Interview on 1-6-05 For GN Position in ED.

[Jen2]

Hello.

I entered nursing school with the sole purpose to become a nurse in the ED. During my schooling I kept an open mind to other areas of nursing also. Almost everyone including my instructors and some on this board has advised me to do a year of med-surge first.

This past summer I did a externiship at a large teaching hospital. My first 5 week rotation was on a med-surge floor and I enjoyed it. My second 5 week rotation was in the ED. I loved this area so much. Not only because it interests me, but it challenges me and pushes me to accomplish more. The preceptor I had has been a nurse in this ED for 25 years and is also going to be my preceptor as a new grad pending I get the position. She was so great so excellent preceptorship is another reason I want to be in the ED. I learned more about nursing from her in the 5 weeks that I was there then thus far in school. I also have 3 years experience of being on the code team as a phlebotomist at another hospital that I worked in.

On January 6th, I have an interview with the nurse manager in the ED. The manager that I am interviewing with thought so highly of my performance during my externship that she told me that I would have a job there if I wanted it when I graduated. I also recieved a $5,000 scholarship from this facility based on my performance and an essay. I recently before Christmas sent the nurse manager of the ED a lovely thank you note stating how much I learned while I was there and how much more I am willing to learn and work and that I hope to see her soon as a GN (graduate in May 05). Needless to say I am so nervouse about this interview. I was told by HR that this is a very popular place for new grads to want to work. They have 2 GN positions open, but since I was one of the scholarship winners that they would try and put me with my first choice in the ED. How do I separate myself from all the others? I think the letter I sent her was a nice touch and I doubt that many others did the same. Should I elaborate that I have experience on a code team even though it wasn't in nursing? I also believe that since I did an extership here that my orientation will run more smoothly. Any advice that anyone can give me to separate myself from others would be greatly appreciated. I'll let you all now how it goes. Wish me luck.

[Lilith]

You have done many of the right things. Make sure during the interview that you make it clear that, dispite your many accomplishments, you have the ability to be humble and admit when you don't know something or when you have screwed up. Being cocky, too prideful, and too worried about your ego are the most dangerous and guaranteed failing points of the new grad in the ER.

It will make you feel lower than dog s**t some times when you are lacking, or wrong, but it will help you to grow, and gain you respect faster than anything else. Your team mates depend on you to make mature, independent decisions that are in the best interests of your patients...that includes knowing when you are in over your head.

I speak from experience....I was the first new grad our ER hired in 15-0 years - and quite a controversial hire! (that was in 2002). I was constantly under the microscope, watched by many sets of eyes, and felt like everybody was just waiting for me to screw up. It doesn't feel good, and it takes alot of self discipline to "throw yourself on the knife" when you are lost.

I succeeded, and have helped others to succeed, but also have seen many fail....invariably because they would not follow this one simple rule.

[Jen2]

Thanks so much for the advice. The one thing that I want to make clear during my interview is that I have a lot to learn and am very willing to do so. During my externship one of the nurses told me that room #5 needed a hep lock put in and labs drawn. I didn't look at the chart and just went in and did it. The doctor came out of the room angry that someone put an I.V. in a suicidal patient. The nurse that told me to do so came over and was getting ready to tell the doctor that she told me to do this, but before she could say anything I stated that it was me and learned a very valuable lesson in the process.