What to ask at an interview?

[MILPN]

I am going to be relocating soon, and would like some insight as to what type of questions should be asked of the recruiter / interviewer?

Can anyone provide questions that are crucial, or should be asked of an employer at an interview for a nursing position?

I am looking at a multitude of possibilities, such as state, home health, acute care, rehab, if this helps in the question developing process.

Thanks,

Bob

[CVSDnurse]

1- ask to meet the staff-a lot can be learned from non-verbal interactions-make sure to ask them if they spend time together outside of work- will give you an idea about how well people work together

2-spend time eavesdropping in the cafeteria-amazinig what you hear but may be hard to pinpoint to the specific area

3-ask for a tour of the unit- you'll see things that will spark questions

4-ask why there is a vacancy- did someone leave vs. expansion

5-opportunities for advancement

6-have a list of specifics and don't be afraid to pull it out at the end, a good manager will welcome your interest, they don't want to waste training resources either-nurse/pt ratios, coverage for call ins, do they mandate OT, overtime rates, how vacations are decided if too many want off at the same time, how flexible are they if you need to have a last minute appointment (closing on a home), educational opportunities, orientation period, assigned or rotating preceptor, how are emergencies handled, MD interactions and responsiveness, how does the manager handle interpersonal conflict-do they let themselves get caught in the middle or do they have all parites sit down together for problem identification and solving, how is charting formatted

7- list the benefits-from uniform provision, insurance premiums and vacation accrual to tuition reimbursement and relocation assistance- for all positions and compare-it is not all about the hourly wage.

8-practice by starting with your least interesting options

9-visit and ask everyone about the various areas of the city you will be living in-online research

Hope this helps. remember to never burn bridges and keep all options open even when you have found your "dream job"