By Jen Schmitz, BSN, MSN
I recently shared these career building tips with Nurse.com designed to help job-hunting nurses determine whether they’ll fit into an organization’s culture. For educators, it may also be beneficial to share these tips with your newly minted, or soon to be, RNs as they look for the best placement for that first job!
• Know yourself. Take an inventory of what’s important to you in a work environment.
• Study the employers. Once you know what you want, focus on potential employers’ approaches to teamwork, collaboration, leadership and work environment. Do your research, listen and observe before and during the interview process. Does the leadership have a top-down approach? Is teamwork or autonomy the emphasis? Know the institution’s mission and values.
• Ask questions. “What is the culture here?” Then, drill down, asking questions such as, “Is there self-scheduling or the scheduling set?” In ideal situations, talk with a nurse who works in the hospital about what it’s like to work there.
• Look for support mechanisms. Are there willing mentors? What about internship programs or ample orientation opportunities? Research suggests the more support there is in an environment, the more successful nurses are in becoming part of the environment’s culture.
There are many clues to an organization’s culture. The biggest tip to remember is that the employment advertisement may not speak to your personal fit in the position — regardless of how good it looks on paper.
Find the original article by Jen on Nurse.com here.
