what now?

[mskelr]

I applied for a position in a differerent department at my job. I am a new graduate ADN with 4 years of LPN experience. The position I applied for was a trainable position, meaning they were supposedly willing to train. I was interviewed by two nurses from that department.

During the interview, one of the nurses stated that she didn't think I had enough experience to perform the required duties despite my prior LPN experience, experience working in LTC and working with the residents on the specific units the job catered too. Her colleague looked very surprised by this statement and changed the subject.

I just learned that the position was filled with a brand new graduate ADN with no prior experience in nursing what so ever. The only difference between us other than what's been mentioned is race.

I have yet to speak with my DON or ADON concerning this matter. I don't know what to say? I am definitely looking for other employment at this point.

[MaxAttack, BSN, RN]

There's a lot more behind interviews than experience and race. I wouldn't be so quick to jump to that conclusion - there's a ton of things that good interviewers look for, and sometimes it comes down to there's something that didn't quite click for them, even though you were the most qualified.

I've seen it happen a lot, and never because of race. I'm not saying it's not possible, but more often than not it's something else entirely.

[Bella RN, BSN, MSN]

I agree with the above post. Unless a blatant remark was made about your ethnicity than you can't pull out the race card. It could be a personality conflict or the other nurses may have felt it may be easier to train a new nurse with NO experience whatsover, but a new nurse with some experience may have there own recomendations or hesitations because they have been exposed to certain situations a newbie hasn't. I know first hand that you see you have the skills set and the potential and you have more experience than the other candidate and it is very easy to say it is race--I have been there. But just recollect your thoughts, take a deep breath and go where you feel you will be valued and appreciated. Keep your head up and keep on looking!!

[Woodenpug, BSN]

I have noticed that some RN's dislike LPN's. But, unlike the others, I would think it would be good to have a dialog with someone about your concerns of racism. Just state the facts that you were more qualified than the successful candidate.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

You have to realize too, many many of the interviews that are conducted in facilities are done to fulfill a quota. The manager (or other nurses) must perform at least X amt. of interviews before making a decision. Often, the person they want to hire is waiting in the background while they formally satisfy this quota. In short, they are just going through the motions, the decision was made days ago. Nothing you say or any answer you give overcomes this situation.

I once interviewed for an ICU position. They did the interviews just as you are describing, I interviewed with nurses from the unit first. The nurses I interviewed with were very young, could not have been more than a couple years removed from graduation. The first question fired at me was why I picked the ICU to interview for as opposed to going into M/S where I had experience. I described in detail how I used multiple resources to find out what the work environment was like for a number of specialties I was considering (Tele, OR, ICU and ED). I even spelled out the pros/cons of them and explained why I felt ICU was the best fit. One point I made was that I had been informed by more than a few resources that the ICU tends to have a lot of type A personalities, people who are going to tell you when you are doing something wrong.

I was not hired for the position. The HR person's explanation was: "The nurses are afraid that the critical nature of the nurses on the unit may not be what you are looking for." Eh? This despite the fact that I already knew about it, applied anyway and come from a background that includes military style schooling.

I found out they had hired a group of students into that position instead, a group that had graduated MONTHS before my interview. So, I can only conclude the position was already filled when I interviewed. What? You gonna tell me you thought those GNs were better prepared to absorb direct criticism?

They offered me a position on the M/S unit, surprise surprise.

[fungez]

I have also been interviewed for jobs that they already knew who they were going to hire. It's insulting and a waste of my time but it does happen.

Although once at my volunteer job the directer asked "so you know any [particular skin color] nurses to staff the new clinic?" Astonished, I asked right what was in my head "is that legal?" Her explanation - this clinic was going to be treating the particular skin color and so that's what they needed. I still doubt if it's legal, though.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Bingo!

OP, that is your problem. They already have someone and are trotting you in just to waste your time. I know someone who admits this is how they got their job. The hospital called this person and said, "__________, how can I help you find a nursing position here at X hospital!" There was no standard interview, just a meet and greet. This was a true blue political favor, btw. Sure, this happens everywhere.

Erik, you are right about the NG ICU/ER deal. I think it's an experiment to see if they can get away with the lower salary... Admin fiddling around with how far they can go to cut costs and now they are tampering with the danger zone critical care. In some areas like mine, many of the ICU positions are NG. I feel they can go thru like 20 new grads and throw us out with the bath water and still come out ahead if out of those 20 they find one that can make it. Now, these ICU/ER new grads get the same 12 wks everybody else gets. That's why you read posts here on AN of NGs "jumping out any window" to get out before they kill someone, or their coworkers do the same to them. Seems like some places are turning things around so that if you don't orient as a NG in ICU, you aren't likely to get there. Heck when I was in my last semester ICU preceptorship, there were a few times I was actually nervous with the very young staff. It's not like I know anything, right?! But I do know how to admin meds/manage a central line...

[happy2learn]

Unless you were sitting in that interview and taught how to read interviewees, then you can't really say "the only difference."

Verbal and nonverbal communication can make or break and interview.

I would just ask them why you didn't receive the position so you can better prepare yourself on the next interview.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

You will go further in life if you carry yourself as if race doesn't matter.

I know many ethnicities, colors, cultures that survive and THRIVE where I am that the "color" of a person is so irrelevant--that's because frankly, we don't have time for the nonsense.

Find a big city and get rid of the chip on that shoulder.....

[caliotter3]

If you feel that slighted, then go ahead and look for another job. I would not be happy with the situation either, comparing your experience in nursing with the other person's lack of experience. Would I look for another job because of it, depends on the other circumstances. Jobs are hard to come by. You might not be able to find another one. Good luck.

[guest2210]

Years ago, managers would hire a new grad over an experienced LPN -->New Grad because the NG hadn't developed any "bad habits" as they called it. The NG could be moulded to THEIR way of doing things. Not fair, but it happens.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Sorry you missed a job you want. If they treated you like this, perhaps they did you a favor, or themselves a dis-service. In the past I've tried the (uggghhh) lawyer route, and the EEOC route. Wasted a lot of time and money, stirred up a lot of dust, and accomplished nothing but delaying what I needed to do; move on. Very often in Nursing when I thought I was being treated badly, it eventually turned out to be a big favor. Hope it all works out for you.