Chop nicu new grad interview + shadowing

[NerdyhipposRN]

Hi! I graduated May 2015 and got my RN license October. I have been looking for a job even before I graduated and haven't been successful. I have been added by CHOP to their New RN Talent Pool and just recently got invited to be interviewed for the NICU. The recruiter also told me that there will be a 4-hour shadow experience.

I just don't know how to prepare for the shadow experience. What do they expect from me during that time? What attire should I wear? Scrubs because of the shadowing or formal attire because of the interview? Should I be ready with textbook knowledge of NICU? I don't have any knowledge of being in the NICU at all aside from my shadow experience during my clinical rotation. Should I know med calculations? Assessments? Are hey just trying to see how I would fit in the unit?

I really need tips and guidance from anyone. This is my dream job and I feel like it's my only shot to get a job before my new grad status is over. Please help!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Shadow experience gives you an idea of how their department functions. It is a way of seeing if it is a good fit for you. It also gives them an opportunity for an informal peer review to see if you are a good fit for the unit. Ask a lot a questions about the unit (how often they do assessments, types of babies they see most often (CHOP is a Level 4, so can get anything) patient to nurse ratio. Most likely you will not be quizzed on NICU stuff, but knowing terms that they will be talking about will help. Know what a PDA, PFO, and ROP are. Review the most typical types of babies (for example: NAS, NEC, Gastoschisis, RDS). For bonus points, know the difference between a pink Tetralogy of Fallot (pink Tet) and blue Tetralogy of Fallot (blue Tet).