ICU Interview

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 15, 2004

Be honest -- tell her you've been wanting to try ICU, but can't take a pay cut. After all, you don't really know much about ICU right now. Once you try it, you may like it so much you'll forget all about CRNA school (which will also require a pay cut!) Also, you're working on your BSN. Once you've been in the ICU for awhile, you may find you like it so much you don't want to move on. Or you're married and have a baby on the way and your priorities have changed. Or you've decided to chuck it all and travel.

Once you're actually ready to start applying to anesthesia school is the time to fill in your head nurse.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 15, 2004

Being interested in continuing your professional development is a wonderful thing, and if asked, you might couch it in those terms.

But I don't think I'd volunteer the info in an interview--because the message is that you don't really take this job seriously.

Just MHO. (I would think you would be paid a wee bit more, working ICU....?)

Good luck!!!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Aug 15, 2004

I'm just curious about the pay cut issue. I in the last 16+ yrs of doing health care in hospitals never seen a nurse take a cut in pay when moving from a floor nurse positon to a critical care positon. Quite the opposite if not a lateral move its been an increase in pay.

You dont say how long you have been a nurse. The other thing I note and not to judge is most alone, and I read that as being single, nurses are very comfortable financially. They are driving nice cars, always going on nice trips and ect. I would advice you to take a close look at things as some CNRA programs are not going to want you to work while in school.

Rj :)

TraumaNurse · Aug 15, 2004

Personally, I would not offer the info unless asked. If asked, I would say that you are planning to eventually persue your masters degree because you believe in higher education. As coming right out and saying your applying to CRNA school in the near future...not a good idea. It takes a lot of money and manpower to train a person to ICU (especially someone with no previous ICU experience). No nurse manager wants to hear that you are planning on leaving for CRNA school before you even step foot in the unit. As someone already mentioned, you may also change your mind as to what your future plans will be, so offering too much info prematurely is really of no benefit. IMO.

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2004

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most CRNA programs want at least a couple years of critical care experience in their applicants? You need to get that experience before you start filling out applications. Sit back, hang on, & enjoy the experience!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 15, 2004

You dont say how long you have been a nurse. The other thing I note and not to judge is most alone, and I read that as being single, nurses are very comfortable financially. They are driving nice cars, always going on nice trips and ect. I would advice you to take a close look at things as some CNRA programs are not going to want you to work while in school.
Rj :)

Depends -- she didn't say if she was single with a child and child care expenses, or single with a mortgage. Or maybe single with an ex-husband's debts to pay. I've been a single nurse for much longer than I've been a married nurse, and I have to say that my standard of living increased dramaticlly when I married. (And no, Hubby is not a doctor, lawyer or anyone else making tons of money. He's a nurse who makes slightly less than I do.)

A young nurse with no school loans whose Daddy gave them a nice car for graduation will have the extra money for nice trips, etc. As for me -- I worked three jobs through most of college and took out all the school loans I could qualify for. I graduated with no money in the bank, loans to pay off and a car I paid $25 for at a junk yard. I also had a husband to support (he was supposedly in school) in the style to which he was accustomed. No nice trips for me! Ditching the deadbeat, cheating husband helped my financial status enormously, but then I had HIS school loans to pay off as well.

Ruby

pricklypear · Aug 16, 2004

Don't try to lie or gloss it over, it'll show all over your face!! This is a LONG term goal, right? I think an ICU manager would recognize the value of a nurse with ambition and clear goals. I know my manager values it. You still have quite a way to go before CRNA school, and he/she will know that. Good luck:p

PS: I'm curious about the pay-cut issue, too...

