Is it appropriate to ask this in an interview?

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

So sorry--for some reason last night I took it as you were conducting the interview and the applicant asked this question. Oops!! But yes, I still say that it's a good question for YOU to ask. It shows that you care about pt safety, and the facility should be glad to share the answer with you. "Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing." :)

Suckitupbuttercup · Oct 12, 2014

So sorry--for some reason last night I took it as you were conducting the interview and the applicant asked this question. Oops!! But yes, I still say that it's a good question for YOU to ask. It shows that you care about pt safety, and the facility should be glad to share the answer with you. "Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing." :)

No offense taken at all...the advice would still stand

firstinfamily, RN · Oct 12, 2014

Having gone through multiple interviews lately I also had different approaches. In one facility, the HR person actually discussed salary with me before I had the interview with the unit manager. Once the unit manager and I had started talking I asked about nurse to pt ratio and what levels of staff were on the floor ie: new nurses versus seasoned nurses----this tells me what the turnover has been. I usually ask about being pulled or floating to other units because in the real world this happens all the time. I asked for a tour of the unit and was given this only once. I am going in for a shadow shift this coming week and hope the offer will come from that. Another facility I interviewed at did not discuss salary or vacations, holidays, and I felt conflicted to ask, because if you ask during the first interview does that mean you are only seeking information about time off/ or if you do not ask is that interpreted that you were not interested enough to ask?? All three facilities emphasized their health benefits, which truly did not interest me because I am under my husband's health insurance, but I understand this is more important to others. I was pretty much shut down at one facility because of the age factor, I am 57, and have never had this happen before, so it has me a little concerned. Wouldn't a facility want a seasoned, experienced nurse with an advance degree to care for patients, or does that look like a "failure" to managers??? I have not job hopped a lot and most of my job changes were with my husband's career changes. I think I am very marketable, strong nurse, but I am not getting the feedback from the facilities that reinforce this. In short, I think the questions about staff, unit issues should be included in the interview process, they are most likely better to introduce into the interview process during the later half of the interview than right at the beginning. I think it is important to see the unit one wants to be hired on so you see how things are set up, it does affect how your work flow is.

Wrench Party · Oct 12, 2014

I've asked the following: "What is your standard nurse:patient ratio on the unit? What would new graduate nurses off orientation be expected to carry? What are some common diagnoses on the unit? How is the unit culture?"

Those all may seem too direct, but if I'm expected to work with the same folks every day, I'd like honest answers and a good sense

of what I'd be getting into. Nursing isn't my first employment rodeo.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2014

As a unit manager, I am very open with prospective candidates about staffing ratios. If the hiring manager is not, it's in your best interest to inquire. You need to have a good idea about staffing prior to accepting the position.

Caffeine_IV · Oct 13, 2014

It is more than an appropriate question however don't be shocked if the answer isn't 100% true.