[kwagner_51]

I have 3 more interviews lined up for this coming Friday.

Is it ok to take notes?

I want to know about orientation, preceptorships, continuing education opportunities, if I can get PALS, ACLS, etc. The units I am interviewing for are Med/Surg and Ortho/Med. They are all in the same hospital and the interviews are scheduled like this: 0830-0930, 0930-1030, 1030-1130.

I live an hour away and quite frankly, we are broke! I think that by scheduling all the interviews for the same day, I am showing good use of my time and conservation of money!

Thanks!!

______________________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

[Gail-Anne]

Totally acceptable to have your questions written down so you remember them and to write BRIEF notes. Just make sure you spend your time making contact with the interviewer not with your paper! If possible, I'd try to do most of my note taking after leaving the interview and only jot down one or two things while with the person. You can also say that you prepared a few questions (after they have finished questioning you), then refer to your paper. Good luck.

[Daytonite]

I have to give you credit, Karen. You sure do have determination. I thought you were going for a home health job the last time I saw one of your posts. Anyway, I have a file I keep a list of interview questions in for new grads. Rather than cut and paste it here, I'm just going to attach the file to this post--especially since I've figured out how to attach a file! Hope it helps you prepare. You go, girl! And, good luck.

First job interview questions.doc

Please make sure you especially ask about how your orientation and preceptorship will work as you've had problems with these before. I would be very careful to be very limited in what you say in your interviews about your previous experiences. I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you find the perfect job. And, as far as having to drive a hour to work each way. . .that's about a tank of gas for 4 days. Learn where the grocery stores and other shopping places you like to frequent are on the way home, so you can save on gas and extra trips to the store.

[kwagner_51]

All I can say is, I must have screwed up the interviews I had before/after Christmas. I have heard NOTHING from the HomeHealth place, Regional, or St Mary's. I did have an interview with Union last Thursday. She said I should hear from them no later than today. I heard NOTHING!!

Anyway, I am trying to improve my chances with the 3 I have on Friday. PLEASE pray for me that I will be successful and will get a job in nursing before the end of the month!

Thanks!!

_____________________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

[jimthorp]

Originally Posted by kwagner_51

All I can say is, I must have screwed up the interviews I had before/after Christmas. I have heard NOTHING from the HomeHealth place, Regional, or St Mary's. I did have an interview with Union last Thursday. She said I should hear from them no later than today. I heard NOTHING!!

Anyway, I am trying to improve my chances with the 3 I have on Friday. PLEASE pray for me that I will be successful and will get a job in nursing before the end of the month!

Thanks!!

_____________________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

It's a good idea to follow up your interviews with a phone call to them. Don't wait for them to call you.

One of the questions I askduring an interview, which I didn't include in another thread, is "may I call you in blank days? The blank is determined by their response to "when do you expect to make a decision on filling the position" question.

Did you send a "thank you letter" to your interviewers? I had two interviews prior to graduating and sent "thank you" letters to both (as I ALWAYS do). The one interviewer called me the day she recieved the letter to express her appreciation for the letter. Apparently, she has never gotten one before.

As soon as I get home from the interview I write the letter and put it in the mail. Ask you interviewer for a business card.

[thatoneguy]

i always want to know there turn over rate. employee not patient, basiclly how long do nurses seem to stay there.
i also ask how long she/he " the manager" has been woriking on that floor.
those two tell you a lot about how the nurses that have worked there really feel.

[enfermeraSG]

A few questions (aside from the biggies like orientation, support avail, and nurse to pt ratios,etc) that will be on my list to ask are related to scheduling: Do they require call? How do they rotate weekends? How do they schedule holidays? I have worked in hospitals long enough to know that alone can make a difference. One new grad nurse I know for example got hired on a floor and then found out when holidays rolled around that new employees had to work every single one! I wouldn't go for that personally. I don't mind doing my share, but every holiday that year?! Someone else ended up working in a dept that required you to work every weekend for 6mos, you rotated like that. SG

[kwagner_51]

Update: I woke up this morning with a sick child. My 11 y/o had a temp of 102.3. My husband works nights and all 4 kids are in school. I couldn't leave him home by himself and I didn't want to take him with me. He stayed home with dvd's of disney movies and I went to my interviews.

I also got a phone call last night that my MIL was in the hospital. Temp 105 very little urine output. So I had my son and my MIL on my mind today.

My first interview was hard! They are a very busy M/S unit. The NM had 4 patients of her own and was interviewing prospective employees. The head nurse was promoted in mid December and her right hand person transferred to another unit. She stated that this was normal. She couldn't tell me the turn over rate for the unit. I like to keep busy, but don't want to be overwhelmed. From what she stated, there will be no time to go to the bathroom and if caught sitting down [except to chart], a person will be fired!

The second interview was also M/S. They too are extremely busy. The hospital was full and they are building a new hospital so alot of the employees are shifting to the new hospital.

The third interview was hip/knee replacement and medical overflow. not nearly as busy as the other two untis. The turnover rate is about the same as everyone is going to the new hospital. Oreintation is 3 days hospital orientation and 7 days new nurse orientation where I learn documentation, their pumps, their computers, etc. Then I am on the unit with a preceptor. They try to keep me with the same person, but sometimes I will need need to be with someone else due to call offs, vacations etc. I really like this unit!

I got home about 1330 and my husband still wasn't home. My son was doing better, but stated that his nose was running and stopped up. My MIL has a UTI. I should hear something from them by the end of next week.

Which brings up a question. How long is the process from interview to job?

Thanks!!

_______________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

[thatoneguy]

The head nurse was promoted in mid December and her right hand person transferred to another unit. She stated that this was normal. She couldn't tell me the turn over rate for the unit. I like to keep busy, but don't want to be overwhelmed. From what she stated, there will be no time to go to the bathroom and if caught sitting down [except to chart], a person will be fired!

forget this one the are not looking for efficient nurses. new manager new charge nurses, why did the last ones leave. if caught sitting down fired, screw that, as long as my patients or good they should have nothing to say. why rip the nurse that is on top of everything and praise the one falling behind running around with no time in case a patient crashes.

The second interview was also M/S. They too are extremely busy. The hospital was full and they are building a new hospital so alot of the employees are shifting to the new hospital.

might be a good one to check out. sounds like there might be some good opportunities there.

The third interview was hip/knee replacement and medical overflow. not nearly as busy as the other two untis. The turnover rate is about the same as everyone is going to the new hospital. Oreintation is 3 days hospital orientation and 7 days new nurse orientation where I learn documentation, their pumps, their computers, etc. Then I am on the unit with a preceptor. They try to keep me with the same person, but sometimes I will need need to be with someone else due to call offs, vacations etc. I really like this unit!

if you like it go for this one. likeing where you work is the biggest thing to me.

Which brings up a question. How long is the process from interview to job?

depends, i think the norm is about a month.
hope your sicklings start getting better soon.

_______________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!![/quote]