Children's National DC Spring 2021

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hey!! I thought I would start a thread for those of us applying for the Spring 2021 new grad residency program!! Anyone else apply?? 

Specializes in Nursing.
14 minutes ago, jellybeanri said:

It went really well! There are three rounds of interviews. I completed the first and second rounds and I am waiting to hear when the third round is going to be. Everyone has been super nice and supportive. The interviews have been more conversation-based which is nice.

@jellybeanri, I’m glad it went well! ! I interviewed with the CICU too! The team never said when we would hear from them, but but in the first round I was told the third round may not be till January due to the holidays. Everyone on that unit are all so nice! I am hopeful and hope we will all get good news. ?

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2 minutes ago, NewGradBSN_2020 said:

@jellybeanri, I’m glad it went well! ! I interviewed with the CICU too! The team never said when we would hear from them, but but in the first round I was told the third round may not be till January due to the holidays. Everyone on that unit are all so nice! I am hopeful and hope we will all get good news. ?

Thank you and likewise! Yes, they really are!! They did tell me it would be after the holidays too which is kind of nice so we can relax and enjoy! hahah. May I ask where you are applying from? 

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Specializes in Nursing.
11 minutes ago, jellybeanri said:

Thank you and likewise! Yes, they really are!! They did tell me it would be after the holidays too which is kind of nice so we can relax and enjoy! hahah. May I ask where you are applying from? 

@jellybeanri , Haha so true, but even though they did tell me that I’m still refreshing my email like crazy. ? I actually live in the DMV area so I’m from here. Are you applying from another state?  

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23 minutes ago, NewGradBSN_2020 said:

@jellybeanri , Haha so true, but even though they did tell me that I’m still refreshing my email like crazy. ? I actually live in the DMV area so I’m from here. Are you applying from another state?  

I'm applying from California so I would be relocating! If I end up getting an offer it'd be great to get to know people from the area and also where all the good spots to live are haha.  Totally getting ahead of myself I'm just getting excited about the idea!

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Specializes in Nursing.
1 minute ago, jellybeanri said:

I'm applying from California so I would be relocating! If I end up getting an offer it'd be great to get to know people from the area and also where all the good spots to live are haha.  Totally getting ahead of myself I'm just getting excited about the idea!

I’m from the west coast! I miss it so much. You’ll love the DMV area! I wish there was a way I could privately message you my contact information. We should definitely connect if you do end up moving here. ?

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1 minute ago, NewGradBSN_2020 said:

I’m from the west coast! I miss it so much. You’ll love the DMV area! I wish there was a way I could privately message you my contact information. We should definitely connect if you do end up moving here. ?

Yes that would be awesome! I would love that! I do love it here too but I'm ready for a change. I've always enjoyed visiting DC!

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Out of curiosity did anyone send in letters of recommendation? If so how many and is it a requirement to have them? I’m more of a shy nursing student so asking for recommendations is a challenge for me because I feel like my professors and clinical instructors don’t know me well enough to write one because I’m so quiet. 

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Specializes in Nursing.
4 hours ago, RN2bJae said:

Out of curiosity did anyone send in letters of recommendation? If so how many and is it a requirement to have them? I’m more of a shy nursing student so asking for recommendations is a challenge for me because I feel like my professors and clinical instructors don’t know me well enough to write one because I’m so quiet. 

Hi! A letter of recommendation is not required for Children’s but you can submit them. Some new grad programs will require at least two from clinical professors. I’m pretty shy and quiet too. Don’t let that hinder you from asking. The worst they can do is say no, but I highly doubt they will.   

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I didn't get an offer for the NICU. WHich is okay!  I had just accepted a job at Medstar Washington on their CSICU so super excited about that!

