To The Nurse Recruiter: Nope

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Had a interview at a job that I worked at 20 years ago as a new grad, I quit while I was still on orientation. I tried transferring, but that was against their policy, and I tried to tell my manager that I need better training and by a preceptor who isn’t bullying me, but it fell on deaf ears. So, I decided to put a notice in, but they told me that I would be taken off the schedule immediately since I was still in orientation. 

At present day, 20 years later. I reapplied, and the recruiter didn’t ask what I’ve accomplished the past 20 years, she went straight to 2003 and grilled me on what happened. I asked her if I was rehirable, and she said I am marked as rehirable, but she wanted to get to the bottom of what happened. I ended my interview after I told her what happened (the bullying, lack of training), and she kept rehashing it, and kept trying to dig deeper. I ended the interview. I told her she hadn’t asked me about my Daisy awards over the years, she hadn’t asked about accomplishments, goals, certs...she’s focusing on 20 years ago when I wax a new grad, and I can see this isn’t a place where I’d like to work.

 

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Good for you! Sounds like it was a toxic culture in 2003 and is still a toxic culture. Good luck on your job search!

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22 minutes ago, Spinmass said:

Good for you! Sounds like it was a toxic culture in 2003 and is still a toxic culture. Good luck on your job search!

Thanks!! It felt really good to flip the switch. Bad vibes all the way. 

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Specializes in school nurse.

What was her response to you ending the interview?

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On 4/12/2022 at 2:35 PM, Jedrnurse said:

What was her response to you ending the interview?

Shocked, fumbling her words. She said twice “I mean...it’s pretty much standard to ask about past employment” and both times I told her “you haven’t asked me anything about past employment, you have only asked me what happened 20 years ago at this hospital.”  After that she finally said “so your sure you don’t want to move forward with the  interview?” and I said “I’m sure, I have other opportunities, this one is clearly not for me.” She then said “good luck” and I said “good luck to you, too.”

I’m mad at myself for not asking: “why are you grilling me? I did nothing wrong, I was the victim of bullying and hazing, what should have happened back in 2004 was a reprimand to the bully nurses, instead of allowing them to push me out.”   But it is what it is. Super annoying. I’m  , she grilled me and then  “sighed” because she didn’t like honest response about why I quit, she wanted to hear the standard “it wasn’t a good fit for me” and I wasn’t going there, so I heard a “sigh” on her end and then another condescending tone/question, and I had enough. I know my worth, and I’m not ever ignoring my gut-which was in overdrive during our conversation similar to when I worked there, just that yucky gut feeling every morning. Nope. Never again. 

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Specializes in school nurse.
On 4/12/2022 at 2:51 PM, raindrop said:

 Never again. 

Good for you!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Wanna bet some donuts that recruiter still knows that one particular nurse and/or the others?!?! Betcha she'd just like to sling some mud or just some juicy gossip!

Good for you to follow your instincts!

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2 minutes ago, amoLucia said:

Wanna bet some donuts that recruiter still knows that one particular nurse and/or the others?!?! Betcha she'd just like to sling some mud or just some juicy gossip!

Good for you to follow your instincts!

My sister says the same thing, but she sounded SO young, It is a smallish town so it is possible, but the bully nurse “girls” and the manager from 2004 are likely old enough to be her mom. Nothing against young nurses, but it was also quite condescending of her, a young nurse  and already at a desk job, to question me so harshly  about 20 years ago. 

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     Raindrop, kudos to you.  It sounds as if you shut down this ignorant nurse recruiter and I'm betting she wasn't at all expecting this response.  She had obviously figured that you'd sit quietly why she carried on her interrogation and browbeating.  Obviously, since competent, dependable nurses are much in demand, the last laugh was on her!

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Specializes in Community and Public Health, Addictions Nursing.

Good for you! Sounds like you kept your cool, didn't become reactive, just stayed focused on what you needed for yourself in that moment- to end the interview. I hope this gives her some food for thought next time she interviews someone, but it probably won't. Sounds like you've moved on and changed in 20 years, but this hospital hasn't, and she's a perfect reflection of that. 

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HR tends to know which units burn through staff and why. I would say the unit you applied to may be known for having a problem with "bullying and poor training".

Good for you for standing up for yourself!
 

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