Hi,
have interview next week, originally with two people, head nurse and doctor in charge of service. However agency called today to say that one of them( doctor) can`t make it on Monday, still to see nurse. But the doctor in charge wants to meet me privately, without the head nurse knowing or anyone at the clinic to go over his objectives for the service etc .

Is this normal? any advice?
jo

Perhaps he wants to replace the Head Nurse? Maybe she's been naughty

There may be some politics between the doctor and head nurse, that mean he'd rather she didn't know what objectives he might have - but it does sound odd that he doesn't want ANYONE to know about it.

I'd ask if you can have the meeting in a public place (e.g. coffee house etc) or if not, have someone from the agency present at the meeting for safety. Also let a friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back.

If he's got genuine reasons then he shouldn't have any problem with either of those options, and it gives you some reassurance that there's nothing fishy going on (which is unlikely but I guess anythings possible)

Sounds like:

a) He wants to circumvent the head nurse and get the person he wants for the job
b) you may be taking over some of her duties, and it needs to be discussed with you first
c) he is considering private practice and needs someone, and you fit the bill.
d) He simply couldn't make it, and he needs an alternative time to suit him, and is not dancing to tune of the head nurse

It could be any or none of the above. Go along with these possibilities in mind. Forewarned is forearmed....

dave

Hi,
the doctor is actually a doctoresse so I think I should be safe enough. she is seemingly looking for a right hand man ( or woman in my case) to develop the department which she has just set up. The head nurse ( of the clinic) has no experience in this field.I have also been asked to spend the day at the clinic " observing"- is this normal?
jo

I don't know if this is normal in your profession, but it helps the employer a lot if he has you to assess for a longer period before making a decision...

Be wary also of being used as an unpaid consultant to highlight improvements.

I'm sure it will all go swimmingly...

dave

sounds like a lot of buying signals to me .... oh & she will find time at the end of the day no doubt ... something similar happened to me once.
Go for it !

For the job I just started I spent an afternoon with the team I am now working with. They were really keen to get someone who would fit with everyone else personality wise and wanted to make sure I was happy to take the job.