I interview with mom tomorrow- any advice?

Specialties Private Duty

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Med/Surg-tele.

What has been your experience interviewing with parents of pediatric pt (to be d/c with vent, trach and g-tube) for potential private duty work? I am new to this and very curious---

Thanks to all who respond--

Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

d/c trach, vent, GT? Why would they need nursing?

Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Med/Surg-tele.

4 m/o is being discharged with vent, trach and gtube-

Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Depends on parents and agency. Some agencies require a meet and greet with the parents before setting up an orientation. Sometimes its the parents who tell the agency they want to meet the nurse before the nurse going for orientation to the case. Both situations can tell you something. The parents asking for it are usually the overprotective type and tend to be quite picky. The agency requiring it tells me the agency is usually looking for more than just a warm body with a license.

Depends on the situation above as to what questions may be asked and how to handle it. Most of the time the parents just want to know how much experience you have and they ask for a background. They are also judging you based on first impressions, so make it a good one. Be honest about experience...the truth will come out. If you don't have experience with something, most parents will appreciate the honesty and be willing to work with you. Some parents may look at it as a deal breaker. I prefer being honest and if thats a problem the case probably isn't a good fit to being with.

I also ask questions during the interview. But beware...some parents are looking for questions that tell them things they may want to know about you. If you ask "how long does the patient sleep?" they may read in to it that you are trying to find out how much downtime you have or they may think you want to sleep while the child is sleeping. Ask the nurse that orients you if you must know....but either way you'll find out your first shift or 2. Ask questions while showing that you have some knowledge of the patients diagnosis. If you can look up anything before the interview to become more familiar with a diagnosis that will help. I've seen some parents let nurses go the first day because they didn't know anything about hte diagnosis. Of course we can't know it all, but some parents expect us to know it all.

Be careful what you say, especially at first while building trust. Parents have been through a lot and they tend to be a little scared. Its all new to them and now they have "strangers" coming in their home all hours of the day/night. I read a post somewhere on here where a nurse was let go by a parent for saying she had allergies like the patient did. The nurse was trying to show that she understood personally. The parents thought it meant that she would be calling out a lot. So things that may seem harmless can bite you back.

I ask about routine. I also ask about patient and family likes and dislikes. Because you will have to adapt to their environment and lifestyle and "fit in". I ask if they have had problems with nurses in the past and how they resolved them and how they would like any disagreements resolved. That also opens the door for me to find out what they have let nurses go for so I don't repeat the same things or remind the family of the nurse they disliked. I can also find out how reasonable or ridiculous they are with that question.

I subtly look for cameras but never ask about them. That tells me the family will never completely trust the nurses and could be looking for a lawsuit.

The interviews with the parents really aren't that bad as long as you are cautious. I haven't failed one yet and have always been asked to come back. I've been doing it for years so I tend to be able to read the situation pretty well and quickly. Listen for red flags when they are talking. It also makes a good impression when you come in and ask where you can wash your hands (or where to put your shoes if you notice they don't wear shoes in the home). Be supportive and encouraging of the parents (when appropriate but don't fake it if they are in the wrong because it will reinforce the behavior). The parents love the positive attention. I think its because they are so used to the constant attention in the hospital and then they come home and all they have is agency nursing. So it seems to help them.

I'll post more if I can think of anything else.

Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Med/Surg-tele.

Your response was EXACTLY what I was hoping to hear-

Thanks for the wonderful insight!!!!

Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

No problem! Good luck to you!

Know your emergency procedures. It is one question that I asked every nurse that ever set foot in my house. And I meant for every scenario - vent not working, extended power failure, trach came out and won't go back in, can't ventilate by bag through trach, etc.

Ask about the equipment (vent, trach, g-tube, feeding pump, oxygen, nebulizer) so you can become more familiar with it. Learn all the parts of the vent. We had a nurse that wanted to know why I used water to fill the balloon on the trach. I had no faith in her and she didn't last long.

Be honest. If you weren't honest with me, I found out quickly and either helped you learn or fired you. If you are not honest with a new mom that may have no medical background, the consequences could be serious for the child.

Good luck at your interview!

Try to project a caring attitude. You would be surprised how many times a mom has told me that on the first visit it was obvious to her that the nurse was not really interested. One dead giveaway is to start with a litany of what you won't do, or can't work, etc.

To add to Caliotter3's post, ask about the rules that pertain to the family but not the ones that pertain to you. Rules about whether you can wear outside shoes in the house, whether they prefer nurses to use soap and water vs. sanitizer, etc. are good. Asking about whether you can text, talk, games on your cell phone, use their internet, watch movies, etc. are not good ways to start out because it makes the nurse sound lazy.

There is also a way to be tactful when asking about a child's condition. I hated when people would talk about my son like he wasn't even there.

Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Med/Surg-tele.

Again, thanks so much to all who responded!

With your help, the "meet and greet" went VERY, VERY well (for my first attempt at this whole private duty thing)!

I initially applied to the private duty agency for part-time week end work, but am now re-thinking -- I can see myself doing this full-time----

I'll keep you posted!!!

Before you go full time, consider that it can be feast or famine. You can work three months for a client and think everything is heaven, then one day you get a call from the agency stating the client complained to them about you and demanded that you never return. No reason given or a blatant lie or a list of lies. Then, you won't have work for as long as it takes the agency to get you situated again, unless you wisely signed on with another agency. If more than one client dumps you at the same time, you aren't working! You should always plan your finances around the fact that extended care home health is not dependable. I tell people that my outlook is if I have a job today, doesn't mean I will have a job tomorrow.

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