I know this has been discussed adnauseum here, but this is a slightly different twist on the issue.
Tell me, what would you think in this situation? You go for a job interview and within 20 minutes of starting the interview the unit manager starts talking about the problem she's having with her nurses eating their young. She then proceeds to say that she doesn't tolerate it and talks to rude nurses about it.
This is raising dozens of red flags in my mind. I keep wondering if I will be walking into an abusive situation....after all, it has to be pretty bad if she mentions it in the first interview, right? Hubby thinks I'm over-reacting, but I'm not so sure.
Run like the wind. Definitely a bad sign if she is bringing it up during the interview process but then again maybe she wanted to gauge your reaction.....but if so, why?
I would take it as a warning. Same thing happened to me and true enough...what my NM told me about the nurses' issue who left the unit are all true. It turned out that most of the nurses who stayed on that unit are the very seasoned one who has the "attitude"and the rest of the nurses are per-diems. I learned that most of the newbies would either quit or request for transfer....I had to drag my feet working on that unit 'til I was eligible for transfer after 6 mos. Luckily, I'm in a better unit now.
I think that she's being honest about what the environment is and that perhaps she has a few bad seeds, and that she's looking for a nurse that can hold his/her own and isn't afraid to report to her any rudeness.
I wouldn't necessarily write off this job if you are the type of worker that can hold their own, that won't put up with it, that will report it, that is independent, etc. I could be a viper pit, but it could just be one or two bad seeds. You're going to find that everywhere, it's good the manager is being honest about it, IMO.
I'd have to be very very despirate to take this job. This manager has issues with her management skills or this would have been handled already. Nursing is hard enough work, why add to it the challenge of changing others behavior?
There are red flags here but you must follow your instincts. If you do accept the job at least you are forewarned, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut to avoid problems and find out how soon you could transfer to another unit.
The unit has problems. It sounds like a bad environment. She has "talked" to the nurses about their attitudes. Sounds like talking isn't working. I predict in 6 months or a year from now she will have talked to them again with the same results. Run Forest Run!
Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
Wow, I wasn't expecting so many replies! Thank you all.
To be perfectly honest, the vast majority of you voiced what I've been feeling right from the first...that there's a big problem there. I have a second interview on Friday, I haven't decided whether or not I will go or cancel, but if I do go I'll have some hard questions to ask.
What a shame, I was really looking forward to the prospect of going back to the ICU.
You go for a job interview and within 20 minutes of starting the interview the unit manager starts talking about the problem she's having
I think this is the part that says it all:cool:
If she is not assertive enough and in command of staff to the extent needed to not have this or other "problems":eek:
But, a manager that is(does) is very rare anyway, most of the time one has to deal with these problems on their own anyway, so at least you got a "heads up" if the money, location, hours, etc are worth a look.
I know this has been discussed adnauseum here, but this is a slightly different twist on the issue.
Tell me, what would you think in this situation? You go for a job interview and within 20 minutes of starting the interview the unit manager starts talking about the problem she's having with her nurses eating their young. She then proceeds to say that she doesn't tolerate it and talks to rude nurses about it.
This is raising dozens of red flags in my mind. I keep wondering if I will be walking into an abusive situation....after all, it has to be pretty bad if she mentions it in the first interview, right? Hubby thinks I'm over-reacting, but I'm not so sure.
What would you think in this situation?
You are perceptive, and correct. The manager should not be raising that issue with you. Remember, this is an interview. If she has problems with her staff she should be addressing these problems with them, not you. Most of the problems that nurses have on nursing units are with problems that result from inexperienced or poor leadership. She should be telling you about what a great unit and staff she has! If that is not the case than she will ultimately be involved in more and more interviews--until the problem is fixed. Look for employment elsewhere!
ShelleyERgirl, LPN
436 Posts
Run like the wind. Definitely a bad sign if she is bringing it up during the interview process but then again maybe she wanted to gauge your reaction.....but if so, why?