Enduring the painful waiting game...

[afterseason, ASN, RN]

I graduated at the beginning of May, and I just completed my first interview process for a mother/baby residency program at a local hospital which is nationally known for its labor & delivery / mother/baby services. I am now waiting to hear back, and although it's only been a few hours since the wait began, I'm already dying!

The recruiter called me within a few hours of submitting my application and performed a screening interview over the phone. After which, she scheduled a time for me to come in an interview with her. I didn't feel like my interview went well with her, as I was quite nervous. However, she must have had a different perception, because she passed me through to a panel interview with the nurse managers (this hospital has 4 floors of mother/baby, and the manager of each floor was in the panel). She interviewed about 100 people and only passed 20 through to panel, and there are 14 positions available.

I made myself sick in the days leading up to my panel because I was SO nervous, especially after I felt like I fumbled with the recruiter. However, when I went to the panel, I suddenly felt very cheerful and full of confidence. I felt like my answers were great. This was my first time ever feeling so confident about an interview. I brought a portfolio with copies of my resume, cover letter, recommendation letters, etc. I made sure to dress very professionally in a pantsuit, nails clean with no polish, minimal makeup, no jewelry, hair pulled back, etc. I made sure to make lots of eye contact and made sure to give everyone a good hand shake (most remained seating when I came in and left, so I made it a point to walk around the tables and give everyone a hand shake). Felt like I did a really good job verbally working my way through difficult scenarios that were thrown at me and finding ways to bring up my strengths and achievements despite them not being directly asked of me. I had about 8 questions I asked them at the end.

Afterward, I sent a thank you to the recruiter who initially interviewed me. I know she is going to be reviewing with the managers to make the final decisions, so I asked that she pass my thank you to them as well since I do not have their personal contact information, or if she could forward me a way to contact them.

Overall, I feel really good about the opportunity, but obviously there is still that nervousness bubbling inside me. The recruiter told me I would know an answer no later than Monday. I'm not going to be able to think of anything else until then!!

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

What an opportunity! Good luck to you! I know how that waiting feels. Try to keep yourself distracted, run errands, go to the movies, do anything! And always continue to apply to other positions and other hospitals! You never know what will happen. Be prepared.