I need to interview two or more RNs.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 3, 2015

I'm going to refer you to this post: https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/dear-nursing-students-970183.html

Basically, it explains why AN or any online message board isn't the best way to interview nurses, offers some alternative ways to find nurses to interview, and gives a little insight into some of the not so obvious intentions of getting you out there and interacting with people you can verify are nurses.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Feb 3, 2015

To be blunt: You are asking us to do your homework. You should find a couple of nurses in your town and interview them - which is what your instructor intended for you to do when he/she gave the assignment.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

The point of assignments like these, where you need to interview a nurse, are really helping you develop networking skills. I suggest you look outwardly at local nurses and hospitals, and not the Internet for this assignment.

ydama0002 · Feb 3, 2015

No I am not asking you to do my homework. No my instructor did is not asking us to go out in the community. This assignment was given to our entire cohort last week and we were told to interview a couple nurses during clinical this week. Most of my cohort is in a hospital or other acute care setting. I am however in a TCU which has ONE nurse on the whole floor. Tomorrow that nurse is going to have 9 other students interviewing him. I was trying to cut down on his load as well as get a jump start on my assignment. I was not looking for an easy way out. The easy way out would have been to take my turn with the nurse tomorrow and do my paper with the opinion of one nurse, possibly that we interview as a group, and then writing my paper with the opinion of only that nurse. I was trying to be proactive and go out and find a broad array of opinions (all I asked for was your opinions). I was looking to gain insight on what it is that makes a good team player from those who are actually out there playing on said teams. I apologize to anyone who thinks I approached this assignment the wrong way or thinks my original post was "tacky". I was genuinely trying to gain knowledge from a broader base than I am going to have access to during the time allowed for this assignment. I was trying to go above and beyond, not looking for a short cut. LESSON LEARNED.

ydama0002 · Feb 3, 2015

Also, I wanted to say that I do understand where you are all coming from. The first reply to my question, "Dear Nursing Students," makes complete sense and I would also be irritated if I had a bunch of students asking for homework handouts. Please understand that was not my intention. For better or worse, my assignment will get done (it's due Friday). If anyone wants to come back after Friday and share their opinions I would enjoy reading them. I have my ideas, but I have never worked in a health care setting so opinions from working professionals will only help me grow.

Is there a way to add this to my original post?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

You can see if you can go to another unit and interview a nurse, or the nurse manager; get your nursing instructor involved and then go from there...

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

There are nurses in many places where you live, unless you are 150 miles out in the boonies of Alaska. Talk to them. Your instructor will actually be impressed, and you may enlighten a lot of your classmates (not to mention yourself). Which is, after all, the point of education.

RunBabyRN · Feb 4, 2015

Also, I wanted to say that I do understand where you are all coming from. The first reply to my question, "Dear Nursing Students," makes complete sense and I would also be irritated if I had a bunch of students asking for homework handouts. Please understand that was not my intention. For better or worse, my assignment will get done (it's due Friday). If anyone wants to come back after Friday and share their opinions I would enjoy reading them. I have my ideas, but I have never worked in a health care setting so opinions from working professionals will only help me grow.
Is there a way to add this to my original post?

May I ask how you are a CNA and EMT-P with 6 years of experience, without having ever worked in a healthcare setting?

To address your original question, yes, we see these posts every couple of days (or more). There are nurses all over the place, not just in your clinicals. Even if you have to do it over the phone, this assignment should be done with someone you can verify is, for sure, a nurse.

Good luck with your assignment!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2015

Also, I wanted to say that I do understand where you are all coming from. The first reply to my question, "Dear Nursing Students," makes complete sense and I would also be irritated if I had a bunch of students asking for homework handouts. Please understand that was not my intention. For better or worse, my assignment will get done (it's due Friday). If anyone wants to come back after Friday and share their opinions I would enjoy reading them. I have my ideas, but I have never worked in a health care setting so opinions from working professionals will only help me grow.
Is there a way to add this to my original post?

You could call your local schools and ask to speak with the nurse. Cal l your local health department, a red cross blood drive or a flu clinic nearby. You could go to one of those minute clinics at CVS and speak with the NP. There are plenty of other options then people who may or may not be RN's.

turtlebird · Feb 4, 2015

Sounds like you're having a hard time finding nurses to interview. I'd love to help, but I agree with the others that the in person, back and forth exchange, and stepping out of your comfort zone is probably more what your professor is looking for.

Could you interview the nurse who works with your personal primary care provider, do you or your friends have any relatives or contacts who are nurses?

Good luck, I'm sure you'll find someone!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 4, 2015

ydama, I think it would be a good idea to make you aware of something (if you aren't already): People who post messages on a message board such as this may or MAY NOT be an actual nurse. Over the years, we have had the misfortune of "outing" some who portray themselves as nurses but in actuality are....something else entirely.

Since the point of the assignment is to get feedback from REAL LIVE nurses, whatever responses you get here you really have no way of knowing if they hold the credentials they claim.

How would you feel if you based your entire assignment on the responses of a hairdresser, a mechanic, an accountant, and an unemployed student? Would their answers to your very specific nursing-related questions be helpful to you? Or would they be an utter waste of time, resulting in a paper that not only was fraudulent (they are NOT nurses answering these questions for you) but is also of no educational value?

True, the greater majority of those posting here are nurses, IMHO. But sometimes it becomes clear (and not in one post, or five, but....it does become clear) that there are imposters. "Wannabes", if you will.

Your education, your choice....but personally, I'd go a different route that this one