Asked about orientation? Is that mistake?

Nurses Retired

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I had a interview last Thursday, (today's Wednesday) and did pretty good, I thought. A friend of mine works there and ran into the Head E.R. nurse who interviewed me and she said they loved me. Well, here' my question, as I sit on pins and needles hoping to hear back from HR. After interviewing with the Nursing Director, Head E.R. nurse and 2 medical surgical nurses--I expressed to the Nursing Director that I had understood they had a wonderful orientation program. During the interview, the other nurses voluntarily told me that the Nursing Director had recently revised orientation so that all would feel comfortable. I had not asked them about orientation, but being they shared that with me, I told her they were impressed with her new revised orientation. The Nursing Director looked shocked and said, "I am so surprised, I'm not use to the nurses coming in and wanting to do orientation. They normally say, "Oh, I don't really need an orientation." I told her that I didn't feel that way and feel orientation is important. Now, I'm panicking because I'm afraid she thinks I feel I need an extensive orientation. I was just paying her a complement. Now, I don't know what to do. She said it was nice to hear the complement. I'm frustrated because I was not real concerned about orientation, I just want to be confident of hospital procedures. It is a small, rural hospital. What do you think? Should I have expressed my appreciation for a good orientation program. Does it make me look insecure?

Oh--the wait seems like an eternity!

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Specializes in behavioral health.

I would think that she'd take it as a complement. Everyone needs orientation to new jobs. My last job was a 14 day orientation and more if you needed it.

IMHO, I think that you are okay. Please let us know.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I agree. I don't see anything wrong with asking about the orientation process. As a new grad, I wanted to make sure that the facility hiring me is going to spend an adequate amount of time and resources into making me a competent nurse in my field. :)

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

An interview is a 2-way street. The employer needs to learn about you, and you need to learn about the employer in order to determine whether or not the job will fit your needs.

If this employer does not intend to provide you with a thorough orientation, regardless of your past work history, then the job is not worth considering.

Even our agency nurses get an orientation to our hospital and unit.

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You have greatly encouraged me. I have been so keyed up since the interview. I will definitely let you know what happens. I will be calling them tomorrow if they don't call me. It will be 1 week since the interview tomorrow. Wish me luck!

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Tashby,

Did you call, today? I got a call from a hospital that I applied to back in May. They asked if I was still interested, and I told them yes. However, I am having second thoughts. I think that I will need that refresher course first. I am waiting to hear from my disability insurance to see if they will pay for it. The orientation is Sept. 3, and my case manager put a "rush" status on it. But, I just don't know what to do about this interview. How long was your course, again? The course I m taking is 10 weeks long. the first week is 8 hrs, on Mon. Tues., then on Wed., Thurs., Fri. it is only 4 hrs. The remaining weeks are theory on Wed. and Thurs from 9-1. My clinicals are 7-3:30.

Okay, so I have not worked in four years. My background is behavioral health. This position is a transitional care unit in hospital. (long-term unit)

So, what should I do? At this moment, I am thinking that I should cancel the interview. And, what reason would I give for cancelling interview? Any suggestions? What was I thinking? when she asked if I was still interested, I just said yes. I figured at the time that it was better to say yes, in case I changed my mind later and wanted to interview for this position. And, Tashby, what was your interview like?

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Hi Iwanna,

Wow, that's great that you got the call! I hope I can be of encouragement to you. I have a friend who has been out 20 years and just got a job working in a long term care unit. She feels overwhelmed right now, but knows it'll pass. I called her after I saw your message to see how she was doing. She told them she was uncomfortable right now because it's been a while and even still, they hired her. If I was you, I'd give it a shot. If you've only been out 4 years, you'll be surprised how a lot will come back to you. They've seen your resume? If so, they know you've been out and will probably want to give you a decent orientation. She says she has 20 patients, but all are p.o. meds. The nurses are real patient with her knowing she is nervous and are stressing to her that she will get it in time.

As far as the interview, do a search in this site for interview questions. Or, do a google search for general questions. Prepare for the fact that there may be 3-4 people in the room, but don't let that freak you out. They know you are nervous and will probably want to put you at ease. Just be positive and stress you are looking forward to growing as a nurse. My questions were....."How do you deal with a difficult patient?" What would you do if a doctor started screaming at you? How do you deal with criticism? Have you ever had a conflict with a co-worker and if so, how did you handle it?

Hope this helps. Let me know what you decide! I am still in my refresher course--it will end in 2 more weekends and I have learned a lot, but have a lot more to learn.

