How do I interview a nurse manager?

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I am looking for some advice related to interviewing unit managers. I am getting ready to graduate in August and have been offerred a position that I have really been wanting, but this unit has had some management challenges over the past few months that concern me. The hospital has just hired a new nurse manager this week who is suposedly terrific. My plan is to wait until I get a chance to meet her to decide if this is the place for me to work or not. I really pray that she is the one that may bring some stability that this unit needs. Anyone have some advice about what I should ask and find out before deciding to accept this position? In particular what do you look for in a good nurse manager and how can I best determine this from a meeting? By the way this is an ICU unit if that matters at all. Thanks!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

http://www.hospitalsoup.com/interviewmanagement.asp - these are questions designed to be asked of someone who is applying for a management position. perhaps you will find some questions there that you might want to ask a manager.

may i offer some advice? don't lose sight of the fact that you are the one who is there to be evaluated for a job. ask these probing questions of the manager very tactfully. if you manage to offend the person you may not get this job that you want.

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May I offer some advice? Don't lose sight of the fact that YOU are the one who is there to be evaluated for a job. Ask these probing questions of the manager very tactfully. If you manage to offend the person you may not get this job that you want.

Um....despite what employers would have you think, interviews are meant to be *bi-directional*. And I've interviewed many job applicants. I wish more applicants had known what questions to ask of me, other than the starting salary.

I think it's great that the OP wants to interview the nurse manager to be sure the unit is where she wants to work. Too many applicants go in like beggars and wonder why they get handed crumbs.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

at the same site see: questions to ask the employer

wish more potential employees did their homework!

best wishes to you.

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May I offer some advice? Don't lose sight of the fact that YOU are the one who is there to be evaluated for a job. Ask these probing questions of the manager very tactfully. If you manage to offend the person you may not get this job that you want.

Actually, they are evaluating each other. I have turned down several jobs because the manager did not pass her part of the interview. When a manager tries to pull a power trip like you describe (SHE is evaluating ME - not respecting that we are evaluating each other and I have my own set of needs and criteria in a potential job, just as she has a set of needs and criteria in a potential employee) and doesn't show interest in me as a person or a potential employee - I ask myself "Self, do we really want to work for such a *****?" While I am sure I am not the only person who has applied for the job, it sure isn't the only job out there, either. I think it is important that things fit well both ways.

My :twocents:

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Thank you for feedback. I have actually been offered a full time position on the day shift and "tentatively" accepted it, pending a meeting with the new nurse manager in July. I will work on a back up job in case I decide that this ICU is not the place for me, but I hope that it is. We'll see. The website was very helpful!

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