angela_74008 · Aug 16, 2004

Thank you all for the great advice and points that were brought up. To answer some questions....I just got divorced last December and bought my own house in February. I am by no means poor, but do require a certain amount of income to pay the bills, including some debt left by my ex. A major pay cut in the ICU would make it very tight, if not impossible, for me to maintain my current standard of living. As far as the ICU paycut....at my hospital you are allowed to work PRN (aka per diem) if you have at least one year clinical experience in a particular specialty. It is significantly more $$$, but no benefits (which I don't need as I have my own individual insurance). I work PRN now on the medical floor, but cannot hire into ICU working PRN as I do not have the appropriate amount of experience. I would have to take a paycut of approximately $6/hour to take a regular, full-time position in the ICU until I have the required amount of experience, at which time I could eventually go PRN status. The facility I work for does not pay any extra $$$ for certifications. Basically a full-time medical RN could transfer to a full-time ICU position and it would be a lateral move. However, as above mentioned, I am PRN status now and make significantly more $$$ then a regular, full-time RN.

I would also like to address another point that was brought up:

"The other thing I note and not to judge is most alone, and I read that as being single, nurses are very comfortable financially. They are driving nice cars, always going on nice trips and ect. I would advice you to take a close look at things as some CNRA programs are not going to want you to work while in school."

I definitely have no intention of working while in CRNA school. I realize selling my house, moving and scraping by on little to no money will be inevitable sacrifices when the time comes. I won't be ready for CRNA school for probably about 2 more years. At that time I will apply for student loans and scholarships or whatever I can find to get by while in school. However, I cannot apply for any such thing to help me financially through my ICU experience. So, in the mean time I have to survive. That is where my dilemma has been. Now, they are offering a full-time weekend option at my facility in the ICU. This will allow me to make about the same amount of money I do now, so there won't be any financial hardships! Yea!:)

Thank you all, again, for helping me make an informed decision. I think I will just keep that detail under wraps in the interview. I might make it known that education is important to me and that I would like to furthur my education (after all, right now I am working towards my BSN). However, the what's and when's can be left out until things are definite and dates are set. After all, like someone wise said, maybe I'll like the ICU so much that I won't even want to go on to CRNA school! Who knows?

Thanks again,

Angela

trakstar · Aug 16, 2004

Personally, I would not offer the info unless asked. If asked, I would say that you are planning to eventually persue your masters degree because you believe in higher education. As coming right out and saying your applying to CRNA school in the near future...not a good idea. It takes a lot of money and manpower to train a person to ICU (especially someone with no previous ICU experience). No nurse manager wants to hear that you are planning on leaving for CRNA school before you even step foot in the unit. As someone already mentioned, you may also change your mind as to what your future plans will be, so offering too much info prematurely is really of no benefit. IMO.

I agree. During my interview I waited until asked about long term goals. I only offered what I felt was necessary, i.e long term goal of pursuing advanced practice degree. Long term goals and the ICU are on a need to know. Training an ICU nurse is very expensive. Many nurse managers do not want to be the stepping stone to CRNA school. They want the most bang for their buck, i.e. a nurses that will be long term. The ICU has it's own culture. I'm sure many of my SRNA collegues can agree. Some ICU nurse managers are supportative of higher education while others are not. Then there are the nurses managers that support you goals while the house ICU staff doe not. You just need to be careful, test the water. The last thing you want to do is hurt your chances of a job because you've offered to much info. Good luck, you can do it many of us have been in your position.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Aug 16, 2004

Just another thought as it sounds like you are in the process of starting over, would be maybe relocation or another hospital. I dont know what the going rate is where you are located but I give for example Iowa vs Michigan. When I moved here to MI 6 yrs ago I managed a $3 an hour raise that was ended up more like $6 an hour as the shift diff was $4 vs 1.25 on nights. I notice you are in OK so I really cant say how a change like that would effect you. Now if you were in FL it would be simple any state pays more than there.

Rj:)

cori.d · Aug 17, 2004

Definitely let her know. Managers like to know that they're hiring someone who's motivated and ambitious...it shows that you will pay attention, and get to know your stuff. Will they be losing an employee in a few years? Yes, but tell them you'll work PRN when you go to school if you think it'll be a big deal. Ultimately, they think: "I'm getting a motivated nurse for 2 years. Yea!"