Should I tell the truth about graduating to get a job?

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I posted this on another forum:

I graduate nursing school on September 15th, 2015. I currently work as a CNA at a long term acute care facility in Boston. I recently applied to a different hospital that is a level 1 trauma center in the city and got contacted back for an ED Tech position. Which I am super excited about!:x3:

I wanted to get some critical care experience or just to see how ER would be like and if I will like it while waiting to taking my boards this Fall. Also, I need the money. My main concern is that I'm afraid when I get the Interview if I should not tell them when I will be graduating or that I am taking my Nclex-RN boards in 4 months?? I just really wanted an in at this particular hospital and feel this is my chance. I want to work as an RN there eventually.

Some of the nurses at my job told me I should stretch the truth just to get into that particular hospital somehow till I could get a RN position there and one person told me to tell the truth. What do you guys think??:confused:

Tell the truth in response to a direct question but you do not have to go out of your way to emphasize any fact, especially one that may be a 'disqualifier'. Instead, I would emphasize why you want to work in that hospital, in that department.

I'm not being ignorant and that was extremely rude. You aren't even a nurse yet. I've been one for 30 years. I've worked in different hospital systems and on all levels of nursing. The nursing world is very small. They talk. A lot. You clearly have no understanding of this. If you lie and as a result of that lie leave the unit and the hospital in the lurch it will be noted in HR in your file. They pull these files to evaluate in-house candidates for new grad programs. So yes, all the managers will know. And so will all the managers in any other associated hospital. I question the ethics of anybody who thinks it's okay to outright lie. Where will you draw the line?

Lying and "stretching the truth" are two different things. Maybe I should have continued to use that term, rather than lying? I would never get a job if I said, "Oh! I only intend to be here for 6 months!" I work for a hiring manager and she has specifically said they don't hire people if they have an inkling they will leave. Most units have such high turnover rates, they cant afford to spend the money AND time on a new hire for them to just leave months later.

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

My facility specifically hires nursing students to CNA positions with the hope that they will transition into RN positions upon passing NCLEX. Sometimes they are still taking prereqs & some are in the last weeks of their program. In the past couple yrs, I don't recall any new hire CNAs that were not nursing students. This may eventually change if our staffing deficits ever resolve, but I don't foresee it any time soon.

Exactly the reason to NOT tell the truth...how do you get your foot in the door otherwise?

If she wants to work there, as a nurse... Her best bet won't be lying to the person she wants to interview with again in a couple of months.

There is a very good chance that the interviewer is going to directly ask her when she will graduate.

My facility specifically hires nursing students to CNA positions with the hope that they will transition into RN positions upon passing NCLEX. Sometimes they are still taking prereqs & some are in the last weeks of their program. In the past couple yrs, I don't recall any new hire CNAs that were not nursing students. This may eventually change if our staffing deficits ever resolve, but I don't foresee it any time soon.

If this is the case, then the answer is obvious.

I didn't put when I graduated on the resume just my school name and that I'm a bsn candidate. I get what your saying tho..thanks! :)

If she wants to work there, as a nurse... Her best bet won't be lying to the person she wants to interview with again in a couple of months.

There is a very good chance that the interviewer is going to directly ask her when she will graduate.

If she is asked when she graduates, you obviously tell when. She did not make it seem this unit was aware she was a nursing student. "Stretch the truth" means not speaking on the topic and if asked about future goals..."stretch the truth". This has nothing to do with being asked when she is graduating. @nursebaby88 take the interview as it comes and feel the vibe during the interview, just like anyone else would do. You will be a nurse therefore should have good judgment...

Hey @FlyingScot I reached my max quota it says for private messaging! :(

Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Hey @FlyingScot I reached my max quota it says for private messaging! :(

Just empty your box!:)

Like I said, I would tell the truth as it may end badly for you. I'm just went through the hiring process and I was honest about me being a nursing student. There is difference between working as a student nurse/clinical intern vs working as hospital tech. You will probably be asked if your in school, if you say yes , they will probably ask you when you graduate.

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