What do you regret not asking on your job interview???

ladylikeRN · Feb 23, 2008

*Patient-nurse ratio

*Amount of beds on the unit

*Tuition reimbursement

*Work q other weekend?

*Experience of the other staff nurses on unit (blind leading the blind)

*Paid holidays, other benefit ?'s/shift differential

*Length of orientation

*When is Nclex expected to be passed

*If Nclex is not passed what happens? (demotion, stay GN)

AprilRNhere · Feb 23, 2008

I researched question and interview technique before interviewing so I had no regrets..but questions I'm GLAD I asked...

"What is the nurse/pt ratio on this floor"

"Why is the position open?/For what reason did the last nurse leave"

"Is it mandated to stay late if the following shift is short staffed?"

twotrees2 · Feb 23, 2008

Hello to all the hard working wonderful nurses out there!
i just recently applied for a job (almost new grad) and when the nsg. manager asked me if i had any questions for her i just sorta blanked out. i think maybe i asked one stupid question i cant remember. i have the opportunity to email her now. btw, its an acute inpatient psych unit.
so.........any advice on what to ask and is there anything you regret NOT asking before you accepted the job?
thanks to everyone who responds!:nuke:

is there forced OT - what circumastances, how long ( extra 4 or 8 = 12 or 16 hour shifts), what right to NOT stay, how often can they do it, etc

Riseupandnurse · Feb 23, 2008

How often do we get pulled? And to where? Do we receive any orientation to a floor we are pulled to? Very important questions.

erroridiot · Feb 23, 2008

On what date does the current pay period end?

On what date will your employees be paid for the current pay period? (Is this a slow pay, late pay job?)

Is your company currently covering up any fraudulent activities? (If I ask this question I can forget about any job offer.)

twotrees2 · Feb 23, 2008

On what date does the current pay period end?
On what date will your employees be paid for the current pay period? (Is this a slow pay, late pay job?)
Is your company currently covering up any fraudulent activities? (If I ask this question I can forget about any job offer.)

oh i know one- do youhold back anypaychecks? just had this happen- last job held 2 back - so when the other job held none they overlapped and that totally screwed me up especially if i get another job and they do hold back then i will be 2 weeks without a check. wish i had asked lol.

shmoofins · Feb 23, 2008

I should have asked "Why is this interview so easy?" When your interviewer doesn't ask you hardly any questions and you feel like you're practically hired already, this could be a BAD SIGN. (Especially if you don't have much experience and most jobs of this type usually want lots of experience!)

I also should have asked more about the nature of the work and the hours and whatnot.

:idea:

RN4Ever_2008 · Feb 23, 2008

I ask what the turnover rate is of the nurses on staff. This can give you an indication of how well the nurses like the floor. It also helps open the door to ask why are they leaving. If it's for advancing their nursing career it's understandable, but if it's because of the job responsibilities that's another story. I also used a lot of the questions in the link posted below. By having questions prepared for the interview it shows your organized, which I think helped when I was interviewing recently.

http://www.nurseuniverse.com/articles/Interview_Questions.htm

I hope it helps.

Penny8611 · Feb 23, 2008

This thread is golden. I'm copying and pasting a lot of these answers!

Thanks!

RN007 · Feb 23, 2008

What is the career ladder structure? (i.e., when will I be able to make more money or go into management?)

cjmjmom · Feb 23, 2008

I hate to be negative but am compelled to be honest. I have had interviews in which I asked questions and got answers that in fact turned out to be flat out lies! Bottom line, if you do not work in an institution with a GOOD union contract whatever is said or promised in an interview is just hogwash!