My first interview for an RN position. Am I wrong about this?

[Elysium_Won]

I recently had my first interview for an RN position in preparation for my graduation. I've been to clinical at this facility and they have a good track record for new graduate internships. I have good grades, a year of tech experience, and a recommendation from my instructor who is also on staff at the facility in a management position. My meeting with HR went very well. My interview with the manager of the unit (ICU) did not.

I did my research and knew all about the company's values, vision, and philosophy. I had unit-specific questions to ask, not the least of which was how receptive the staff is to new grads. (This interview was for a "New Grad ICU Internship", so I assumed this would not be an issue.)

Basically, the interview was all of three brief questions - why I wanted to become a nurse, what my obstacles would be, and why the ICU. I had solid answers, but the manager was unimpressed. Basically I was told (though not in these exact words) what a burden a new grad is to put through orientation and how without any previous nursing experience, common things would slow me down. It seems they are receptive to new grads - but it's clear that the only reason is because of the nursing shortage. I was specifically told that if this was a few years ago, I wouldn't even be in this interview. I was asked if I had any more questions (I said 'no' because I just wanted to get the heck out of there.) and was told that the manager would make a decision by next week. I do understand their concerns with new grads not having experience - I completely get it - but if you (obviously) feel that strongly against it, don't offer the internship.

I have taken into account that perhaps today was a bad day for the manager. I still think this was a completely unacceptable experience. If you offer an internship for a new graduate, don't get hissy if one applies for it. At this point, I have decided that I will not be accepting the position even if it is offered. Am I wrong to take this stance? Certainly, this is not a manager I want to work under. My intention is to call the recruiter on Monday and tell her that I am no longer interested in this position, but I do feel the hospital is excellent and would like to interview with a different unit. I'm just not sure how to reply if/when she asks 'why'.

Any suggestions?

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Before I started to work as an RN in an ICU, I would have thought the same thing. Well, I still do meaning: as a new grad I want to be sccepted, I want the staff to be open to me, and I want to have it be as stress-free as possible. Trust me, we just can't get away from mean managers, if you don't get one now, then it will be soon!

However, I thought I was so prepared for the ICU. I had 10 years of tech experience, had been NALS certified, worked as an EMT for a few years and grew up with parents who were a pharmicist and a nurse. I actually red the PDR when I was younger-I know, weird.

When I became a nurse and stepped out on the floor, I freaked. It's just so overwhelming! I came home and told my husband that I could see why some nurses become alcoholics! It took a few months just to start to feel better about being there, and I have considered quitting more than once.

The ICU just doesn't want to spend a ton of money on you to find out that you don't fit, can't deal with stress and confrontation, or that you are likely to give up. Part of that interview was an asssessment for just that. It's also an assessment for you to find out if they are a good fit for you. If you feel they aren't, then they aren't.

Be careful of how you turn down the job. Nursing is an incredibly small world. Don't burn this bridge...

[augigi, CNS]

I agree re management issues, and that she obviously is not a good one.

However, nursing is a female dominated, witchy industry. If you can't deal with that, you'll have problems. Sooner or later you will have to stand up for yourself and your rights, and why not fight to work in an area you are interested in? Not everyone on the unit can be awful - maybe there is a great nurse educator? As someone else said, maybe this was a test as to how you hold up under pressure or confrontation.

In any case, I agree it's unforgiveable to scare off applicants when critical care is crying out for staff.

Best of luck with your decision.

[RN1263]

The ICU just doesn't want to spend a ton of money on you to find out that you don't fit, can't deal with stress and confrontation, or that you are likely to give up. Part of that interview was an asssessment for just that. It's also an assessment for you to find out if they are a good fit for you. If you feel they aren't, then they aren't.

this quote by cardiacRN2006 makes alot of sense to me. i had already been thinking as i was reading the posts that this manager may have been testing you???..

she may have been testing to see if you are thin skinned, because a new grad in icu will have to take some criticism and have to learn alot from the school of hard knocks?

if she was testing you and you accept the job anyway, despite her demeanor toward you, she MAY have a different attitude toward you once hired????? yes, you'd be taking a chance that she wasn't testing you and is just MEAN, but if that's the unit you want to be in you'd have to weigh the pro's and cons......

good luck w/ whatever you choose!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

In re-reading the original post something else struck me that I had missed the first time. The OP was only asked "three brief questions". Those questions were also a indication of an interviewer who doesn't know what they are doing. An interview is a time to learn as much as you can about the character and any potential problem areas that might arise with the potential employee. It sounds like this manager was more interested in getting to her own agenda, another sign of poor interviewing skill.

A number of posters have felt that the nurse manager might have been testing the OP in the way she presented information to her at her interview. I just can't agree with that. This is just not good hiring or interviewing technique and I'll stand by my original suggestion that this speaks volumes about this person's character and level of skill as a manager. It saddens me that so many want such an unwelcome meeting to turn into a wonderful situation for a new grad. It would, in all likelihood, turn into just the opposite, a nightmare. As new grads you have to assess employment opportunities very cautiously. The nursing shortage in some places has hit hard. There are a good many employers out there who are just looking for bodies to fill the holes in their schedules and they have managers in place who are willing to oblige their bosses and do just that. They don't care about you new grads or your needs. Do you want to be one of those bodies? Or, do you want to work with people who genuinely care about you and your development into a mature nurse? Does it sound like this particular manager was interested in the development and maturing of a newbie? You can't let your desperation or eagerness to get that first job cloud your good judgment. If there is anything I've learned in my years of working, it's that one of the most important factors to a happy job is the working relationship you have with the people you work closest with on that job. And, it often starts with who is in charge.