RUDE OR WHAT ?

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Hi everyone,

OK, heres the deal. I had a telephone interview on Tuesday with the VA. I really would love to work at this clinic for the VA(dream job). I graduated May 2010 and worked for a while as a rn before I relocated to another state because my husband is military. I have been having a really hard time finding a job here and I am not willing to settle for anything. I am going after a government position because I feel that is the best fit for me and I am tired of relocating and my time not transferring, plus my husband is set to retire in a couple of years.

Anyway I spoke with the nurse manager and we agreed that my interview would be at 10am. I prepared for my interview and waited on my call, 10o'clock is here no phone call, so I started to worry, maybe she forgot. It seems like it took forever the phone rang at 1015 it was her, the nurse manager for the interview. She apologized and said that they were short staffed and she was running behind, I stated ok, not a problem. I was just excited that she called. She starts the interview tell me about yourself and then goes further into the interview with other PBI questions. I answer the questions but in the middle of the interview she stops and has to call the person that is schedule for an interview behind me. I felt really rushed during this interview and felt that because she was behind that I was getting short changed on my interview. When it came for the time to ask questions, or course I had questions, I was able to ask two questions and before I could get the other question out she stated I'm sorry Ms.D I am really running behind and I have another interview behind you. I have to end this.

:confused: I was told that several people applied for the job and she had several interviews. Was that rude or is it just me? I was told that when a hiring decision was made that the applicants would be notified either way. I feel that I did well on the interview, however I just don't know what to think about that situation. I know we all have bad days and get behind sometimes but really? I still optimistic about this position we'll see. Just had to get this off my chest.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

I would say rude and unprofessional. She could have at least asked to call you back to complete the interview. I don't know how I would feel about being working the "leadship" of someone like this. Terrible first impression.

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It sounds like she had a ton of stuff coming at her that she was trying to juggle, and she was overwhelmed. It also sounds like she was attempting to be nice about it, but she was in over her head, and probably should have rearranged her schedule.

It doesn't sound to me like she was being rude.

They were short staffed, she probably had a lot of staffing issues to deal with, and she was under pressure to knock out these interviews, and she was failing miserably at everything.

It's a pretty accurate description of what nurses experience every day on the job. And no matter how much we try to be nice, eventually someone will get insulted and just assume that we are being rude, when in fact, we are just really struggling with an unmanageable load.

The interview experience should give you an idea of what you will be dealing with on the job, and so I think that you have a pretty good idea of what to expect if you work at that facility.

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I'm pretty sure she was busy, however I think it could have been handled differently.

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Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I started to wonder if she was like that all the time.

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I agree with mazy. That's how things are for that manager - I'd say she is working with what a lot of nurses deal with. BUT, she called you and didn't blow you off. If she had pressing issues, you come last or never. That's just how it is. Healthcare sucks for docs and nurses alike these days. I am sure she was thinking to self, "Oh great, they (the interviewees) will all think that I don't have my act together, but, it's all I can do today!" Nothing you can do about it OP, and there will be more situations like this. It's what healthcare has turned into and it's not gonna change anytime soon.

What I'd do. If you speak to her again, mention, "Wow, you've got so much going on, so much responsibility. Is this a good time? I'm OK if it's better for you to go put out 'fires" and then call me."

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I don't think it was rude. It sounds like she was doing the best she could under suboptimal conditions.

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