Prospective Jobs, How do know what you are getting in to

[lpnflorida]

I wish I had thought of this myself. I did not. I have to give credit to a mature former army Rn, current RnCrrn.

She came from a different part of the country. We were informed that she would be shadowing one of the Rn's on our unit, in the next breathe that she was considering moving to our area, and wanted to check us out. I had never heard of anyone doing that before. She completed the time she wanted. She walked away with a pretty good understanding of what it was like over several days of observing an Rn in her day to day dealings. She ended up moving to our area, applying and accepting a job on our unit. Now are we a perfect environment? No, but we have a great staff and great patients, that is on a good day. The not so good days, we grrrrrr in our heads..lol...

I do so admire her creative way of assessing our unit, our type of patients and her own fit before committing herself.. I also admire that our DON allowed this stranger amongst us to do this. It gave us all food for thought.

Has anyone else done the unusual before applying for a job?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

"shadowing" for a day or part of a day is a normal part of the interview process around here. i have to admit, i was shocked when the interviewer told me of the requirement -- i thought it was just for new grads. here i was, with a quarter century of experience, and they wanted me to shadow for a day. i wish i could say it prepared me for what i was getting into, but sadly it did not.

[rhondaa83]

Just curious, why did it not prepare you? Rhonda

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

everyone was on their best behavior on my shadow day. they wanted to attract staff. once we joined their staff, they started in on the mean and nasty behavior that was their norm.

[neatnurse30]

I, too, shadowed a nurse for 3-4 hrs and afterwars I accepted the job. Let me tell you, I would probably had to be on new unit for at least a week day and night, to get even the slightest idea of the unit. You don't know the coworker's personalities and the environment until you really work with them.And I think, too, that people are on their best behavior when someone shadows them and the manager usually chooses the best nurse at that time to follow.

[Ahhphoey]

I was required to shadow for my current part-time job as a bedflow coordinator. I had one 4 hour day of shadowing before the manager even interviewed me face to face (the initial interview was via phone). After that shadow, I had a face to face interview and was scheduled for two more days of shadowing except they were paid this time (I was already working at another hospital in the same system). I wasn't actually offered the job formally until I was nearly done with a six week orientation.

[Jules A, MSN]

I wouldn't take a job without a shadow experience. Not that you see the actual warts and all but I do think you can get a vibe about the dynamics.

[rhondaa83]

everyone was on their best behavior on my shadow day. they wanted to attract staff. once we joined their staff, they started in on the mean and nasty behavior that was their norm.

i really beleive that. hospitals have the nicest people orientate you, and then when you are on your own, all of those nice people are hardly ever seen again.it is like the wizard of oz, the nice witch leaves and the wicked witch comes out, and you are on our own to fight her and all of her flying monkey's all by yourself! rhonda