"Interviewed" a few days ago... am I hired?

[abrunck]

I'm a patient care intern/tech (PCI) for a hospital and have worked there for a year.. I applied to the organ transplant unit at the same hospital (different floor) the day I graduated and got a call the very next day to schedule an interview.I also did a year of clinicals on the unit and fell in love with it! I did a semester of med/surg and my Capstone (senior final clinical) on the unit.

When I got to my interview, the manager on the floor talked to me about the patient acuity and population, the doctor/nurse relationship on the floor, how the nurses schedule, the orientation process, etc. She walked me around the unit and introduced me to some of the staff.

Weird part? She NEVER asked any interview questions!! Not one! Just the "do you have any questions for me?" question. She asked if I had passed my boards and I said, '' I have not scheduled to take the boards yet, I'm still waiting on my ATT number. I applied, but wasn't expecting a call so soon." And she said that since I work as a PCI, I am treated a little differently.. that I could work as a tech on the floor until I take my boards. She also wanted me to come in next week to shadow with a nurse and then email her after to let her know how it went and if I still want to work for the floor. She said that since I did 2 clinicals on the floor and still wanna work there, she knows that I already have a special place in my heart for these patients and would be a good fit for the floor.

So she never said whether or not I was hired or what, so I emailed her thanking her for the interview and asked when I would know if I had the position on the floor? She never responded, so I guess I'll email her again after I shadow.. What does this mean?

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Seems like you are hired but first they want you to shadow.

I would be careful about places that don't really ask you any interview questions. Could mean they are desperate for help or the unit has a high turnover rate for nurses. I say this because I once applied for a PCNA position at a hospital...they didn't ask me any interview questions at all. They just showed me around, told me about the unit, introduced me to the staff, explained scheduling, etc and asked if I had any questions for them. I didn't like that job very much...and I left after 4 months because a better opportunity opened up. I know you did clinicals there so you kind of already have an idea. Are the nurses you met during your clinicals/senior capstone still on the unit?

[abrunck]

Thanks for the reply!

The manager told me that a lot of the nurses were hired on in 2010 since they put in more beds. The one I was with in clinical my junior year was a newer nurse, but she really likes the unit. The nurse I was with for my Capstone is from Illinois (this hospital is 3 hours away, in Indiana). What she does is works weekends, stays at a motel during her shifts and goes home during the week. She absolutely LOVES the unit and patients and has been on this particular unit for 27 years! I have not heard anything bad around the unit, but the patient acuity is a little higher (leaning toward progressive care sometimes), so that could make work a little more challenging than another med/surg floor. Maybe when I shadow, I can ask the nurse she puts me with more about the unit and how she feels about the floor. But yeah, great point with the being careful.. I know they like a two year commitment too.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

It sounds like you have a really good chance of landing the job...however, it doesn't matter what happens: you haven't been hired until you receive an official job offer from HR. So bring your A game to the shadowing. Good luck!

[abrunck]

Thanks!