VITAS in DFW

[arvolina]

I interviewed recently at the VITAS in Dallas, and turned down the offer. First, I was not offered a salary that would be equal to my current job. This could not be negotiated. Second, they did not know anything about their benefit package, and was not prepared to offer me printed material to review. Third, I was told that the job offer was only good for 24 hours - including drug screen, before it was off the table.

Prior to my actual interview, I sat in their lobby for a long time. There did not seem to be a great amount of professionalism. The receptionist was filling out online surveys for starbucks - someone was yelling down the hall that they were filing a harassment charge against a fellow employee, dress code was very casual.

Did I just get there on a couple of bad days, or is this company really that bad? Is this typical of hospice nursing?

[chopwood carrywater]

Here's a link to justice.gov a legal site with details of a major lawsuit against Vitas.

Sounds like things haven't improved much.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I'm amazed you actually stayed for the interview. Shoot. If I was left waiting a long time & hear screaming like that, I would've left!

[chopwood carrywater]

Here's a link to justice.gov a legal site with details of a major lawsuit against Vitas.

Sounds like things haven't improved much.

Oops; I must have been more tired than I thought. Here's the link:

United States Files False Claims Act Lawsuit

Against the Largest For-Profit Hospice Chain in the United States | OPA | Department of Justice

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've had many encounters with hospice nurses and case managers based out of the Fort Worth Vitas office and they always seemed to conduct themselves with professionalism. Perhaps this was just a fluke with the Dallas office?

[simbawicz]

I work for a competitor of Vitas in another city. I did interview at Vitas, and partway through the interview, I thanked them for their time but told them based on what they had told me of their job expectations (never mind wages) I was not interested in the position. That said, I have a friend who adored her time with Vitas. My response to your questions, though, will be the same that I give whenever someone asks my opinion of a facility or organization: whether or not the company is good or bad, the reality is it is fully dependent on the integrity, experience, and professionalism of the individual who is providing the service. A bad organization can have remarkable individuals who consistently do what is right and good. A good organization can have individuals who do not. Employees who are bad, in a good company, will likely be discovered and rehabbed or asked to leave. Good employees in a bad company usually are either asked to leave because it disrupts the company's culture, or they leave after realizing their own reputation can be impacted by the bad reputation of the company. You had a bad experience. Not all hospices are what you witnessed. I would suggest, if you have that option, look at not for profit hospices. Trust your instincts. My own cynicism tells me that if the hiring individuals treat me badly when they are trying to court me prior to hiring, I'm likely in for much more abuse once they "have" me. I keep looking.