Another OB Interview, Brainstorming!

Jolie, BSN · Feb 24, 2011

For the most part, I think your answers are well thought out, and positive. Nothing worse than a prospective OB nurse who gushes about how s/he just loves babies! It's critical to emphasize the following aspects:

Ability to think on your feet and manage rapidly changing situations.

Love of teaching.

Interest in developing strong relationships with families, because many patients will become "repeats" over time. Emphasize your interest in remaining in OB for the long term.

Appreciate the wide-ranging skills of an OB nurse. After all, who else cares for newborns thru adults, well patients to critically ill ones, patients preparing for, undergoing, and recovering from surgery, all in the same day?

Now, to nitpick:

Definitely emphasize your attention to detail, in both assessments and treatments, but don't mention that you will catch things that others may miss. You need to emphasize your strengths, but not downgrade anyone else, even "hypothetical" co-workers.

I would not go into too much specific questioning about rates of C-sections, planned inductions, breastfeeding, etc. You can't do a thing about these issues, and they're all a bit of a hot button. You may mean to ask whether you will have the opportunity to participate in intra-operative care (Which is a perfectly good question.) but the interviewer may "read" your question as critical of institutions with a high C-section rate. Better to phrase your questions as "Will I have a regular opportunity to (fill in the blank)...circulate in the OR, assist with breastfeeding, teach newborn care classes...etc.

Defnitely ask about nurse patient ratios (absolutely no more than 4 healthy couplets to one nurse, 3 is better.) Ask about the percentage of staff members with 2 or more years of experience on the unit. You will need experienced preceptors and mentors, long after formal orientation is complete. Ask whether there is a particular area of OB to which you will be trained first. Is there a long-term plan for orienting you to all aspects of OB care. How will you be evaluated? Where does NRP, PALS and ACLS come in?

Good luck!

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 24, 2011

Jolie brings up excellent points. My addition is to stop seeming so desperate.. If I can "hear" it in your post, the NM will hear it in interview. Relax, if you choose to leave nursing fine but do not put it all on one interview... And remember I am the one who suggested you Do Not overdress, or even wear professional scrubs...So look at your last outfit.. was it too much..did it make it look like you were after the NM job. I am just saying be comfortable and confident.

My reason for wanting to work OB, was to "make a difference in the overall OB experience of the mother and father and their newborn. I did not have good L&D experiences and I felt every mom deserves the best and I wanted to be L&D nurse and change that experience to being totally positive for the family.And yes sharing miracles with families was my idea of a great job!"

This is what I said for real...maybe it does not apply to you but as a NM to me it really is a good answer and shows you desire to improve quality of car, and the overall quality of the unit. OB is highly competitive in the market place for hospitals, it is BIG $$.. Mothers can easily chose another facility.. SO PR for that unit is a BIG deal to NM.. more so then like general m/s floors.

When I was NM I looked for applicants who had the excitement and drive in their voices.. ones who wanted to be there and make a career out of OB.. It is okay to ask about training for L&D, OR, or however this unit breaks down it's sections.

Be happy no matter what particular area they want you to start in but express desire to learn all areas as time goes on. You need to be just short of what one would need to be to get onto a TV show.. Totally upbeat, positive, smiling, happy. yes some of OB is sad but there they need nurses who can smile and be friendly and positive even when things do not turn out the way mothers wanted!

And please read the mission statement for the hospital before hand, and try to fit just one of their objectives into your words..it shows you cared enough to take the time.

Be professional, not silly or fake but be happy in a genuine way. Good luck!

RaziRN · Feb 24, 2011

Um, I don't understand how it is I seem so desperate. I can't stop doing something if I don't know what I'm doing wrong in the first place.

I have no personal experience in OB. I have no children. This is the unit where I did my 120 hr preceptorship in nursing school. This lady already knows me and refused to hire me right out of nursing school. Though they did hire another new grad who didn't even end up graduating.

I have o idea what I'm doing wrong. Maybe I'm too restrained during interviews. I'm a very shy person but have no problem interacting with patients.

I just don't know...

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 24, 2011

Um, I don't understand how it is I seem so desperate. I can't stop doing something if I don't know what I'm doing wrong in the first place.
I have no personal experience in OB. I have no children. This is the unit where I did my 120 hr preceptorship in nursing school. This lady already knows me and refused to hire me right out of nursing school. Though they did hire another new grad who didn't even end up graduating.
I have o idea what I'm doing wrong. Maybe I'm too restrained during interviews. I'm a very shy person but have no problem interacting with patients.
I just don't know...

Don't get upset. You are just a bit emotional..granted you are stressed and want to succeed. I just get a sense you are trying too hard..maybe not outside but in your mind.. You don't need to change who you are... just be an upbeat happy type person.. Being fascinated with OB is ok but does not come off the same as wanting to give families the best experience possible. It is ok to say you are fascinated with miracles.

I am not putting you down..just trying to give you hints of ways to say the same things differently.

Yes it is better to not be shy in interviews,, better to be relaxed and more outgoing.. Of course you do not have trouble relating to patients but NM like to know how you will relate to them and co-workers....

Remember deep breaths, speak clearly, never apologize for lack of knowledge or experience. NM knows you don't have experience in OB but you do have some in nursing and lots in life....Maybe speak more from who you are and who you want to become in this job. You can do it.

RaziRN · Feb 25, 2011

Thank you for the advice and understanding ladies. Interview is tomorrow, let's do this! (Trying to be positive here.) :)

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 25, 2011

I will say a prayer for you..good luck. Go GirL!!!

RaziRN · Feb 25, 2011

Thank you! I'm not even going to try to speculate as to how it went because I'm apparently a terrible judge of that. I did get to see my old preceptor and she remembered me! Everyone was so nice and welcoming. The NM remembered me from my preceptorship as well. Unfortunately, it will be two weeks before I hear anything as she still has people left to interview.

Something that's been bugging me though is that I overheard her with the interviewee before me and she had that interviewee sign a release for a background check but didn't have me do the same thing. Is this because I used to work at the institution and they already have a background check on me or is it because she has no intention of hiring me?

BrookeeLou_RN · Feb 26, 2011

Let's be positive and say it is because you all already cleared to work there.....

Keep positive, Fill you time waiting with nice things and may the days fly by.. you can not change anything so it will be what it will be. :)