Nurses! Interview Your Interviewer

Warning:  Please be advised that while the tone of this particular blog post  is a bit biting and sarcastic, (I had a little fun poking and painting a picture of a manager I think we have all at least once encountered), professionalism, warmth, respect and open communication are keys to a successful relationship with your manager.  Off we go.

Well, congratulations!  You made it through your first interview with the clicky - heeled - human - resources specialist.  Now, you are about to be escorted (or not ) to visit the unit to which you have applied.  On top of this fireball of excitement, you will be interviewed by your prospective unit manager.  Isn't that fantastic. A job!  You are perhaps nervous, and rightfully so.  You actively sought this position, cleaned up your resume, cleared your mind and prepared your responses so that anyone who wouldn't hire you could be easily considered a blockhead.  This individual is a blockhead if they don't expect you to be sizing them up as well. 

You know the saying that is really appropriate for a health care workplace setting, "Crap trickles downhill"?  It does, and we all know it, no matter where on the hill your vantage point may be.  By nature in any corporate hierarchical environment, this just is what is is.  What I am getting at is this:  If your to-be manager lacks what you feel to be a sense of boundaries, is wishy-washy, gets easily caught up in manipulation or becomes all giggly and excited about silly things, then, beware, oh, yes indeed, beware.

These behaviors are indicative of a dreadfully weak leader who needs your energy in order to survive and feel liked..  In this case, this manager's modus operandi (which they are usually unaware of)  is to obtain their sense of self esteem extrinsically, through you, when it should be to set an example through strength.  You as a staff level employee will end up catching all the flies, get knotted up in their dysfunction, become marinated in muddy toxicity and be forced to partake  the "he said she said game" of professional codependent hopscotch.  Your position is difficult and challenging under the best of circumstances, let alone having to function in an unhealthy health care work environment by being responsible for your manager's feelings.  Seriously, beware.  The unit manager sets the tone for the unit. The unit manager is not only responsible to manage and oversee the daily operations of the unit  but in a very real sense, manages the flow and the energy of the work environment as well.

I think back to an interview for a nursing position that I had during my active nursing career.  One of the questions posed to me was, "what are your expectations of me as your unit manager"?  I thought, that is a good question.  My response was, for you to be a strong leader, to be supportive of your staff.  The look on her face was one of, "this chick must be crazy".   I was offered the position however,  and in observing her role as my unit manager over the proceeding three years, it was clear that the word "supportive" is what choked her, as she didn't know how I defined it.  I felt the word "supportive"  spoke for itself.  She perceived  that I felt that for her to be supportive meant a free ticket for me not to be accountable.  Wow, Oh Brother, and other expletives.  This was a valuable lesson. 

In addition to the obvious discussions which are part of the interview process, such as staff/patient ratios, unit policies, etc., here are some diagnostic concepts and questions which you can use in order to identify potential red flags in the psyche of your prospective manager. Tap into your instinctual stethoscope and never, ever discount your intuition, as this is why you have been attracted to the healing arts. Your intuition is impeccable.  You hear me?  Alright, onward.

1. Request that the manager take you on a tour of the unit, if it is not offered to you.
2. Observe the interactions (verbal and non-verbal) between the manager, staff, patients and family members.
3. Ask your interviewer who their manager is and what this individual's interactions are with the unit.
4. Beware of compliments.  Statements such as, "I really like you already"  only indicates the individual's desire for you to "like" them already.
5. Ask what they feel makes them an effective manager.
6. Professionally communicate what your expectations are in a manager.
7. If the manager does not do this, incorporate the word "supportive" into the conversation.  Make sure you define what this word means to you.  Professionally inquire what it means to them.
8. Ask about staff turn over rates.
9. Know your innate sense of self worth and above all;
10. Walk confidently on your healing path, and always Nurse Your Spirit.