IPN- First Job interview.. help please

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2019

After a few trial and error efforts about when to drop the ‘bomb’ what I settled on doing was going into that interview, head high, sell myself and my skills. When it came to the ‘so do you have any questions...’ I’d be well, there is this one thing.....

Now I had the misfortune of the discipline being public, so if HR ran my license before I even got the interview and yet I still did, that would tell me that the facility was okay with the contract.
Only once did I try the ‘not mentioning it until after I got an offer’ and that backfired on me because the offer was withdrawn. Ironically, that position would have fit perfectly with my restrictions at the time. However that was how I learned that HCA (at least in my area) is decidedly NOT IPN friendly.

On one interview, the NM had to decline because she just could not accommodate the restrictions. I get that. It’s not the facility’s fault that IPN doesn’t give a **** wether you can get a job or not, they just want their money, even if you’ve got to swing on a pole to get it.

As time went on and I wended my way through 1 crappy job, likely hired along with other contract people because nobody else with any choice would work there and another that I was wholly unqualified for but was the only thing I could get those clowns to approve, I learned that a lot of places these days are becoming more and more aware of the fact that IPN is, for the most part a money suck that has nothing to do recovery or advocacy and is highly unlikely to present a true portrait of a job candidate.

Many places now are at least willing to give a chance. Muck up that chance, whole ‘nother ballgame.

Despite the existence of the contract making me feel like ‘damaged goods’ and feeling like I had to crawl in there begging for a job, I eventually figured out that any place (or person interviewing you) that would be judgemental enough slam the door in your face just over the contract (especially if there are minimal implications to your work) is probably not someone I’d want to work for anyway.

So my advice is go in there, head high, market yourself and remember that the contract is but a bump in the road and does not define you or the quality of your care.

svetlana36 · Nov 11, 2019

So I interviewed probably close to 20 times. Some times I disclosed IPN, sometimes I didn’t. The job I have now I didn’t disclose until I was offered the position. But I know other people who disclosed at the interview for the same company and they got the job. I would say go with the flow, sell yourself first. Disclose IPN if it feels right, don’t if it doesn’t....

AR-RN17, ADN · Nov 12, 2019

Be confident about being in IPN. Sell it as an advantage to being held to a higher standard and own your mistakes If they ask.
When they ask about you having questions; say “IM not sure if you are familiar with the program for nurses called IPN... It is basically a monitoring program for nurses that I’m involved in that holds me to a higher standard. I have a case manager that I speak to occasionally and may want to speak to you before I accept the position. All it would require from you (or the manager) is filling out an evaluation every 3 months to say how well I’m doing.’
don’t say anything negative about the program or get into more details then needed unless they ask

owt1225 · Nov 15, 2019

I got the job! How long did it take ipn to approve your job? They want me to start orientation ASAP.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2019

Yaaaassss!!
congrats.

Make sure your CM has that chat with your supervisor ASAP. And keep on her about it. Affinity message, call, carrier pigeon, whatever. If I learned anything, those CMs don’t appear to have any sense of urgency when it comes to this stuff.
On one job, i chewed my nails over a weekend because I’d had issues in the past with that. Read some of my past postings on that matter. The last time I needed their ‘approval’ I hounded them until it was done.

By that point, I was at the ‘don’t try me, just don’t’ stage. I had ceased being afraid of them.

owt1225 · Nov 15, 2019

Ughh ? they were wanting me to go ahead and start orientation Monday, but looks like I’m going to have to give them a call back and see if I can attend the next orientation ? I’m so bummed now. Was hoping to start ASAP. I’ve messaged my CM on affinity, called and left a voicemail to her and her assistant. I haven’t even talked to my CM at all since I started ipn. ??‍♀️

sofloRN · Jan 22, 2020

@owt1225 pls tell me which evaluator did you go? email me [email protected]