Is a phone interview the norm?

[RNforLongTime]

I've got a phone interview set up at 1pmEST today for an ICU position at my local hospital that's owned by a larger health care system. Is this becoming the norm for hospitals to do this? I've not heard of it. I applied with this hospital two years ago, through the parent hospitals website, and was called for on-site interviews.

I've been on numerous interviews in my 10 yr career as an RN and have NEVER had a phone interview until now.

Is this the norm nowadays?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

It's the norm for travel positions. But perhaps with your experience and references a phone interview would work.

[RNforLongTime]

I'm hoping that if they "like" me that this is the only interview I'll have to give before being hired by this facility. I work straight weekday night shift so my availability is extremely limited for an on-site interview. But I am also being told(from other non-nurses) that a phone interview is an initial interview to select candidates to bring in for a face to face interview.

Guess I'll know in a few hours.

[ladylikeRN]

I had a phone interview for a hospital system. Turns out, the HR rep/nurse recruiter interviewed me over the phone and kept the interview results in my records for all of my job inquiries. In fact, I interviewed in person with several mangers after completing the first step of the interviewing process, the phone interview. So, I think that in the future, the ICU will call you back for an in-person interview if they are interested. At the end of your interview, you may want to ask how the process works for the place you are interested in. The interviewer usually asks at the end about any questions.

[RNforLongTime]

Well, I just got off the phone with the interviewer.......I was asked about my current position and my previous one......she seemed to focus on that, asked me why I was terminated....and yet again, I was honest with her. I told her the names of the drugs.....how they were ordered.....that I've spoken with several physicians where I currently work and how none of them feel that I did anything wrong..

Then I was asked a BUNCH of questions about situations that I've dealt with in my nursing career......at the end of the interview I was told that the RN position that I applied for was being filled internally but that there were other Full time positions that were becoming available. Then she told me that she would forward my information to the ICU manager and find out if that person was "comfortable" with my termination issue from my previous job......

.so..after being told that, I don't have a good vibe anymore... But we'll see. Was told that I should be notified by tomorrow if I was being moved on to the next step in the process.....keep your fingers crossed!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I have not heard of phone interviews, but can see it being possible. These days, with technology and people being as busy as we are, it can be a great way to obtain information to continue with their selection process. I wish you luck.

[Katie82, RN]

A phone interview is now being used by many facilities to weed out unqualified applicants. This cuts down on the interview process if you only have to actually meet with the "finalists".

[gwlillith]

Sounds like these jobs are becoming pretty competitive. I remember the slogan, "If you can sign RN after your name you'll never be out of a job"

Good luck Lou, I've got a phone interview on Wednesday myself!