CVICU Interview for ED nurse

[criticalRN10]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to throw this out there and see if anyone can give me some tips and/or advice. I started my nursing career in a MSICU at a small hospital and worked there for 10 months before transferring to ED for census reasons mostly and just to get a change of pace. I was in that ED for 7 months then moved to another city and now I'm @ a level 1 trauma center ED for 7 months but I have decided that I want to go back to an ICU setting and continue learning all that I can about critical patients and how to care for them. I have an interview for a CVICU tomorrow with a great hospital that I've heard awesome things about and I really want the job. I'm worried about what to expect in this interview, if they're going to ask me clinical questions and heart stuff (which I have never worked with fresh hearts b/c my ICU started them just after I left the unit.) What do you think I should brush up on and what kind of questions do you suggest asking?

Thanks in advance

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

What most ICU managers are looking for is someone they want to work with, figuring that they can train you to be an ICU nurse. That said, they're looking for someone who is going to stay awhile (orientation in our unit is approximately six months) and not leave right away. If I'm counting right, this would be your fourth job in two years. That's not a good sign in a new hire. I'd advise you to stay in your present job for at least a year, preferably two, and then reapply to the ICU. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

[criticalRN10]

Yeah, that was the original plan but I got granted an interview so I'm going to go and see what happens. It's actually my third, the first was a transfer for a different specialty and the second was due to relocation (and a level 1 trauma center vs small community hospital). I loved my first place of employment and would go back gladly if it wasn't so far away. I want to find a place that's a good fit with a healthy (and safe) work environment...both of which I don't feel at my current place of employment. I also know that I have no future in emergency nursing and ICU is where I need to be. Where ever I go next is where I plan to stay.