral flow? Huh? Addicted? Are they trying to trap me into saying something?...

Just another meaning of flow (and cl05 was probably more on track than me), and this comes from psychotherapy - flow - to refer to one's experience of being absorbed in activity that is of great interest.

In one orientation week, we new staff, with our HR person, each person was to make a list of 4 things that would describe oneself - but one item was to be a lie. Then others were to guess which was the lie. I've wondered about that strange group activity. Conclusion of mine, take your time re: any questions or activities that are unclear.

kat911 · Mar 20, 2005

I was wondering about the flow question as well. I guess I would have said, "Usually I handle the flow with a tampon, but sometimes I use a pad".
Are you addicted to a positive personality? "No, I married an old grouch".
Have you ever made bets on a patient? Certainly, "I bet this ole bum lives to be a hundred", or "I bet this guy is gonna have a stroke when he sees his bill".
What stupid interview questions! Maybe they were just trying to see how you respond to wierdness? Maybe the test was just to see if you could think on your feet and not get flustered by being around idiots!!

:rotfl: Dixielee I want to be your friend! I'd end the interview right then, if the NM is this wacko during an interview then what will it be like working for her/him!! :uhoh21: :uhoh21:

allamericangirl · Mar 20, 2005

LOL!! I wonder what would happen if everyone that they asked these "really ridiculous" interview questions, simply rose from their chair clamly and said, "I'm sorry, (what's your face), but the best answer I can give your questions is ... this inteview is over! Have a nice day!", and walked out! :chuckle :rotfl: :chuckle

:rotfl: Dixielee I want to be your friend! I'd end the interview right then, if the NM is this wacko during an interview then what will it be like working for her/him!! :uhoh21: :uhoh21:

talaxandra · Mar 20, 2005

And I thought "What would you do if you thought a colleague was inventing vital signs?" was bizarre enough! I mean, really - what did they think I'd say? I was so tempted to reply "Wow, great idea. How come I never thought of that?"

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Mar 20, 2005

Actually, I just had an interview where the HR person doing the interview went through a set of 40 questions which contained,

"Have you ever experienced flow?"

"Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?"

etc...

It looked like a standardized packet of questions. I'll bet the interviewer in the case of the original poster just took those questions and modified them a little bit.

Having just been through 20+ years of corporate life, I was not surprised by the questions. How your answers actually correlate with your performance as a nurse, however, I'm not sure.

The best way to answer questions like the "flow" question is to either ask "What do you mean by flow?", or, say, "Well, I interpret the question to mean that flow is when you are so involved in something, you forget yourself...blah blah blah and I experienced it when..."

If you come across as a smartass, the hiring folks will remember.

BTW, I got the job, and start in July.

Oldiebutgoodie

susannyc · Mar 20, 2005

I'm an experienced RN in NYC. My last job search was about 2 years ago. All I heard from HR during my search was how few RNs were available for hire. However, it took me almost a year to find a job! Why? Whatever the job was for, I was told by the interviewer that I didn't want it! Some of this may have been age discrimination (I was 51 at the time) but basically, I don't think they wanted to hire anyone! If there really were an RN shortage, why would HR be bothering with questions like "flow" instead of concentrating on important things like "How fast can you set up a cardiac monitor?" "Do you have a valid license in this state?" Just one nurse's opinion.

Susan in NYC