The Phone Interview
Avoid unwanted surprises and be prepared, you never know when interviewers will call.
Occasionally you will be on a conference call. Ask lots of questions and take notes.
First ask your recruiter to give you information on the hospital and the unit you are going to be interviewing for.
Go to Hospital Web or do a search for the hospital so you are familiar with it.
Find out the interviewers name and title.
Let them know you will be taking notes
Questions
Hospital_________________________________________________
Location_________________________________________________
Hospital Contact___________________________________________
Phone Number____________________________________________
Start Date________________________________________________
Completion Date___________________________________________
Type of Unit______________________________________________
Number of beds in the unit____________________________________
Nurse/patient ratio__________________________________________
Patient mix_______________________________________________
Staffing mix______________________________________________
..... All RN staff_______________________________________
..... LPNs____________________________________________
..... Techs____________________________________________
..... Is clerk available on shift to take off orders________________
Documentation methods_____________________________________
..... Computerized charting________________________________
Physicians available and approachable___________________________
Floating policy____________________________________________
Float in turn with regular staff_________________________________
Travelers Float first_________________________________________
Float to other hospitals in town________________________________
Charge__________________________________________________
On Call__________________________________________________
Uniform requirement________________________________________
Parking__________________________________________________
Employee discounts_________________________________________
Orientation Length__________________________________________
Med test____________________________________________________
Other exams (e.g. PBDS) required in orientation_________________
Continuing Ed_____________________________________________
ACLS,PALS,BLS available to travel nurse________________________
Shift_____________________________________________________
Hours of shift______________________________________________
Rotation of shifts___________________________________________
Scheduling needs___________________________________________
Need help on weekends vs during the week________________________
Self-scheduling____________________________________________
How many weekends a month__________________________________
Overtime available for travelers________________________________
Cancellation of scheduled shifts________________________________
Opportunity for extension of assignment__________________________
If payroll is by hospital
Pay Rate__________________________________________________
Overtime Pay Policy_________________________________________
Holiday Pay Policy__________________________________________
If Housing is by hospital
Shared____________________________________________________
Private____________________________________________________
Location__________________________________________________
Other_____________________________________________________
Always thank them for the interview.
Unless I'm 110% sure of taking the job I tell them I'm interested (If I am)
and tell them I'll get back to them within a certain time frame, a few hours to a few days,
two days at the longest as they will have other people to interview.
If they are talking with you, they have read your resume,
seen your credentials and most likely want you.
Now's your chance to negotiate schedules, shift preferences,
let them know about days off you just have to have (eg to get home for a wedding etc) and
talk about floating and to which units, charge, on call and things like that.
A few things to Ask your Company
Assignment completion bonus_________________________
Bonus paid by agency or by the hospital__________________
Direct deposit_______________________________________
Hospital Payroll vs Travel company payroll________________
Pay Rate____________________________________
Overtime Pay Policy_______________________________
Holiday Pay Policy______________________________
Travel Reimbursement_____________________________
Housing Provided by:
..... Agency ________________________________
..... Hospital________________________________
Type/location of Housing_________________________
Housing costs (if any)____________________________
Is a hospital physical and/or drug screen required________
Other factors to consider___________________________
______________________________________________
__________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Talk with your recruiter if you decide to accept or decline.
If you decide not to accept the assignment call and the hospital and let them know, often your recruiter will offer to do this. When you are ready to take an assignment call the hospital contact that you spoke with and accept. Reconfirm any special considerations that you agreed upon. Make sure you know when they expect you to start, where they expect you to be and who you'll be meeting with. This information will most likely be given to you with your contract.
Your Contract
Your contract should have the dates of contract, hours per week, unit you are working, where you report the 1st day, bonus or not, weekend expectations, etc. etc. etc.
Make sure that everything you agreed upon is WRITTEN in the contract.
I know that some nurses will cross out and initial those things that don't pertain, or write in those that do, and that might work. I'd much rather have the company fax me a revised copy to sign.
Make sure you make copies of everything you sign.
This page was put together with my own trial and error, mistakes, not asking and having to live with the consequences and the contracts that I signed, as well as from information I gathered on the Travelnurse and Therapist forum on Delphi. I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences, especially Sherry and Shawn and Kimberly, who have all been so helpful to other travelers on the Delphi site. Lets hope this makes it easier to interview and get a contract you can comfortably live with.
Extras
Interview Tips from Travelcare Unlimited
Job Search tips from Healthcare Traveler
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* If you find any dead links, or have any links or ideas to add, pleaseE-Mail Me
Or if you just want to say hi! Thanks, wendyb.*
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