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Hey everyone! I work in the NICU at Children's (I just started their new grad residency in September) so I'm more than happy to help if anyone has questions! Every unit is different but just for reference, I applied in early March, interviewed in early May and got my offer on May 27th! It's a long process (the NICU gets ~500 applications and hires 10-15) but so worth it. So yeah, just wanted to pop in and encourage all of you that you will get through it, it's a tough process but you'll end up where you're supposed to be. If anyone has questions I'm here! 

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13 hours ago, nicurn96 said:

Hey everyone! I work in the NICU at Children's (I just started their new grad residency in September) so I'm more than happy to help if anyone has questions! Every unit is different but just for reference, I applied in early March, interviewed in early May and got my offer on May 27th! It's a long process (the NICU gets ~500 applications and hires 10-15) but so worth it. So yeah, just wanted to pop in and encourage all of you that you will get through it, it's a tough process but you'll end up where you're supposed to be. If anyone has questions I'm here! 

@nicurn96 Nice when you applied were you a local resident or did you apply and have to move from another state? Did you have your senior capstone on the nicu? Unfortunately for me I didn’t get my first pick for NICU so I’m a little bummed. Is there anything I can do to help stand out on my resume? Also did you have to submit letters of recommendation and references? Also any insight on possible interview questions would be nice. Working in the NICU is my dream speciality so any insight would be very helpful. 

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26 minutes ago, RN2bJae said:

@nicurn96 Nice when you applied were you a local resident or did you apply and have to move from another state? Did you have your senior capstone on the nicu? Unfortunately for me I didn’t get my first pick for NICU so I’m a little bummed. Is there anything I can do to help stand out on my resume? Also did you have to submit letters of recommendation and references? Also any insight on possible interview questions would be nice. Working in the NICU is my dream speciality so any insight would be very helpful. 

1. I was local! I'm not sure that that makes a huge difference though, I'm pretty sure around half of my cohort was local and the other half wasn't (they were from all over the place!). 

2. I did get my capstone in the NICU (at a different hospital) but I only got to work 3 shifts because everything got down from covid. I think having your capstone in the NICU is a leg up for sure but they also know things are still a little crazy right now so it's not a deciding factor! 

3. As for your application/resume, I don't think it's required to submit rec letters (I could be wrong) but it's definitely a good idea. I submitted one from my peds clinical instructor (they LOVE anything pediatric) and one from my boss at my internship at Children's. If you can get a letter or two, I would say absolutely submit them. The more the merrier!! To stand out, I think rec letters help, any kind of volunteering, and especially anything NICU related (or whatever unit you want to be on for anyone else). Even if you didn't get your capstone there, try to at least shadow at a unit or two just so they can see that you're really interested in it. I would also say a good cover letter will make you stand out- just highlight all of your best stuff and be yourself, write it like you really want to be there! Don't use one of those automated, robot sounding ones, they'll know. Also, call/email either the managers or the nurse recruiter and ask about the process, your application status, if there's anything else you can do, etc. They LOVE people who take initiative and reach out to them, it shows you really want it! That's probably my biggest piece of advice- I don't know that I would've gotten the job if I didn't email the managers asking questions and thanking them after the interview (and also sending a handwritten thank you card). 

4. As for the interview, don't be nervous!! They know this is a very scary process so I promise they're super nice. I'm not sure about other units but for the NICU, I only had one interview but there were between 5-9 people on the zoom call (some came and left during). It was probably about an hour, maybe 10 questions and then they explained the whole residency program. They LOVE "tell me a time when" questions like when you went above and beyond, had a difficult patient/family member, your favorite memory from nursing school, things like that. They also asked my pet peeves, how I handle stress, what I do for fun outside of work, and what makes a good NICU nurse in my eyes. All pretty standard questions! Make sure you ask a question at the end too- I always asked if there was anything I could do to prepare myself ahead of time for working in an ICU/high stress environment because it shows your initiative. I hope this helps! 

Sorry for the novel LOL. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to help! I promise you'll end up where you're supposed to be so don't be nervous, you got this!! 

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