Strange Interview

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

Today I interviewed by a hospice agency. The position is for RN Case Manager so I was pretty excited since that is what I really want to do. So here's my background I'm a newly licensed RN with LPN background. I sent in my resume and filled out an application with all this information. Ok action.... I'm greeted by the director who seemed quite pleasant. She asked me about my background while reviewing my application then all of a sudden the questions came out of nowhere. What is hospice? What is morphine? What is morphine used for? What would you give morphine for? If your patient had an O2 Sat of 82% on comfort care what would you do for them? Name some medications you would give a patient who was agitated? These are the questions I remembered off my head. There was probably a few more. The questions wasn't the problem it was how it was executed which got me. I believe if you're going to drill me then just give your applicants a written exam. But anyways its over now. So after the pop quiz I was asked about my background specifically in rehab which was a plus in the directors eyes. We talked a little more about what the position entailed then she asked me if I had any questions. So I asked her who is the ideal candidate for this position? She said," Someone who is experienced, RN, and has a bachelor's." I'm thinking check... check ... what?! She told me regulations required I had a bachelor's or enough RN experience to be a case manager. I'm over here thinking then why in the heck did you call me in? I was very clear about my background and education. If I didn't meet your requirements why are you wasting my time. And btw none of this was in the job description which I make sure to read to avoid awkward situations like this one. So of course I'm looking at her with a puzzled look. She went on to tell me she called me in because I use to be a LPN which impressed her. So I'm thinking to myself....ok...ok... there's hope again. Then she told me but you're a new grad rn and we've been burned by new grad before. They would stay to get their experience then leave the company. I'm thinking to myself what does this have to do with me? So again I'm trying to put my words together. I started explaining I know where I want my career to go. I always enjoyed community health nursing as a LPN and while in school. I told her it wasn't until my community health rotation that I found what I wanted to do. I shadowed a hospice nurse who was an awesome teacher and knew this is what I wanted to do. I went on about the difference between me and the other new graduates was that I was previously a LPN and I'm mature enough to know what I want and I don't like to waste my time nor energy on fruitless endeavors. I guess my words seemed to put me back into consideration and all was well....until our conversation seemed to take another awkward turn. She brought up the fact that some RN'S resent her because she's an LPN and they don't like her telling them what to do but she said she's been doing her job for 18 years and know all the codes and laws and stuff like that. Sooo in my head I'm thinking again what does this have to do with me? I'm pretty sure you know your job if you're the director. You being a LPN is the last concern I have at this time. So we wrapped up the interview, she gave me her card and told me I should here back the end of the week. I'm not sure if this is weird to other ppl but I've been on plenty of interviews before and none felt awkward like that one to me. I'm not even sure I'll get a call back. If not oh well....life goes on. What do you think?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric.

I think I would run, not walk, away from her!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I would really appreciate such a straight forward interview. Sounds like you didn't get a lot of BS questions, like what is your biggest weakness? How will you be an asset to the team? Blah, Blah, Blah.

She checked to see if you knew your stuff, and it sounds like you passed. She raised her concerns with you, she was very forthright about her experience of new grads coming and going. She raised her very legitimate concerns about you taking some direction from an lpn. A good interviewer will let the applicant know the truth about the job, and weed out anyone who doesn't want the job as it really is.

Don't let the stuff about BSN bother you. The interviewer is an experienced lpn, she's not going to value bsn over experience.

If I were you I would feel really good about this and want to work there.

But I'm not you. If you dislike this woman, or you don't think the job is a good fit, then withdraw your application. Nothing wrong with that. Half the purpose of an interview is to find out if you are right for the job, the other half is to find out if the job is right for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I'm curious about this statement:

She told me regulations required I had a bachelor's or enough RN experience to be a case manager.

To what regulations is she referring? I'm pretty sure no states require this, and I KNOW CMS doesn't require it. Very curious.

That struck me as a pretty unprofessional interview. The red flag was this statement:

Then she told me but you're a new grad rn and we've been burned by new grad before. They would stay to get their experience then leave the company.

What that statement tells me is that they've hired other new grads who really wanted to work hospice, but no reputable hospice company typically hires a new grad. So they work for this hospice company, and leave as soon as they have experience to go work for a *GOOD* hospice company.

I would also have some concerns about an ED who only holds an LPN license. Not because she doesn't know what she's doing, but because, by law and CMS regulations, there are certain things she simply cannot do. Which then also suggests this is a company I don't know that I would want to work for. I've NEVER heard of a hospice company where the ED was not an RN or greater.

Disclaimer: I am not a hospice nurse and have never worked hospice. However, my husband is a hospice nurse and has been one for almost his entire career. He worked his way up from a case manager to clinical manager, and has been an ED for a couple hospices, so I do know a bit about how they function.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As klone said, this person, in a round about way, told you that this hospice agency does not treat its nurses well enough for them to stick around.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I would really appreciate such a straight forward interview. Sounds like you didn't get a lot of BS questions, like what is your biggest weakness? How will you be an asset to the team? Blah, Blah, Blah.

( yeah I definitely don't mind the questions it was just the execution that got me. I guess that's something new and now I know lol.)

She checked to see if you knew your stuff, and it sounds like you passed.

(I don't know about that lol...I felt like an idiot for a few seconds trying to get my words together.)

She raised her concerns with you, she was very forthright about her experience of new grads coming and going. She raised her very legitimate concerns about you taking some direction from an lpn. A good interviewer will let the applicant know the truth about the job, and weed out anyone who doesn't want the job as it really is.

(Is not wanting the job as it really is include others people's mistakes before myself? It just really felt like I was getting hit hard reputation wise by things that happened before got there.. And not caring for the patient wise but employee wise.)

Don't let the stuff about BSN bother you. The interviewer is an experienced lpn, she's not going to value bsn over experience.

(I had no doubt she could do her job so I found it surprising when she brought it up)

If I were you I would feel really good about this and want to work there.

( I'm not sure how I feel about working there. It's a whole different specialty so I'm guessing things a done different here as far as looking for the right candidate.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As klone said, this person, in a round about way, told you that this hospice agency does not treat its nurses well enough for them to stick around.

I didn't get that vibe. I have heard of new grads doing stuff like that all the time. I just felt like I was in the hot seat for what they've done. But I guess she wanted to put that out there. It was intimidating or anything it just caught me off guard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So I ended up getting the job offer and accepting. Invitale thanks for the advice. It help me make my decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
So I ended up getting the job offer and accepting. Invitale thanks for the advice. It help me make my decision.

Wow, okay. Sorry you didn't like what I said.

Good luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats. As I read about your interview I felt that she was giving you openings to jump in and sell yourself/convince her to hire you. I also felt that she was sharing her expectations of you should you get hired: 1. Know your stuff 2. Respect her position as your boss 3. Don't train and then skate on her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

"So I ended up getting the job offer and accepting. Invitale thanks for the advice. It help me make my decision."

I'm so glad I helped you!

When do you start? Please let me know how it all works out. My well wishes are with you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow, okay. Sorry you didn't like what I said.

Good luck to you.

I never said I didn't like your advice. Sorry if you got that vibe but I went with my gut about this decision. I appreciate people who are straight forward. I know what to expect and where to set the bar. Plus I'm not easily intimidated which I feel a brand new RN w/o any healthcare experience would be if they were interviewed. I also clarified some things from the interview and again she was very straight forward and opened with her answers. I completed my first day of orientation and I enjoyed it because it's what I really want to do. I'm hopeful about my new position and I plan to build on that. But again sorry if you felt that I didn't appreciate your advice....I did! Thank you. Have a good night :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment