weird interview...

[aura_of_laura]

So I've been applying for jobs at every Seattle-area psych unit that I can find, and I've finally started getting some call backs. One call from yesterday has me scratching my head...

So the nurse manger for the unit calls me, and verifies my experience, and tells me a little about the unit - all good there. And then she says, "Would you like to come in soon, or when you're closer to moving?" Well, I'm moving in less than a month, so I say "I'd like to interview sooner rather than later (so I know if I have a job before I get out there, of course)." Because she won't do a phone interview, I even volunteer to fly out to Seattle for the interview.

Pause.

Apparently that was not the right option, because she replies with, "Well, uh, my supervisor is going on vacation for a few weeks, and then I'm going on vacation, and..." So I have an interview for sometime after June 28. I say sometime because she told me she would have her secretary look up a date and call me back.

And it got even weirder... She also told me a later interview would be better because "the unit staffing is going through some changes next week," and I may have more options for open positions. What does that mean? To me, that sounds like some people are getting canned - is there another more positive interpretation?

Now, I know it wasn't that I gave a bad impression and she was just trying to blow me off - interviews are my strong point. My instincts are telling me that maybe this isn't a unit that I want to work for... Thank goodness this isn't the only interview I have lined up!

What do you do when interviews take a turn for the weird?

[Reigen]

I can understand weird interview...........I would like to think sstaffing option changes might mean vacation time needs coverage, perhaps a FMLA or other LOA needs to be covered as well, rather than termination of staff.

PS GOOD LUCK with the after June 29th interview!

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Sounds like there are going to be some very unpopular staffing changes next week then the manager is conveniently going out of town until things cool down.

Not a situation I would want to voluntarily go into.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Sounds very iffy to me. I would want to know more before hiring on there.

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

Sounds like she may be suffering residual effects from hanging around the mentally ill. Too bad for her. Good for you. Best to know about this sooner than later.

[Jules A, MSN]

We can only speculate but I wouldn't read too much into this except that she didn't expect you to volunter to fly in for an immediate interview.

There are many legitimate reasons why they would be putting off the interview and personally I'd rather wait until they were organized rather than chance falling through the cracks. Good luck.

[Jules A, MSN]

Sounds like she may be suffering residual effects from hanging around the mentally ill. Too bad for her, good for you to know about this sooner than later.

Wow, really? Pretty harsh.

[EmmyBee]

Hmm, maybe someone is being promoted, one person resigned, and another is being transferred within the facility, at their own request.

But seriously, it doesn't necessarily have to be negative. Maybe they are making changes that will improve the work environment. And if people are being let go, it might very well be warranted. I would do a little more research on the facility and just go to the interview. It might turn out to be the best decision you ever made! You shouldn't pass on it based solely on assumptions.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

It can't hurt a look as long as you are there. Good luck.

[chocolateheals]

Based on the info you gave us, I think it could go either way. She could be normal, or she could be kukoo! The "staffing changes" could have only one positive interpretation, if a couple nurses are going through life changes and need to move or psych was never really for them and now they get to change units. So not 100% guaranteed to be a negative thing, but it is not DEFINITELY a red flag.

In the end, go with your instincts. I had interviews with 2 of the nurse unit managers at one hospital, back to back. The first one (we'll call her Manager 1) seemed to have trouble articulating what she was thinking. Her office was more cluttered than I even knew was possible. I walked to the next interview vowing that there was no way I'd work at the first place. I've been working 2 stories above Manager 1's floor for a couple years now, and am always SO glad I went with my instincts about that interview. I've heard that the floor staff are great, but the management makes working there a bit miserable.

Best of luck with your interviews and decision making!!

[aura_of_laura]

Thank you for all of the replies!

I just got a call back from their hiring manager, who came across as a competent, well-organized professional. She also wasn't aware that I'd been called yesterday, too, so maybe my application just went rogue

Even better, she wants to sign my hubby up for an interview, too, and he hasn't even applied!

Now I'm torn... who do I take as representative of the hospital? The disorganized, mumbly unit manager, or the friendly, professional hiring manager? Oh well, I'll just have to play this out a little further

[noellepage2000]

I was recently interviewed and was not hired. Apparently they contacted my previous manager whom I had a spat with eventhough I did not put her as one of my references. I applied to the same hospital that manager is currently working. What is the law or guidelines about calling references and what are they allowed to ask or not ask legally. I had a spat with this manager indirectly because I felt she did not do anything about this incident I had with a doctor who likes to scream at nurses. I felt like nothing has been done or it has been addressed so I talked to higher ups in the hopes of effecting a change that nurses shouldn't be screamed at and we can go over the problem in a professional way. Apparently this doctor had a string of history of screaming at staff nurses. My only wrong was resigning. Now I wanted to go back and the manager seems to be stopping this process because most of the hiring managers call her for reference when I did not put her name as a reference. What do I do if this is happening? What are your take on this?