[manangmdrn]

pinoyNP,

Thank you so very much for the very useful tips (and the encouragement)! You have answered more than what I have posted.
A friend of mine told me about looking for a day shift, because during that time, I would have more learning opportunities (vs night shift), so that was the reason I first applied for that position, which was given to another applicant. But I was wondering how the orientation/preceptorship would be, and if I would be left on my own (without much mentoring) if I were indeed accepted for that position. You have just answered my un-posted question -- that I will have orientation on days. Thanks for the tip about requesting for a day position when one opens. I was really worried on whether I will learning anything during the night shift, and the only reason I applied for that position was to try to get into the system and get my foot on the door. So I really appreciate the advice you gave.

I have started browsing the other threads you suggested and I am learning a lot! I now wish I had done things differently from the day I received my ATT!

Five years from now I am also seeing myself as a nurse practitioner, although I am not quite sure what type will be in high demand in my area. I will do more research (in allnurses) on that later.

Again, thanks a bunch!

[manangmdrn]

Hello all,

I had my first interview with the HR last Friday (despite a snowstorm -- she said she appreciated my not cancelling. I thought it would not make a good impression if I canceled because of a bad weather. Appearing on time despite the bad weather ~ going to work on duty no matter what.)

First I would like to thank you all for the useful tips. I had a business attire but wore slacks (that was the most I could do with the weather condition). Not only that I looked professional, but I also projected more confidence easier if dressed in such manner (the same way I did in my past experiences). I also browsed the net for other questions that may be asked and which I could ask.

The employees there were all polite (maybe because of their quality policy? Or maybe they were really happy?) that I really felt relaxed during the entire interview. Even the recruiter/retention specialist was so not intimidating. She attested to her satisfaction as an employee in that she has been working there for 26 yrs now (also an RN).

Questions/Issues I remember being asked/discussed:

Which of the positions was I pulled more into (M/S/T vs Rehab), then she went to explain how each ward differed. We talked about the shift.

How I see myself after 5 years. After giving my answer, she talked about how the direction of the hospital plans are going (as if to say that my career plans go with the hospital's growth direction).

How I handle conflict (personal first then immediate supervisor).

What to do when understaffed (prioritization and delegation; team nursing is what they do there, she said.)

How I found the transition from being a MD to a RN (not much difference actually). I used this to express past experiences and limitations as a GP in PI.

I asked about orientation, training (she said structured and individualized; usu. 12-wk), continuing education incentives (many in-house; reimbursement is available), scheduling, N:P ratio (1:8, RN working with CNAs; this is when fully trained).

She gave me literature on hospital's Mission/Vision/Quality Policies, and the job description.

I am about to set up another interview with the nursing unit manager. The HR would have arranged for the meeting that same day but NUM was not available. I got a message that afternoon for setting up the appointment but unfortunately I was out. Gotta call her early Monday morning for that. There is a possible facility tour.

Need your help again on this. What should I expect during this meeting? What questions should I prepare to ask? What answers should I be prepared to give when questioned (i.e., what do they usually ask during this interview?). I browsed topics on Nursing Career Advice but there is not specific post on the interview with the nursing manager of a specific ward.

Thanks a lot in advance!

[pinoyNP]

It's obviously too late to reply to this one manangmdrn. May I just ask how the interview went?

[manangmdrn]

Originally Posted by pinoyNP

It's obviously too late to reply to this one manangmdrn. May I just ask how the interview went?

Hi pinoyNP,

You know, sometimes I feel like PM'ng you, but thought that maybe it is better to share here for everyone to see how my jobhunting experience is going. So here goes my story for EVERYONE who might be interested to read...

Within 24 hours of the first interview I made a thank you letter (as adviced by the other threads here). Then I called NUM at the earliest possible time Monday morning, and was scheduled for interview Wednesday morning. (I got cold when I realized I failed to bring extra copies of my resume and credentials that time, and hoped it would turn out alright.)

Got to the hospital 10 mins before the appt, was delayed a bit by the information/receptionist, but was able to be in the unit 5 minutes before the appointment, during which time the NUM was inserting an IV. I took the chance to use the rest room and check my appearance.

I was accompanied to the NUM's office by one of the people at the station, and greeted in a very friendly manner by a surprisingly young (probably about my age) lady. I felt at ease at once.

