Woohooooo! Finally an ED interview!! Resume review please? And how are these ?s

FancypantsRN · Jun 23, 2011

I think your questions are fine, I would ask about pediatrics too - sometimes they take them if there isn't a children's hospital right there and maybe tx them over to another facility after stabilizing. So I would ask if you need ENPC or PALS. I would also ask if they are a stroke center, and how they handle strokes.

Just have in mind your basic answers to your most challenging shift. I think they want to know that you can handle more than 4 stable pt's (depending on where you are in the country), and that you thrive on multitasking and fast paced environments.

How exciting, good luck with your interview! Let us know how it goes.

NeoPediRN · Jun 23, 2011

Thank you. I've been thinking about my most challenging shift, and this is honestly the most vivid experience that stands out. In my PICU stepdown job one night we were short staffed and I ended up having to take 5 patients because I was the most experienced next to charge (who can't take that many BECAUSE of charge). The day charge nurse apologized to me when I came on that night because she knew it was going to be a bad night for me. I had four vented kids and one on CPAP, including a new trach s/p AVM repair in restraints because she had decannulated herself twice. I had multiple narcs every hour, one kid who wouldnt stop seizing, three of the kids had temps > 101, including my AVM pt who spiked to 103AX and the father was flipping out, and a vented baby who went into flash pulmonary hypertensive crisis and had to be transported out. I had the code cart in the room, the doctor sitting with him tweaking his vent settings while I quickly managed the other kids, a new grad nurse on her first shift off orientation helping to administer my narcs, and the charge nurse freaking out that my assignment was too heavy but couldn't help because hers was heavy for charge. I pulled the laptop into my critical baby's room, set up the monitor in his room so I could see the rest of my kids' monitor vitals and alarms, and that was all I could do. Couldn't leave him. I ended up staying past my shift til 11am with my nearly coding baby until the transport team arrived because he was a 1:1. He ended up surviving, and I did too! It was a BAD night. Diapers may not have all gotten changed, but I made sure all of their airways were patent, they all got their meds, and that they stayed stable. It was a night of prioritization for sure. Not sure how that will hold up to a day in the ED though.

FancypantsRN · Jun 23, 2011

I think that'll paint the picture just fine :) They just want to know that you can manage, especially if you are going night shift where staffing cuts down after mid shift leaves. Sounds like you know how to prioritize already and have some pretty good experience to bring with you to the ER.

TinyRNgrl · Jun 23, 2011

I totally agree with fancypants....that shows perfect example of your critical thinking and prioritizing...(did I spell that right?) I think you will do just fine in the ED.

Best wishes. :redpinkhe

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 23, 2011

You will fit right into the er.