I need a tranquilizer

Nurses Job Hunt

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Specializes in critical care.

I forgot how wound up I get about job hunts. I haven't applied for a job that required competing against other applicants in well over a decade. Up until now, I have never interviewed for a job I didn't get. But this is nursing. I'm feeling a lot more humbled. How do I get myself into the "I'm the best applicant you have walking through this door" mode, and not get stuck in "holy moly this wait is going to kill me"? Ugh.

So, how do I make myself feel awesome, when I feel like I don't know anything about nursing yet? And man, how do I calm the jitters down? Because I've only put in one app so far and I am going nuts about it already. This wait!!!!!

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I feel your pain. I'm pretty much in your same boat. I have filled out 2 applications, received one rejection email, and made it to the final round of interviews on the other. They said they would call yet today, but it's 5:30 now. Hopefully I will find something out first thing in the morning, because I feel like I want to throw up.

I don't have any advice for you, besides maybe do mock interviews with a friend or someone to feel more comfortable with answering the questions. I know I tend to ramble when I am nervous, and I do not like that at all.

Nursing is a different world, for sure. Good Luck on your search!

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Specializes in critical care.
I feel your pain. I'm pretty much in your same boat. I have filled out 2 applications received one rejection email, and made it to the final round of interviews on the other. They said they would call yet today, but it's 5:30 now. Hopefully I will find something out first thing in the morning, because I feel like I want to throw up. I don't have any advice for you, besides maybe do mock interviews with a friend or someone to feel more comfortable with answering the questions. I know I tend to ramble when I am nervous, and I do not like that at all. Nursing is a different world, for sure. Good Luck on your search![/quote']

So????? Did you get the call?????

I got called earlier today with an interview! Now I'm getting ready to go look up all of the really weird interview questions that I keep hearing about - like, "how many hairs would be on your head if your best friend was an octopus that speaks Portuguese?"

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I did, I DID get the call!!!! :) I have officially been offered my first RN position! It's for an RN/internship, so I am super stoked about that! I really thought I may have messed up in my second interview because I was rambling on and on, infact, one question had something to do with teamwork, and how do you handle a co-worker who refuses to be a part of the team? I started rambling on about something completely off topic, then stopped myself and was like...."oh. Well that didn't really answer the question, did it?" LOL OMG.. I could have died.

I am so thankful, and feel so blessed that I no longer have to search for a job, and I got the exact job I wanted. :up:

I looked up common "Performace Based Interview" questions, which usually start with "Tell me a time when.....and what did you do about it?" Then I sat down and thought about my life experience with school, work, etc, anything and wrote down times that I have dealt with that type of thing. Also, thought about what to say for "tell me about yourself..." "what is your greatest strength....." "what is your greatest weakness......" "why should we hire you...." To tell you the truth, even though I spent a week preparing for it, I was still so nervous that I did not do as good as I had hoped, but it was ok, no one is perfect.

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Specializes in critical care.

Hooray!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! I think I may do the sane thing. Thank you for the idea!

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Thanks! I highly recommend it. I did the same thing for the first interview and that went amazingly well. I think I was just super nervous to have made it to the second interview and knew it was down to 7 people for 2 spots I just freaked myself out. But if I wouldn't have thought about things ahead of time it might have been a lot worse and I might not have gotten the position. Good Luck to You!! :)

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Specializes in critical care.
Thanks! I highly recommend it. I did the same thing for the first interview and that went amazingly well. I think I was just super nervous to have made it to the second interview and knew it was down to 7 people for 2 spots I just freaked myself out. But if I wouldn't have thought about things ahead of time it might have been a lot worse and I might not have gotten the position. Good Luck to You!! :)[/QUOTe]

Thank you! I looked up some questions yesterday and felt very stumped on some of them. What do you do if you really don't have an answer?

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Try to think of ANY situation from life that could apply to it, from friends, family, school, anything. If you really can't think of anything, then just tell them that you have not had to deal with that type of situation yet, but you are interested in learning how to handle that type of thing properly. (or something like that)

I know she asked me about teamwork, and "tell me a time when you had someone who didn't want to work as a team, and what did you do?" I totally started rambling on about something that had nothing to do with teamwork....then about 3 minutes in, I stopped myself, and said, "Oh, I guess that doesn't really answer the question, does it" LOL So, then we talked about teamwork for a little while and everything ended up ok.

Just try to be yourself, and remember you don't have to be perfect, I don't think any interviewer expects anyone to be perfect, but it is good when you can identify situations from your past and be able to explain them in the STAR format.

S-situation

T-task

A-action

R-result

That can help you organize your thoughts for your answers! It really does work. I know it's hard to remain calm. I was a nervous wreck.

So, now that I got the offer, I'm worrying that they are going to tell me I have cancer, or some other health problem that I'm not aware of in my health screen and "fit for duty" testing. LOL I always have to have something to worry about. I wish I could change that!!! *sigh* :)

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Specializes in critical care.
Try to think of ANY situation from life that could apply to it from friends, family, school, anything. If you really can't think of anything, then just tell them that you have not had to deal with that type of situation yet, but you are interested in learning how to handle that type of thing properly. (or something like that) I know she asked me about teamwork, and "tell me a time when you had someone who didn't want to work as a team, and what did you do?" I totally started rambling on about something that had nothing to do with teamwork....then about 3 minutes in, I stopped myself, and said, "Oh, I guess that doesn't really answer the question, does it" LOL So, then we talked about teamwork for a little while and everything ended up ok. Just try to be yourself, and remember you don't have to be perfect, I don't think any interviewer expects anyone to be perfect, but it is good when you can identify situations from your past and be able to explain them in the STAR format. S-situation T-task A-action R-result That can help you organize your thoughts for your answers! It really does work. I know it's hard to remain calm. I was a nervous wreck. So, now that I got the offer, I'm worrying that they are going to tell me I have cancer, or some other health problem that I'm not aware of in my health screen and "fit for duty" testing. LOL I always have to have something to worry about. I wish I could change that!!! *sigh* :)[/quote']

That is a fantastic game plan. I think I'll use that type of format for the rest of the questions I haven't thought about yet.

As for the last part of your post.... In the middle of my first semester of the program (so nearly 3 years in on my degree), I found out I have spinal fractures. That news followed me like a dark cloud right over my head. Still does. But, I am living proof that terribly shocking news regarding health can be survived. It's been a terrible amount of effort on my part to reach a point both physically and emotionally where I feel like my goals are actually possible, but now that I am reaching them, I know everything will be okay.

So even if you get some random, crazy, unexpected news from this physical (which you know ratioanlly you wont!), you will be okay, and you will be an awesome nurse!

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Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear about your condition! Is it painful? It sure sounds painful!!!

I'm glad you think the advice will help, I know it is what worked for me!!

I am sure tomorrow will go just fine, I just always have to have something to worry about!! lol

Thank you! :D and Good Luck!!! :)

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Specializes in critical care.
Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear about your condition! Is it painful? It sure sounds painful!!! I'm glad you think the advice will help I know it is what worked for me!! I am sure tomorrow will go just fine, I just always have to have something to worry about!! lol Thank you! :D and Good Luck!!! :)[/quote']

It can be, if I get stupid. With good body mechanics and recognition of my limits, most days are actually pretty good. I'd leave my shifts during internship a little sore, but completely manageable. It really helped having other RNs and techs who were always there to help, and who basically would come to help whether you asked for help or not. It's a huge reason why I'm hoping to work there, actually. The teamwork was amazing!

Tomorrow will be perfect! When is your start date?

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April 7th So, I have just over one more week of freedom! lol!!!

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