ICU interview

3 hours ago, Milkofamnesia02 said:

My extensive history, including 6 years of CVICU, which I think is one of the most difficult nursing jobs for critical thinking

May I make a suggestion? All nursing jobs require extensive critical thinking, or the job would not require an RN.  Before you scoff  consider these positions. A home health job is tough because it is only you, and you alone to figure out the problem. A med-surg job is tough on critical thinking because you minimally have 6 patients with little time to spend on each one. There are not residents or even medical students to bounce your thoughts on. All lab data may be 8 hours old.  You better be right on your conclusions or your patient may be a rapid response.

In OB, there are 2 patients in that bed. You are critically thinking about problems that may be effecting BOTH.

I am not dissing your skills honed in CVICU nursing but trying to help you get perspective on how a nursing position in a unit with a special name, in a special area is not the most difficult in terms of nursing.  Readjust your elitist thinking. 

3 hours ago, Milkofamnesia02 said:

I currently work in a major hospital in telemetry and I hate it, but I thought just the name of the hospital alone and the reputation they have would help me get my foot in the door to my dream job.

Try to wake up from your dream and face reality. I wish you only well thoughts but time has moved on and there are already many graduates who have taken your place in CVICU. I sound mean here but I only wish you the best on your job hunt. 

Maybe they don’t understand your LTAC?  I know we wouldn’t never send anybody to LTAC on a paralytic.  They can go on vents, but generally they are on very basic gtts.  Maybe some fentanyl or precedex.  So maybe that’s the connotation people are grasping with an LTAC.  
 

You need to emphasize your previous experience and what all it entailed.  Show that you still have that critical care mindset.

All ICU’s require a critical thinking mindset.  I wouldn’t get bogged down into well, I was a cvicu nurse and that requires the most critical thinking.  Especially if you are interviewing for a different type of ICU.  
 

You are trying to sell yourself to this particular unit.  You have to sell what they need.  They won’t buy if they don’t need it.  I hope that makes sense.

A possibility: So I think the gap is significant. There will be a lot you can pick up where you left off, and then a lot that has changed--as far as protocols and metrics and nursing care expectations, especially.

I'd make sure you aren't overselling. You do have relevant experience, obviously. But sometimes people come back with the "but it wasn't X..." retorts when they actually feel that someone might not be being realistic enough.

You could try being very forthright about the things they might criticize or be leery about. If you sense that, verbalize them yourself by presenting them positively and making statements about how you can/will succeed.

Just an option to think about.

Good luck!!

Just be down to earth and honest about your work history and if they do choose to talk about the LTAC as though it didn't count, you can explain the similarities to ICU in your experience while still making it clear that youre willing to learn and adapt to any changes in the new environment. That gives both the weight of experience with the openmindedness of a new grad 

I haven't been working regular inpatient jobs, out of NTICU x 5.5 years. We aren't wanted! New grads are fresh, cheap, & exposed to the latest order sets. I was turned down x2 in August and even crisis contracts won't accept me. I may just leave forever (sad thing in the current nursing shortage). To boost re-entry, here are my suggestions: get certified, be willing to work night shifts, consider working PCU/SDU first (yuck-I won't/can't do it myself). I also made it to the interview but not past. I really hope you make it back in.