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Discussion

ER interview tomorrow - Please advise on what to say/not to say

Hello everyone!

I am 31, grew up in Moscow, trained in the US. I am a nurse in a 500 bed hospital, I work on a very busy med-surg (almost 2 years), prior to that I was a tech on a telemetry floor for 3 years.

My experience includes: tele/soft cardiac, resp, dialysis, neuro, vascular, GU/urology, GI, ortho, some thoracic surgery, infections diseases, wound care, diabetes, detox, psych, social assessment and discharge planning and much more.

My "superpowers" are: IV queen, NGT queen, foley queen, excellent intution.

I have never had a sudden code on my own patients but helped in codes that occured for my coworkers or helped to prevent a code.

I have never done chest compressions or defibrillated anyone as well.

I wanted to do emergency nursing for a long time because I love urgent situations and I love soling "puzzles" and now that my kids are older I can actually go through the program.

I get along very well with everyone, despite the fact that at times I am too direct with people and at other times I take way too much c**p from patients and other nurses.

I have a really nice track position on med surg, but I am willing to leave it for a] job i like b] my floor has been through a horrible transition and is unsafe for my lisence c) my boss can not straighten things out.

(I know I should not mention this on the interview)

Now that you have a brief picture, please advise me on what to do during the interview.

thank you so much!

Natasha

Featured Replies

1. Don't put down your old job or manager. If asked, focus on the many things you learned on that job and how you're looking to "move forward" in your skills and career. Healthcare is a very small world and the moment you say something bad about your old job, is the moment you'll found out the interviewer or her sister, cousin, best friend, knows the manager there.

2. Never say never. I mean NEVER. As in, "I've never had one of my patients code". In the ER, that is the call to Fate to see that you quickly gain that experience. Simply say that, you've assisted in codes before (in whatever role you DID play) and that you have (or need) to get your ACLS, and that you look forward to new experiences.

3. Don't mention the word "queen", as in IV queen, foley queen, or whatever. Instead, see #1 regarding what you've learned. The moment you say queen, you have instructed the Fates to send you 15 patients with no veins, someone with an obstructed urethra, etc. Don't go there. Everyone has strengths, and everyone has a day where every one of those strengths goes on vacation without telling you.

4. Focus on your willingness to work hard, help out your team mates, and learn learn learn. Sounds like your experience thus far will be a great foundation on which to learn ER, but trust me, you WILL LEARN. And that will never stop.

Good luck on your interview - and welcome to ER!

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