Things to consider when interviewing...

NightshiftRN69 · Sep 15, 2008

I feel that it looks better for you no matter what your experince to ask to shadow. In my opinion it shows the nurse manager that you want to make the right decision and not waste their time or yours.. Your not going to get hired and them put out the money for train and orientation only to have you leave because the floor and you aren't a good fit.

As to what is important when looking at a floor is how the other employees work, do they look at all the patients as our patients or is it a your or mine type. Are the employees you will be working with professional when outside the break room at least?? How well do they communicate with one another and with this one I include the doctors or residents. Speaking of Doctors and residents are they open to the nurses opinions? Or are they the type that your only a nurse and I'm the doctor you wipe I cure. For me these things are very important because you may at times be spending more time with them than your family and while for the most part these things will not effect the care you give your patients but there will be times when your patient care may suffer because of working with people who are more worried about what we're doing away from work than answering the call light. Wish you all the best.

AWanderingMinstral · Sep 15, 2008

i feel that it looks better for you no matter what your experince to ask to shadow. in my opinion it shows the nurse manager that you want to make the right decision and not waste their time or yours.. your not going to get hired and them put out the money for train and orientation only to have you leave because the floor and you aren't a good fit.
as to what is important when looking at a floor is how the other employees work, do they look at all the patients as our patients or is it a your or mine type. are the employees you will be working with professional when outside the break room at least?? how well do they communicate with one another and with this one i include the doctors or residents. speaking of doctors and residents are they open to the nurses opinions? or are they the type that your only a nurse and i'm the doctor you wipe i cure. for me these things are very important because you may at times be spending more time with them than your family and while for the most part these things will not effect the care you give your patients but there will be times when your patient care may suffer because of working with people who are more worried about what we're doing away from work than answering the call light. wish you all the best.

i agree entirely that both teamwork and good working relationships between the doctors and the nurses are veeeeeeery important. if i shadow somewhere, i will keep my eyes open for that. it's hard to know, however, if that exists because people (particularly the nurses and the unit director) are often on their best behavior when a potential employee is around. does anyone think it's inappropriate for a potential employee to ask to see the most recent schedule? that would definitely reveal how well a unit is staffed (or at least what the typical ratios are like on a unit).

NightshiftRN69 · Sep 15, 2008

I've only worked in hospitals that have written assignments so when I shadowed I just took the time to look at it. While most employees are on their best when they know people are watching there are some who will be completely hosest about the floor. Another good question is how much turn over they have, is the floor mostly staffed with new grads or travel nurses or is there a good mix with people that have been there for years. Even when people are putting their best foot forward if you watch closely enough and long enough you will see if it's the truth or and act. Even a well rehersed act has it's faults.

NightshiftRN69 · Sep 15, 2008

Sometimes you have to be straight forward with your questions, I asked ok I know that this is your idea staffing but what is the worse case and (just to take the edge off) the best. Also how much does the floor call off due to low (laick of work) and how often or how likely is it that you will float to another floor. If you will be floating how is it decided who will float?? The most important thing to remember is to always get it in writting other wise you may be fooled big time, some places will tell you anything but if it's not in writting then they sometimes may get a case of amnesia.

AWanderingMinstral · Sep 15, 2008

Sometimes you have to be straight forward with your questions, I asked ok I know that this is your idea staffing but what is the worse case and (just to take the edge off) the best. Also how much does the floor call off due to low (laick of work) and how often or how likely is it that you will float to another floor. If you will be floating how is it decided who will float?? The most important thing to remember is to always get it in writting other wise you may be fooled big time, some places will tell you anything but if it's not in writting then they sometimes may get a case of amnesia.

You are making excellent recommendations. In regards to getting something in writing, you and I both know that is highly unlikely. I have learned the hard way that unless something REALLY affects me on my unit, I have a face-to-face discussion with my unit director so that she cannot use my words (which I USED to put into an e-mail message) against me. Putting things in writing works both ways.

NightshiftRN69 · Sep 15, 2008

I agree sometimes it's best just to drop a quick email such as.... regarding our discussion I just would like to make sure I understand every thing correctly this or that is going to happen on this date or at this time..... You know just the facts I've even done this after phone calls you know the confirmation email.