excited but NERVOUS!!!!

So after submitting a ton of nurse tech/PCA applications, the Cleveland Clinic FINALLY called me and wants to meet me on Thursday. It's a part-time job since I'm taking a clinical rotation over the summer - rotating day/nights with 2 12-hour shifts every other weekend (Fridays and Saturdays). I'm PUMPED.

...But I'm also extremely nervous!! I SUCK at interviews and I have never really had an interview for this kind of job before (everything was all like restaurants, etc...I pretty much got hired on the spot) and I also haven't worked in 3 years (crazy, I know!). What should I wear? A black skirt with a black blazer and a colorful blouse underneath with some heels? or would black pants and a nice blouse be adequate? Should I have my hair up or down? I look terrible with my hair up. What kind of questions should I expect? She also told me to bring a list of my own questions, but as stupid as this sounds I don't know what to ask!

Please and thank you!!!!

congrats!

You'll do fine, I think everything in life is easier than school lol

The outfit sounds fine, the heels should be closed toe, no more than like 2 inches.

I usually wear a 3/4 skirt

Dont forget a firm handshake! Everything else will fall into place, im sure.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

congratulations! cc is a nice place to work. just remember to maintain a positive attitude during the interview and don't trash anyone or anything. anyone who hires is looking for someone who they can work with, who will take direction without complaining and is eager to please an employer and eager to do a good job. cc does a lot of research and does a lot of new and cutting edge treatments on people who come there from all over the world. they know you are a student and expect that you don't know everything so don't lie and say that you have done something if you have never done it. say you are eager to learn it. now is the time to volunteer to do things and show your flexibility. see my list of main characteristics employers look for in professionals. wear what you would wear to make an appearance in a court--something conservative. make sure your hair looks nice. the hospital soup website i listed below has all the questions on it for you. good luck with your interview. do a former clevelander proud. i am a graduate of csu. go browns!

the main characteristics employers look for in professionals are:

• initiative - autonomy
  
• dynamism - energy
  
• positive outlook
  
• responsibility
  
• orientation to the client and co-workers (ability to provide customer service)
  
• learning capacity
  
• productivity
  
• high adaptability - flexibility
  
• leadership
  
• team work
  
• tolerance to pressure
  
• analytic ability
  
• professional development
  

what not to do at an interview:

• do not talk about your personal self or try to show off.
  

• do not show your superiority in the situation.
  
• do not show your agreement or disagreement with the things an interviewer says.
  
• do not compare yourself with other candidates or other persons who might have been in the same position during this trial period.
  
• don't let them trick you into participating in gossip. don't respond to gossip--just keep your mouth shut.
  
• do not interrupt the person you are with without reason (the interruption is accepted only with a specific purpose).
  
• do not use or talk about technology you don't understand or know anything about. just admit you've never worked with that equipment before.
  
• do not talk about irrelevant things
  
• do not volunteer information until you are asked for it.
  

weblinks:

• http://www.hospitalsoup.com/category/medical-job-interviews - archived articles on medical job interviews includes inappropriate interview questions and how to respond to them, questions you should ask and practice interview questions
  

Thank you Natingale and Daytonite!!! The interview was yesterday and I got the position :) It's not set in stone yet, however, because the orientation time is sort of a problem. The next possible orientation is July 1st and I still have class during that time so some of the orientation dates conflict with my class schedule but they said they might be able to accomodate me. The other thing is the driving - 99% of the time I will be coming from Akron so it is a further drive than from my hometown in Avon so that kind of scares me too. I'm still trying to look at Akron General and Summa only because they are A LOT closer, but at the same time, the Cleveland Clinic is helping me get my foot in the door and this would be a wonderful opportunity! I think I will take it :) Thank you again!!!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Congratulations! How exciting! Try to make scheduling accommodations. The drive isn't that bad. I once lived in North Royalton which isn't quite as far as Akron, but if you take the freeway it goes faster. I live in LA now and make a 30-mile drive to Orange County all the time in rush hour which is bumper-to-bumper 30mph or less and, believe me, nothing like it is on I-77!

[CrufflerJJ, RN]

Congrats! I guess you don't "suck" at interviews as badly as you had originally thought.

Congratulations! How exciting! Try to make scheduling accommodations. The drive isn't that bad. I once lived in North Royalton which isn't quite as far as Akron, but if you take the freeway it goes faster. I live in LA now and make a 30-mile drive to Orange County all the time in rush hour which is bumper-to-bumper 30mph or less and, believe me, nothing like it is on I-77!

Driving bumper-to-bumper at 30mph or less would drive me crazy!!! I decided to take the position - I think it will be a good experience and will help get my foot in the door for other opportunities, hopefully maybe something closer to Akron like SUMMA or AGMC. They put me as PRN because it offers the flexibility that I will need while in school, but I'll basically be starting out with full-time hours (3 12's/week), but the pay for the PRN is actually better than part-time, so that's nice. I start orientation on July 6th and I'm very excited!

thanks for the update ! good luck, im excited for you

thanks for the update ! good luck, im excited for you

Thank you! :)

And another thing that donned on me...would it be a good idea to get my own malpractice insurance? I know they have options through NSO and personally I think $29/year isn't bad at all! I have malpractice insurance offered through my school but I highly doubt that I am covered with a job that isn't related to the school. Would malpractice insurance be beneficial for me as a PCNA?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Would malpractice insurance be beneficial for me as a PCNA?

If you can afford it--fine. If not, you'll probably still be OK. Follow policies and procedures. Read your job description and follow it. If something goes really wrong the worst that happens is (1) you'll probably get fired. And, (2) if there is a lawsuit the lawyers go after the ones with the money and those are the hospital and the insurance companies. If you are one of the people involved in the case and the opposition's lawyers discover you have malpractice insurance they will go after you and your insurance company's lawyers. If you have no malpractice insurance and you followed the hospital's policy and procedure you are automatically covered by the hospital's Liability Insurance. A lawsuit is about the lawyers and their client collecting money because somebody did something very wrong. The money paid out is compensation for the patient and punishment to the providers of the care. Just be careful.

Congratulations on getting the job! I think I've applied to more then 10 jobs around cleveland/akron and keep getting the email saying they already filled the positions. Is their anything they said to you about what you put in your resume that caused they to call you for an interview?