ICU interview

libran1984, ASN, RN · May 16, 2013

I work in the ED, but many of my co-workers came from ICU and PCU. Here is what I've learned and how you should present yourself.

Section one - the basics

1. Leave your phone in the car.

2. Bring 2-3 copies of your resume and work work experience (preferably designed as a CV that should include a 5-10 year goal). This will make you memorable, and it shows professionalism. There are often 2-3 hiring managers you will meet during your interview. Make sure to have something for everyone.

3.Bring your own notepad and pen to take notes through out the interview. It will show the managers you are a detailed person who is ALSO interviewing them.

4. Ask final questions. Prepare Follow-up questions at the end of the interview. Every interview I have ever had ended, "do you have any questions?". ALWAYS ask something. For the ER, I ended the interview asking the managers, "What do you consider excellent customers satisfaction?" Little did I realize at the time just how pertinent that question was to the ED.

5. Send a thank you email. Walk out with their business cards and email a thank you letter to each of the interviewing managers, and re-emphasize key points during your interview.

Those are the basics.

Now let's talk about specifics. The following things you can translate to pertinent ICU/PCU care.

1. Cluster Care. Emphasize your ability to cluster care for patients, grouping your baths and assessments into one fell swoop, etc.

2. Express your independence in your current/former job as a huge wealth of knowledge that has more sufficiently prepared you for critical care nursing. Give at least one excellent example of your critical thinking skills (ie:when you were forced to send someone out or had to call the MD).

3. Discuss the importance of monitoring skin integrity and your wound care skills as demonstrated during your time at the SNF. Please provide examples of some of the more advanced wound care provided.

4. Discuss any and all experience you have with Bipap, Cpap, and vented patients. Explain how you understand that a decreased blood pressure in a pt on CPAP is cause for concern. (ie; Most often seen with Afib or something that causes loss of atrial kick. Pressure on thin R vent walls from lungs causes it not to fill as much and reduces RV stroke volume) (--->I stole that from facebook this morning

5. Discuss your experience with stroke and cardiac patients. This will be very important!

6. Say something to the effect that while you feel techs and aids are very much essential for the floor fluidity, you are also a self-sufficient nurse.

7. Very clearly state that you are NOT AFRAID to ask questions

8. Explain when calling the doctor you always state, "I'm calling you for an order of zofran- here is why..." or something along the sorts. The PAs and physicians complain to the ER nurses in my dept all the time about how ICU and PCU nurses always beat around the bush never saying what they're actually calling for, but rather just give a list of symptoms and leave the PAs and MDs guessing as to what the actual complaint or request was.

The following are questions you should anticipate hearing from the hiring managers:

1. Why should we hire you - State that this is where you need to be and where you were always meant to be, and that if the time is not right here and right now then it will be right soon. You must absolutely show conviction. Practice in the mirror! (no, i'm very serious on that).

2. how would you handle families? Example, You just received a pt from ED and the family is demanding to be at bedside during your initial assessment. - This could be a time where you talk about culturally sensitive care depending on the report you received from ED. You could talk about citing hospital protocols if there is any. You could give your own preference on the subject or talk about how this initial assessment is to be between the patient and the nurse. Whatever you want.

3. How have you handled an unexpected and stressful situation in the past. What were you able to learn from that situation?

4. How do you feel about occasional call-offs due to low-census?

5. I have heard rumors about scenarios being called into question. I would look at ACLS practice questions. I think they would give great scenarios! AHA ACLS Written Test flashcards | Quizlet

If you take all of this advice to heart, you will have a fair chance. I truly wish you the best of luck. Giving examples of your critical thinking skills is the most important part.

KellyRN2011 · May 16, 2013

I work in the ED, but many of my co-workers came from ICU and PCU. Here is what I've learned and how you should present yourself.
Section one - the basics
1. Leave your phone in the car.
2. Bring 2-3 copies of your resume and work work experience (preferably designed as a CV that should include a 5-10 year goal). This will make you memorable, and it shows professionalism. There are often 2-3 hiring managers you will meet during your interview. Make sure to have something for everyone.
3.Bring your own notepad and pen to take notes through out the interview. It will show the managers you are a detailed person who is ALSO interviewing them.
4. Ask final questions. Prepare Follow-up questions at the end of the interview. Every interview I have ever had ended, "do you have any questions?". ALWAYS ask something. For the ER, I ended the interview asking the managers, "What do you consider excellent customers satisfaction?" Little did I realize at the time just how pertinent that question was to the ED.
5. Send a thank you email. Walk out with their business cards and email a thank you letter to each of the interviewing managers, and re-emphasize key points during your interview.
Those are the basics.
Now let's talk about specifics. The following things you can translate to pertinent ICU/PCU care.
1. Cluster Care. Emphasize your ability to cluster care for patients, grouping your baths and assessments into one fell swoop, etc.
2. Express your independence in your current/former job as a huge wealth of knowledge that has more sufficiently prepared you for critical care nursing. Give at least one excellent example of your critical thinking skills (ie:when you were forced to send someone out or had to call the MD).
3. Discuss the importance of monitoring skin integrity and your wound care skills as demonstrated during your time at the SNF. Please provide examples of some of the more advanced wound care provided.
4. Discuss any and all experience you have with Bipap, Cpap, and vented patients. Explain how you understand that a decreased blood pressure in a pt on CPAP is cause for concern. (ie; Most often seen with Afib or something that causes loss of atrial kick. Pressure on thin R vent walls from lungs causes it not to fill as much and reduces RV stroke volume) (--->I stole that from facebook this morning
5. Discuss your experience with stroke and cardiac patients. This will be very important!
6. Say something to the effect that while you feel techs and aids are very much essential for the floor fluidity, you are also a self-sufficient nurse.
7. Very clearly state that you are NOT AFRAID to ask questions
8. Explain when calling the doctor you always state, "I'm calling you for an order of zofran- here is why..." or something along the sorts. The PAs and physicians complain to the ER nurses in my dept all the time about how ICU and PCU nurses always beat around the bush never saying what they're actually calling for, but rather just give a list of symptoms and leave the PAs and MDs guessing as to what the actual complaint or request was.
The following are questions you should anticipate hearing from the hiring managers:
1. Why should we hire you - State that this is where you need to be and where you were always meant to be, and that if the time is not right here and right now then it will be right soon. You must absolutely show conviction. Practice in the mirror! (no, i'm very serious on that).
2. how would you handle families? Example, You just received a pt from ED and the family is demanding to be at bedside during your initial assessment. - This could be a time where you talk about culturally sensitive care depending on the report you received from ED. You could talk about citing hospital protocols if there is any. You could give your own preference on the subject or talk about how this initial assessment is to be between the patient and the nurse. Whatever you want.
3. How have you handled an unexpected and stressful situation in the past. What were you able to learn from that situation?
4. How do you feel about occasional call-offs due to low-census?
5. I have heard rumors about scenarios being called into question. I would look at ACLS practice questions. I think they would give great scenarios! AHA ACLS Written Test flashcards | Quizlet
If you take all of this advice to heart, you will have a fair chance. I truly wish you the best of luck. Giving examples of your critical thinking skills is the most important part.

