Interview left me speechless

Nurses General Nursing

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I finally landed an interview, and was offered the position on the spot, but I don't want it. There are so many problems I don't even know where to begin, but I need to get it off my chest.

First of all the head nurse interviewed me and she literally talked for 2 hours straight, about herself!!! Every other word out of her mouth was "FIRE". She talked about how she was going to clean house, and "hire up and fire down". I'm not kidding, she talked about the firing she plans to do, the firing she's done in the past, etc. She told me all this with a smile on her face. There were times that she bragged. I think she might be a little crazy. :eek:

Then she made what I feel are VERY inappropriate and unprofessional racial remarks about foreign nurses. She covered her remarks by saying it's a "cultural thing".

She badmouthed several of the nurses, including head nurses from other units, and she even used names! One nurse was referred to as a "dumb ass". She told me (as she was laughing) that she "tells it like it is". She doesn't understand how some of "these nurses" have 4 year degrees. Here's what ticked me off the most....she was complaining about the "dumb ass nurse" being slow paced and "anal". She suggested she "get a job as a school nurse or work in a doctor's office"! I AM A SCHOOL NURSE and she knows that!!!! Total slap in the face!

Many "stories" consisted of her belittling nurses in front of patients. She had no reservations about sharing these stories with me. I got the impression she thinks it's funny. This hospital is privately owned and I've heard tales about the owner/CEO firing people for no reason. The floor was very dated. No computers...all paper charting. This floor gets all the old, used pumps, while the other "specialized" floors have brand new pumps. They were scrambling around to find coverage (maybe this is common, idk). Three techs for 33 pts. Nurse/pt. ratio is 6:1 on Med/Surg/Pulm/Tele unit. She was willing to give me a lengthy orientation period though.

Is this common? I'm not savvy to the hospital environment. Is this the way most hospitals operate, how they view their nurses? I'm sure staffing is always an issue, but is this how management typically acts? If so, I'm very discouraged and disappointed.

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Ummm, no. This is not how all hospitals operate and treat their staff! I am... speechless. Thank goodness you saw all this in your interview and weren't sweet talked into a position just to find out this mess later on. I'm sorry this interview didn't go well. I read your post from earlier today and was hoping you'd post some good news afterwards. Let's hope next week's interview goes better!

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A manager who talks trash about her own staff to a prospective employee, who uses derogatory racial comments and tries to chalk it up to cultural differences, and who appears to enjoy belittling her nurses in front of others is not someone who can be trusted.

She really does sound a bit unhinged, but as long as she sits behind the big desk, she calls the shots. This may sound cynical, but sometimes upper management folks know they have a loose cannon on hand, and they allow the situation to continue as long as the crazy person keeps the budget under control and doesn't bother them too often.

I know jobs are scarce, but are you really willing to work for someone like this?

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First of all the head nurse interviewed me and she literally talked for 2 hours straight, about herself!!! Every other word out of her mouth was "FIRE". She talked about how she was going to clean house, and "hire up and fire down". I'm not kidding, she talked about the firing she plans to do, the firing she's done in the past, etc. She told me all this with a smile on her face. There were times that she bragged. I think she might be a little crazy. :eek:

Then she made what I feel are VERY inappropriate and unprofessional racial remarks about foreign nurses. She covered her remarks by saying it's a "cultural thing".

She badmouthed several of the nurses, including head nurses from other units, and she even used names! One nurse was referred to as a "dumb ass". She told me (as she was laughing) that she "tells it like it is".

Many "stories" consisted of her belittling nurses in front of patients. She had no reservations about sharing these stories with me. I got the impression she thinks it's funny.

I would trust your initial impression, and your gut feelings. From what you describe, her comments are VERY unprofessional, name calling, uses actual staff names in stories, etc. :down: Power trip much?? I have been in nursing for many years, and can not say I have experienced an interviewer like this. I can tell you, that it would not be someone I would want to work for or with. Keep on looking, and do not be discouraged, something better awaits you!!

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No this is not typical or professional on any level. If offered, I would not accept a job at this facility... the staff the head nurse is belittling today, will be you tomorrow... Also the staffing ratio seems unsafe.

I feel nervous for the patients!

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

RUN FAR FAR AWAY from this place!

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Specializes in Transgender Medicine.

RUN!!!!!!!!!

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Lets hope the reign of this "head nurse" is very short, for the sake of the patients and staff.

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Then she made what I feel are VERY inappropriate and unprofessional racial remarks about foreign nurses. She covered her remarks by saying it's a "cultural thing".

Is this the lady who interviewed you?

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

RUN!!!!!

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any talk of missing pts on the floor?:cool:

leslie

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I've come to realize that interviews can leave only 1 of 3 impressions on me:

1: "The really good place" - people and place seem to be a really cool and its a fabulous place to work. These places make me nervous because I'm always waiting for the facade to fall and the truth to come out. It always does it just sometimes takes a while. Institutions are like people no one is perfect.

2:"The OK place" - People seem for the most part honest, something isn't usually ideal whether it be the pay, benefits, hours, some cultural thing or "little problems" they are currently working on. But they are real and overall try.

3: "The H*** no place" - The place you described that you need to be exposed to (clarify: but NOT work at) so you can truely appreciate the other places. Even if its only to tell yourself on your worst day at least Im not at XYZ today.

I understand how frustrating this encounter is. You probably feel it was a waste of your time and its a big emotional toll when you psyche yourself up going into it but please keep your hopes up and KEEP SEARCHING!

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