made an honest mistake

[justin12]

I recently applied to a job position and realized I made a mistake on my resume. I realized it only after I had applied.

I work on a med-surg tele/respiratory floor. And as far as everyone I've talked to, including our manager, all agreed that it is like an unofficial step-down despite being recognized only as a med-surg floor. Our hospital did away with the step-down unit years ago so they don't have to pay the differential.

So, the mistake I made was that I listed our floor as Med/Surg Telemetry/Respiratory "Step down" unit...when in reality we aren't officially recognized as one. I did not do this with the intention to lie. This happened over a year ago per few of my ex-coworkers' advise (who had gone to different hospitals since) recommendation when I was updating my resume. They advise me to list it as a step-down unit since it really is like one. According to them, that's what they did on their resume too. I didn't think much and took their advice.

When I applied for this current position, I focused so much on the grammar and other content in the resume I had overlooked this part. Having discovered it just now, I feel I should not have done that. I feel bad as if I'm trying to lie to get an interview, which was not my intention. I'm willing to accept the mistake and tell them, even if it means they don't want to interview me anymore.

The recruiter from the hospital had just emailed me wanting to schedule a phone interview, how should I go about this? Everything else on my resume is true, except this "step-down" title, which I have deleted it on my revised resume now.

Thank you for your time and advice in advance.

[beekee]

When you speak with the recruiter, just briefly explain that your current position is not officially designated a step down unit, but that you have experience with x, y and z (step down skills). Don’t make a big deal about it.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Do you know if the recruiter is a nurse? My experience with recruiters from my job applications both as an RN and as an NP in the past is that they aren't nurses and that they just have the ability to screen applicants based on what is written on your resume. I agree that you can clarify your current experience with this recruiter and if he/she still feels that you are a good fit for the position, then you will get an interview with a manager. That next step is the part where you will be asked in more detail what kind of unit it is you currently work at. Good luck.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I don't think it's that big a deal. Regardless of how the floor bills itself, part of your job is caring for step-down patients. Explain that to whomever you talk to. Doubt that anyone would bat an eye.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 2/8/2019 at 6:32 PM, beekee said:

When you speak with the recruiter, just briefly explain that your current position is not officially designated a step down unit, but that you have experience with x, y and z (step down skills). Don’t make a big deal about it.

I think I'd tell the RN who interviews you, not the HR person - unless that person is also an RN and would understand.

I wouldn't focus on it, though. Your goal is to portray an accurate picture of your skills and experience, no matter what the unit is called. Best wishes.

[guest1048932]

It really shouldn't matter. When I was in surgical nursing, I also cared for non-surgical patients such as palliative patients, dementia patients waiting for nursing home/other care placements, and even patients who should have been on a respiratory or medical unit. In my resume, I put my surgical experience as well as a note about caring for non-surgical patients as was relevant.

I would not make a big deal about it in your interview. HR, will probably forget all about the step down unit thing if they are not nursing staff. I wouldn't elaborate on it unless you are asked. If you are asked about it, or they say, "I didn't realize that was a step down unit," just say, "Well, it's not billed formally as a step down unit, but the hospital still sends us step-down patients and I have the skill set required for step-down nursing." Leave it at that, at the most. You probably won't be asked about it. You can explain it more if your HR person happens to be an RN who asks you about it. Nurses will understand that your skill set is the most important thing.

Don't sweat it!

[2Ask]

Go in with confidence! BTDT. Your experience managing a full patient assignment with med-surg/tele ratios but including higher acuity step-down patients well equips you for a REAL step down unit with nicer ratios. We used to get 5 patients but ICU nurses floating to our unit were only "allowed" to take 3 lest they be in over their heads. LOL