You know you're a nurse when ...

I was reading a LinkedIn article about how to hire the “right” home health caregiver. I had assumed it would be full of tips on what skills and services a home caregiver, at a minimum, should possess.  But it was instead guidance on how to hire, going through an agency versus contractor company, versus registry, advice on insurance you may wish to carry should the “employee” injury themselves, etc. 

 

Certainly a good article but for some reason, it “triggered” a Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome reaction from past job interview I conducted. You know: The job interviews from hell!

I mean, you know it’s not going to go well when the person you’re interviewing starts off by asking, “How much work can I miss before I get fired?”  You ever have one of those?

Or when you ask them why they want to work for you, they say, “I need money and you guys pay people.”  Now that just warms the cockles of my heart!

Of course, my favorite question I was asked just might be, “Will I have to take a drug test?” (Um, you do now!) Maybe someone has asked you one of these questions:

“Is the boss single?” (Seriously, have you seen him??)

“Can my sister who works here take my test for me?”  (Not in this lifetime.)

“Do I have to come to work every day?” (Let’s see … if you’re on the schedule, we just might expect you to show up)

“Can I see the break room?” (That’s the first place you want to see on the facility tour? Not the units? Oh boy!)

“What’s the zodiac sign of the owner?” (I don’t know — is Jupiter aligned with Mars?)

So let’s have some fun.  In the comment section below, how about sharing with us some of the wildest rides you’ve ever taken with an interviewee.  I am sure we all can use a good chuckle. (Or an interview tip!)

Just keeping it real,

Nurse Jackie

 

 

 

The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, a 2012 APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real life long-term care nurse who is also the director of clinical affairs for the American Medical Directors Association. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. She has not starred in her own national television series — yet. The opinions supplied here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer or her professional affiliates.