Normal interview questions/process?

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I just graduated from a two year RN program and am scheduled to take my boards on July 16th. I am an LPN. I've had three interviews so far for three different hospitals. One in CO. and two in CA. My firt two went great and I have basically been offered jobs. The second interivew at an OC hospital this morning was terrible! I sat down with the Dept. Director, a charge nurse and another RN. The interview started out well and it was the basic meet and greet type questions. Then the DON starts giving me case scenarios about ortho patients etc. What would you do if you saw this. No big deal I thought. I said I'd assess the patient etc. She wanted more detail in my answers i..e walking her through my head to toe assesment. One of the case scenarios was a patient with a PE. What would you do? What would you order yadda yadda? How is a PE diagnosed. At one point she asked me how much O2 I would put the patient on (who's sats were 88%) I said I'd probably start them off on 1-2L. She said well that probably wouldn't do much you'd want to try 4L or so. Anyways, this was the worst interview I've ever had. I felt completely off guard and had no idea I would have to answer questions like that. I have a feeling it was because I was a male and had a 2 year degree. After the interview she said that she didn't think I was a good fit for her floor etc. I was upset and yet so angry. I've talked to other new grads and they've never had an interview like that. Maybe a question or two like what would you do if you walked into a room and saw this or that. But nothing like what would you order, detailed assessment questions, diagnosing PE's etc. I mean is this normal? My other interview was much different. At the other hospital in OC the recruiter interviewed me and showed me the hospital, handed out my resume to charge nurses on the other floors, and said when I get settled to call her and set up a second interview with a charge nurse on a specific floor. Anyone else have this experience? I want to call the nurse recruiter at the hospital and tell her what a negative experience I had and if all the interviews are like that and all the floors?

Not to sound conceited but I'm an attractive male nurse and constantly have to deal with that where I've worked and done clinicals. Could that be a factor as well? Thanks.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Anytime a person interviews in a place where they are a minority (male, female, gay, straight, black, white, brown, christian, muslim, etc) a bad interview & rejection one wonders "why?"

A few months ago, I interviewed at 3 institutions, got offers from two.

The 3rd sent a thanks, but no thanks letter. Was it because I was a guy? Overqualified? Didn't seem like I'd be a good fit in their conservative christian setting? Something else?

I don't know, don't really care as I had already crossed them off MY list & was just waiting to see how it would turn out.

Maybe they had unrealistic expectations, expecting that they would get a new grad with the knowledge & skill base of a seasoned RN. If you feel you want to call the recruiter, do so.

Just tell him-her that you were disappointed in the way the interview turned out & wanted to provide feedback that you felt that she asked questions way beyond the scope of your experience.

Some interviewers are tougher than others. I personally like a challenging interview. Lets me know that the manager is interested in doing more than just hiring a warm body.

Other than that, just chalk it up to experience & move on.

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The other thing that you want to consider is that maybe the interviewer KNEW that she was asking questions way out of the scope of your knowledge. Sometimes people ask questions like that, not to measure the quality of your answers, but to measure how you react to the questions. It's a style of interviewing that is actually advocated by some management gurus. Of course, it could also be that she didn't like your face, and was just being a jerk.

I wouldn't bother giving feedback to HR. Frankly, they don't care, won't do anything about it, and it would be your word against the nurse manager's about what the interview was like anyway. You're going to have job offers, and you're better off not working for someone who took an instant dislike to you (if that's what happened), so why even worry about it.

Oh, the crushing burden of being young and attractive - how I feel for you! :)

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I had an interview yesterday for a travel position in CA......the interviewer asked how i deal with conflicts with other co-workers.....i said in 12yrs of nursing never had a major conflict with a co-worker cause i get along with everyone. She told me flat out i don't believe that and i didn't get the job......i told my recruiter who is a guy.......he said next time to just make something up cause they don't understand that we guys get along better than the shrews!!! LOL.........sorry ladies

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

shrew.jpg

SHREW ↑

Offense taken I'm afraid

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The second interivew at an OC hospital this morning was terrible! I sat down with the Dept. Director, a charge nurse and another RN. I mean is this normal? My other interview was much different. At the other hospital in OC the recruiter interviewed me and showed me the hospital, handed out my resume to charge nurses on the other floors, and said when I get settled to call her and set up a second interview with a charge nurse on a specific floor. Anyone else have this experience?

Not to sound conceited but I'm an attractive male nurse and constantly have to deal with that where I've worked and done clinicals. Could that be a factor as well? Thanks.

Well, I do not doubt that you may be a hot little number, but I don't think it is the reason here, LOL! I am willing to bet that your terrible OC experience could possibly be at a hospital with a 4 letter name! If yes, that is their usual Modus Operandi. I got hired at a different OC hospital and had a fantastic interview experience that was so laid back. The "bad" hospital is well-known for being stuck-up and rude. I am sorry you experienced this--those questions were waaay outta your experience/scope as a new grad. Just take the other position in the OC (I was born in CO, but am loving SoCal:p). And FYI, there are a lot of hot young nurses (male & female) out here. So you probably won't experience so much animosity towards your "hotness". :nurse:

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Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

It almost sounds like they throw you out on the floor without a preceptor??? Perhaps you look like her ex husband or her 15 year old daughter told her that she was pregnant that morning or ......... Who knows. Many times when someone is being a butthead it isn't about the person they are interacting with; it is about them and what is going on in their life. Personally it doesn't sound like anyplace I would like to work as a new grad.

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If the DON was a haggardly, old, angry gay male, your theory might work, but last time I checked, female nurses love a little eye candy on the floors. Maybe if you were a young, attractive female, I might even buy it. Assuming you were skilled, etc, I imagine the DON asks these questions of everyone. I wouldn't be so quick to play the "cute" card, if i were you...lol

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If the DON was a haggardly, old, angry gay male, your theory might work, but last time I checked, female nurses love a little eye candy on the floors. Maybe if you were a young, attractive female, I might even buy it. Assuming you were skilled, etc, I imagine the DON asks these questions of everyone. I wouldn't be so quick to play the "cute" card, if i were you...lol

Hi,

Thanks very much for this comment. It help me to think about my ideals.

Tks again and pls keep posting.

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I think the interviewer had already decided to screen you out and was trying to get you to crack under the pressure and remove yourself as a candiate. Her/His motivation for this action is unknown and unknowable. Complaining to HR will not make any difference in the situation. You owe them nothing and you will not receive anything for calling HR. Laugh at the experience, be grateful you are not going to work there and move on to your next exciting and wonderful job.

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There is no way to know what was in the DON's head. Sometimes the DON all ready has someone in mind. The HR people may have made her interview more new grads other then her friend's kid. Who knows!

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