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.

I would call the hospital's HR department and explain to them that you're interested in the position, but that you're unable to accept at this time, and detail the interview. Offer to send a rejection letter in writing with the reasons outlined. They need to know what this manager is saying and doing in interviews to offend applicants to the point that they would refuse a job.

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

All I can say is "WOW". Did she really think by trashing her employees, you were going to say "Oh yeah, you betcha I am in, when can I start". Geez some people really have no brains. She sounds like she has some mental issues going on.

Stay far away from that place!!!!

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Specializes in Burn, CCU, CTICU, Trauma, SICU, MICU.

OMG I feel like we interviewed with the same woman!!!!!! She was a new manager for a unit i worked on years ago and was considering coming back to - she bad mouthed all the nurses who had been there for DECADES (and are EXCELLENT nurses, just a little... rough around the edges) and said many times "You can't call a unit your own until you have hired everyone in that unit! I'm working on getting those other ones out of here!" .... Insanity! Run away! hahaha

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Don't take the job unless you are absolutely desperate cos you will hate it.

Ring in anonymously ro write in and report this foul-mouthed, bigoted know it all senior nurse.

Disgraceful - she just gives nursing a bad name!

Oh and tell her to her face why you are not taking the job - maybe it will make her realise how unprofessional she is.

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WOW!!! I'm speechless:eek:

Although we are in a time where we are so desperate to take whatever job comes our way, in situations like this we have to think about it and see where we stand morally and ethically. I would not work under someone like this, 1st because if this is the way she treats her coworkers, what is there to expect of the care she gives to patients? And think how she might be trying to make you her buddy, or maybe make you afraid of her so you don't dare cross her in the future. Hmmm...if it were me in your place, I'd rather keep looking and wait for the right position at the right place to come along.

Best of luck:)

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Sounds like the interview from the Twilight Zone. Once it passed an hour of rambling conversation I think I just heard my car alarm going off!! :eek: See ya! :lol2:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Scary, scary. Of course, I wouldn't take the position. What I am curious about is how long has this nurse been working in the field, and how many places? I am all for reporting to HR, but, my concern would be whether reporting this can hurt the OP later on. Some people's hands extend far, so to speak. However, even as I type, I have to say that someone needs to know this woman's behavior. What about the next poor person who is so desperate that they decide to take their chances and yet, get set up in some horrible way?

Hope you had a pair of skates because I certainly would have rolled out of there!

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Reading all these comments has put a smile back on my face. Thank you. :)

I've heard horror stories about this hospital many years ago. I was hoping that was a thing of the past. Guess not. It is one of the larger hospitals, closer to the city. L&D is great and that is where I would love to work. I was hoping I could get my foot in the door (in MedSurg/Pulm/Tele) and transfer to L&D, but no way in hell will I work for this crazy woman! Haha. Seriously, there were moments that I caught myself trying to diagnose what kind of mental disorder she has. HA! I started tuning her out after a while.

No sense in complaining to HR. Her daughter works there. The VP of Nursing is a revolving door. I don't even know if they have one right now, at least not a "permanent" VP. Regardless, I'm sure she's friends with her too. Can't go to her.

I always believe in trusting my gut and I knew this place was wrong long before I stepped foot in there. I was hoping to at least give it a chance and if anything, sharpen my interviewing skills (which didn't happen because she talked the whole time). I would be miserable if I worked there. I have an interview at another hospital next week that I really want. I've been pursuing it for a few months. Wish me luck.

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Specializes in Acute Care.
RUN!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely! RUN! DON'T look back!!! This is trouble with a capital T and you really want no part of it!

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Scary, scary. Of course, I wouldn't take the position. What I am curious about is how long has this nurse been working in the field, and how many places? I am all for reporting to HR, but, my concern would be whether reporting this can hurt the OP later on. Some people's hands extend far, so to speak. However, even as I type, I have to say that someone needs to know this woman's behavior. What about the next poor person who is so desperate that they decide to take their chances and yet, get set up in some horrible way?

Hope you had a pair of skates because I certainly would have rolled out of there!

Haha...I forgot my skates. Love that line!

I don't think voicing my concerns would make a difference. The CEO/owner likes her because she "is blond" and "he has a thing for blonds" (she actually said that). Sounds like a dirty, old man! I'm not sure who is her supervisor. I guess the VP of Nursing??? I do feel bad for the incoming employees. She told me she's hiring a new grad, 2 PRN unit secretaries, and 2 PRN techs and myself (NOT!). They are opening a new tele unit with 10 beds. So they will have 48 beds. She has 51 nurses staffed, down from 65. She was taking pts. from another floor last night because there was only ONE nurse on that floor. The others called out and there is no head nurse on that floor. No charge RN at night. I could be floated to different floors. She has threatened to take away personal cellphones while on duty. Any chart she finds laying on the counter, she comes by and knocks it to the ground and tells the RN it is a HIPPA/JCAHO violation and makes her pick it up and return it to the correct location. Very nasty behavior. She thought that was funny.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Reading all these comments has put a smile back on my face. Thank you. :)

I've heard horror stories about this hospital many years ago. I was hoping that was a thing of the past. Guess not. It is one of the larger hospitals, closer to the city. L&D is great and that is where I would love to work. I was hoping I could get my foot in the door (in MedSurg/Pulm/Tele) and transfer to L&D, but no way in hell will I work for this crazy woman! Haha. Seriously, there were moments that I caught myself trying to diagnose what kind of mental disorder she has. HA! I started tuning her out after a while.

No sense in complaining to HR. Her daughter works there. The VP of Nursing is a revolving door. I don't even know if they have one right now, at least not a "permanent" VP. Regardless, I'm sure she's friends with her too. Can't go to her.

I always believe in trusting my gut and I knew this place was wrong long before I stepped foot in there. I was hoping to at least give it a chance and if anything, sharpen my interviewing skills (which didn't happen because she talked the whole time). I would be miserable if I worked there. I have an interview at another hospital next week that I really want. I've been pursuing it for a few months. Wish me luck.

I had a feeling that her hands extended far...usually people who act like that know other people that cover for them. I do wish you luck, and laughter...LOL

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Is this the lady who interviewed you? :yeah::yeah::yeah:

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SPIT ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!! :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

To the OP..........................RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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