I will let you know when I get the call. In the meantime, I will be praying for you!

Lots a luck,

tashby40

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Thanks tashby. Well,I applied back in May. So, I am thinking they either let someone go, or they quit.

So, if I do decide to keep this interview, I as thinking that of course they will mention I have not been in nursing for four years. Also, never any hospital medical nursing. I did briefly work in geri-psych, but they closed the unit. They tried to mix geri pts. with regular adult psych population, and it did not work out. What were they thinking! anyways, I don't remember much. I guess that I will have to get out my books and review.

Oh, let me try answer your questions: 1. I would handle dificult pt. by making all necessary things are done for pt. If time allowed me to, I would try to sit with pt. for awhile. I realize that people are anxious in hospital. 2. I have been yelled at indirectly by dr. before. He yelled at my unit director, but I know it was geared towards me. I interrupted a team treatment for a pt. having an adverse drug reaction. My pt. complaints are so inconvenient!:confused: However, this dr. flew off the handle quite frequently, and h is a psychiatrist! lol. Anyways, any complaints from him just rolled off my back. Of course, in the interview, I would say that I would suck it up. I would just respond calmly. I know that it reall p.o. people when they are exploding, and yu are just calm. It makes them look like an idiot!! 3. Honestly, I have never had a problem with a co-worker. I get along with everyone. I am the peacemaker type. If it was a real problem, we would sit down and talk. Oh wait, I did have a problem once with an aide. It was just a case of misundertstanding. I don't remember the whole incident, but I remember her going around mumbling about me under her breath. I told her that we needed to talk, and that she totally misunderstood me. She apologized, and we never had any problems after that.

One other thing, I only want to work PT. If they ask about working 12 hr. shifts, I don't think that is a good idea for me now. I want to start out slow with 8 hr. shifts and only 2 or 3 days a week. they probably would want someone going above and beyond scheduled work hrs. Been there. Done that. Got very sick!

Anyways, I have the weekend to decide about the interview. It is not until Tues.

Well, gotta run. No time for spell check. Pleae ecuse all typos.

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This message is especially for Iwanna. It looks like I got the job today. Oh, my goodness, am I ever excited! The Nursing Manager called saying that she was submitting my paperwork to HR today and I should be hearing back from them this week. She said they are looking forward to getting to know me better soon. I am so excited and exhausted at the same time.

Iwanna, I am really excited for you. The refresher course makes all the difference in the world. We work this next weekend in the hospital and are done with the course. I have started an IV, inserted a foley, given IV pushes, subcutaneous injections, g-tube feeding and had lots of exposure to charting. I could not even imagine attempting to go into nursing without this course. As a returning nurse, you will feel a healthy, normal, lack of confidence, but know this is normal and it will get better. I know I will feel nervous when I actually begin my new job. I can't wait to settle in!

I know it's going to be tough leaving your mother. Would she ever consider moving to where you guys are? My parents just moved next door to us and I am ecstatic! They even had 40 acres about an hour from us but decided to live next to us because they understand they are getting older and may need help one day.

Please keep me posted and feel free to ask me any questions! Make sure you google for interview questions so you'll be prepared. Also, your refresher instructor will make a great reference! Be sure to assert yourself during clinicals. Remember that it's normal to be nervous, but you can do it.

Thanks for asking about my job.

Teresa Ashby

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I said a "normal, healthy, lack of confidence..." What a goofy statement. What I mean't to say is that it is normal to be nervous going back in because you've been out a while. Being that we have people's lives in our hands, we have to really be on our toes, so it's a bit challenging when you first get back in. All the nurses in my refresher course have felt nervous but want to get back in so bad that we all say it's worth it.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Congratulations, I am so excited for you! There is a good chance that my refresher course may be cancelled, as there are not enough of students registering. I will be really bummed if that happens. I just got all of my ducks in a row. I got my tuition paid for and will be reimbursed for my room rental while I am in school. And, now it may get cancelled.:banghead:

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Well, I got the word yesterday that I did get the job! Yippee!!!! It has really been stressful waiting because I didn't apply anywhere else. This job is prn which I desparately need for the flexibility. HR explained to me that it was pretty tough getting all my reference checked out because they dated way back. They also had to explain to the administrator of the hospital that I had recently finished the FCCJ refresher course, or otherwise I wouldn't have been hired! I cringe when I think about that and am thankful I wasn't aware that was going on. I thank God that FCCJ provided this course or I wouldn't have gotten my dream job!

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