Questions asked by Nurse Recruiter...what is the norm?

Hooligan · Dec 17, 2002

Um...I'm not sure...I'm still a student but right off the bat I would have to say no friggin way! I would turn right around and ask why they're recruiting and what's their turn-over rate? If they have a low turn over rate and their facililty is so wonderful, why are they recruiting? One would think that nurses would be flocking to such a great facility!...Hmmm...Well thanks for the interview...I think I'll go somewhere else! Sheesh! I personally think she overstepper her bounds!

~Bean

flowerchild · Dec 17, 2002

It is not legal to ask questions that would discriminate someone on the basis of gender, marital status, age, race, etc. Sounds like this interview was on the edge of legal. If you elicit the information, then that is legal. Never give more information than you need to in an interview and take it as a learning experience.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2002

http://interactive.wsj.com/public/current/articles/SB868475537387961000.htm

Here's a really good site on how to deal with potentially illegal questions. It sounds like the person interviewing you probablly crossed the line by prying into your personal life so much.

kmchugh · Dec 17, 2002

I can't add much to what others have said, except I'm pretty shocked. With the nursing shortage, employers are STILL acting as though there were a huge pool of nurses from which to select potential employees. I'm beginnig to think they are doing this on purpose. By intimidating a nurse right off the bat, I believe the hope is to keep the nurses intimidated as employees. Easier to herd sheep than wolves. When will employers learn? More importantly, when will WE learn?

Personally, I think I would have made a comment (on my way out the door) that I was not interested in working at a facility that had such interest in my family life.

Kevin McHugh

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2002

I was asked about my size before for a job on ortho. I am not that big, 5'5" at 115 pounds. Needless to say the manager passed me by. Said I was to small.

Cripe,

renerian

BadBird, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2002

I am confused, was she interviewing you or your husband? I think she acted most unprofessionally.

nightingale, RN · Dec 17, 2002

It sounds illegal as $%^& to me. It also sounds like you may not want to work for such a poor manager to begin with.

It took me a long time before I realized, in the work world, that "I" was interviewing them too. Next time, plan some of what you want them to know and have a few of your own intelligent questions like:

Nurse team styles, management styles of the facility and your direct leader, ratios, expectations, and other questions pertinent to keeping you stimulated and on their unit or at that facility.

You can do it all with an air of dignity that keeps YOU intact and focused on your own goals and future plans.

Good luck to you and let us know how we can help.

B.

Talonn · Dec 17, 2002

This recruiter probably has control problems at home. Hahaha. I have been interviewed by this type of recruiter on several occasions. They simply do not know how to do their job. You have to go around them, or if you know someone, over them.

With one particular "personnel management professional", I went around, behind, and then over her. When I finagled getting hired at the facility, I informed the proper people of her style and improper attitude where nursing recruitment was concerned, and I still am thanked for that. It seems SHE was keeping the facility nursing shortage in effect more than the national shortage was. This was several years ago.

Personnel management people need to get a grip on their job. It is hard for me to comprehend why a non-medical person has more say what nurse is hired where than the unit managers do.

I'm getting angry again so I better stop. :) :) :)

emily_mom · Dec 17, 2002

I think the recruiter needs to get laid...repeatedly

Or have a rectal stickectomy....

:)

Kristy

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2002

Emily LOL.................

renerian

Gomer · Dec 17, 2002

Only questions about your work history, work experience, clinical abilities, and education should be asked. Questions about your physical abilities may be asked in regards to "...are you able to do the essential functions of the job with or without accomodations?" (i.e., can you lift x-amount of pounds?, can you stand for long periods of time?, etc). The recruiter's question about your working in a foreign country was OK, but her questions about your husband were not. She probably hasn't been trainned in the legal aspects of recruiting and is a recruiter only because her employer wanted an RN in the job. Depending on how badly you want the job, I suggest you contact the HR/Mgr and inform her/him of your concerns about the interview process.