She had my resume in front of her (a print-out from my online application) and took note of my "extensive" background (extensive only in that aside from working as a GP, I had two years of working as Quality Assurance Manager of a clinic which was required by international labor laws to have ISO certification (much like JCAHO) -- i.e., quality system -- in place for conducting medical exam of international seafarers, which the DOH had extended to apply as well to other OFWs.) I made it clear to her that I felt I was still in the beginner phase of QA (2 yrs) or even as a GP (about 3 years total years of practice). Other than these, I worked as home-based MT (she thought I worked in MA where the office was located) while working on immigration issues and driver's license and NCLEX.

(As a side note, this hospital was touted as one of the "2006 Best Places to Work in ME" and has JCAHO certification.)

She was saying she really did not quite know what else to ask me, so she invited me to ask questions. I reiterated questions on scheduling and she showed me their tabulation of self-scheduled duties, offered tips on having 4 nights in a row instead of staggering them throughout the week so as not to screw up my sleep pattern. Told me some stories about some nurses who had been working there for several years, about a single parent who was asking for a 40-hr/wk sched, etc. (as if to imply -- or at least that was how I perceived it -- that their nurses were happy there and were comfortable with her, the manager).

I asked about possible cross-training (say, in OB-Gyn or CCU); and she said I would have to request for that later on. She mentioned that they had a float pool of RNs and they were the ones being cross-trained in various specialty areas. I told her about my plans of getting experience in med-surg only for about a year then apply to another specialty. She had no problems with that plan of mine to "move on" in pursuing my personal career goal down the track.

I asked if there was a possibility of me working during the day, and she said I had to wait for someone in day shift to leave and that I just had to keep checking for jobs online and apply accordingly.

I asked again about N:P ratio, and she said it boiled down to 1:6 (it was a 30-bed unit; they have 24 px on the average). I asked if they had LPNs, and was told there was usually 2 "licensed" and 4 CNA's in a team (When I got home, I later on figured that the "licensed" must have meant LPNs? Am I correct? During the interview I thought it meant 2 "licensed" RNs.). She Said she was working on hiring more RNs for the unit to lighten up the load.

I asked about the preceptorship and clarified that it would be one-on-one. I asked about how long the training will be, and was told 6-8 weeks; could be longer or shorter depending on the RN's level of comfort/confidence.

She asked me if I had BLS training already, and I explained that I was supposed to have it this January but had to re-sched for Feb because there were not enough attendees. She said they give BLS training for free anyway, and that I just had to have it before Sept and ACLS within 2 years (timeline probably had to do with quality audit scheds). (I guess that CPR requirement that initially hindered me from applying for the position was not an absolute requirement after all.)

That's all I can remember from our conversation in the office, and when she asked me if there were more questions, I just said that right now there was none, but I was sure there would be more to come when I would be actually working there. Then she offered a tour around the facility.

She showed me the rooms; precautions carts; supplies room, how they kept track of individual needs and how they requested for replacement; "family room;" nurses' lounge; px snack room (where we would be preparing coffee/juice/water/snacks for patients or families); charting room; telemetry; etc.

She told me they would be starting training in computerized charting, and that I was lucky that I would be starting my work without having to learn the old (manual) charting style, while they had to learn anew.

All in all it was a very positive experience for my very first job interview in a very large hospital system, that I could not help but wonder if I sounded too presumptous when I asked questions and answered theirs as if there was an implied employer-employee relationship already (but I could not find a better way to answer). Is that a normal feeling for anyone undergoing a second interview with the nursing unit manager (as in, do they really make a candidate feel very positive, only to be turned down later)? Or do I have enough reasons to feel that I have a very good chance of being accepted given the above experience? (You do not have to answer these questions ; I am just merely voicing out what's in my head.)

I was told to wait for a call from either her or the HR about the next meeting. I thanked her and left. That same day I made a thank you letter and mailed it.

In the meantime, while waiting, I am not quite sure what the next phase will be all about. I am presuming there will be a job offer. If so, what should I expect to transpire during the meeting? How should I approach it? (Sorry, I have not found a thread/website that answers specifically this phase in RN interviews.) What questions should I be prepared to ask? If you have some ideas, please share. Also, if you think I should have asked some more questions during the first two interviews that I should ask on the third, please give advice as well.

I feel now that I can relax a bit with this company, and am browsing and applying for other hospitals' job listings. After the very pleasant interview experience with that big hospital network, I feel like I am ready to face other interviewers (other hospitals near me are much smaller in comparison).

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN TIPS, and to allnurses.com for being such a wonderful resource. Additional input/insight welcome!

[lawrence01]

Thank you for sharing manangmdrn. Glad that allnurses.com was able to help you at the right time and when you needed it most.