Thank you, thank you!! I will take all of this into consideration. Thanks for the well wishes! I'll update after the interview.

libran1984, ASN, RN · May 17, 2013

Please do update me and by all means, do not forget to get the business card at the end of the interview and then send out a thank you for the interview email!

That little thing really does go a long ways.

Remember, just b/c you left the interview doesn't mean it is over yet!

missnurse01, MSN, RN · May 17, 2013

most facilities use behavioral type questions for the interview. Please google some of those. We use them nearly exclusively here (I am on the hiring committee). Questions like 'tell me about a time when you had to make a decision that was unpopular but you knew was right'. Remember that your 'stories' can be from any aspect of your life, not just nursing. You may want to be sure you explain your plans for further education, certification, etc. Emphasize being a team player, that you are eager to learn learn learn

good luck

KellyRN2011 · May 17, 2013

most facilities use behavioral type questions for the interview. Please google some of those. We use them nearly exclusively here (I am on the hiring committee). Questions like 'tell me about a time when you had to make a decision that was unpopular but you knew was right'. Remember that your 'stories' can be from any aspect of your life, not just nursing. You may want to be sure you explain your plans for further education, certification, etc. Emphasize being a team player, that you are eager to learn learn learn
good luck

Thank you for the advice! I'm trying to research questions and brainstorm answers, so I won't respond with "uhhh...." when they ask. Problem is the interview is tomorrow (just found out today), and I don't feel I have enough time to prepare for this interview!

missnurse01, MSN, RN · May 18, 2013

hope it went well! let us know!

KellyRN2011 · May 18, 2013

hope it went well! let us know!

It went well, and I think they may offer me a position, but I'm not sure I'm going to take it. The town is 4 hours from where I am now, and I was going to relocate, but I absolutely hate the town. It's extremely small and rundown. Thankfully, I have another interview on Monday for an ER position in a much closer hospital, so I'm hoping I get that. Thanks for all your help!

calivianya, BSN, RN · May 19, 2013

It went well, and I think they may offer me a position, but I'm not sure I'm going to take it. The town is 4 hours from where I am now, and I was going to relocate, but I absolutely hate the town. It's extremely small and rundown. Thankfully, I have another interview on Monday for an ER position in a much closer hospital, so I'm hoping I get that. Thanks for all your help!

I just accepted an ICU job in a small, rundown town that I hated because it was my dream unit. It was four hours away from a big city that I really liked. I'm halfway wondering if we interviewed in the same place...

I'll cross my fingers for you for the ER job!

KellyRN2011 · May 19, 2013

I just accepted an ICU job in a small, rundown town that I hated because it was my dream unit. It was four hours away from a big city that I really liked. I'm halfway wondering if we interviewed in the same place...
I'll cross my fingers for you for the ER job!

It was a hospital in Virginia. It was only 150 beds, and didn't accept severe cardiac patients/balloon pumps. I figure I won't really get the best ICU experience there. They interviewed me for both the ICU/PCU unit, and the ER. They said I would most likely work on PCU most of the time, and that the nurse to patient ratio on PCU is routinely 5:1. I couldn't imagine! That's like a med-surg ratio.

I hope you love your job! :)

YoungStud · Jun 5, 2013

Great tips!

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2013

It was a hospital in Virginia. It was only 150 beds, and didn't accept severe cardiac patients/balloon pumps. I figure I won't really get the best ICU experience there. They interviewed me for both the ICU/PCU unit, and the ER. They said I would most likely work on PCU most of the time, and that the nurse to patient ratio on PCU is routinely 5:1. I couldn't imagine! That's like a med-surg ratio.
I hope you love your job! :)

sometimes you have to start small and move up. I would only go if you are guaranteed icu only though. icu and er are usually very different, so it depends on what you end goal is - if you need any certain experience for grad school or if you are getting your feet wet for a few years. good luck!