ICU NP

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Hello, has anyone interviewed for an ICU NP position? How was the interview process? Besides the standard "tell me about yourself" questions, were you asked clinical scenarios and treatment plan? How long was the interview? Were you interviewed in stages - phone interview first, then in-person?

Thank you for any thoughts or advice.

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Specializes in 11 YRS ER RN, 6 YRS Travel RN, New Grad AG-ACNP.

Hello there!

I have not applied or was interviewed for a ICU NP position, but I have applied and interviewed for a Cardiology NP position, a Rapid Response NP position, as well as three Hospitalist NP positions (which I landed two of those positions).

I will tell you what my interviews were like. Hopefully this will help.

The Rapid Response NP position: I was interviewed by the NP manager first. I was asked general questions pertaining to my background (ER/Trauma background), and then offered a second panel interview. In this interview, I was given three patient scenarios and asked how I would respond. This panel consisted of four NP's. I was asked specifically how I would respond to a sepsis alert, a code blue, and a new onset of A-fib with AVR. I felt the interviewed went well. I even wrote a follow up thank you e-mail but unfortunately, I did not land this position. I was told by the person who referred me for the job that it was between me and another NP that had ER NP experience and they went with them instead based solely on experience.

Cardiology NP position: I was interviewed by the MD director. This was a medical school affiliated with a hospital system. I was asked how my current NP position was going and what my responsibilities were. I was told about the transition period the department was going through and the high need for NP's in the new phase. I was then offered a panel interview. The panel interview was via Zoom, and it was with two NP's and two Cardiologists. I was asked why I wanted the cardiology position. I was not asked anything pertaining to patient scenarios. To be honest, I felt they already had someone in mind and was just doing my a favor by interviewing me. I didn't feel that position would be for me, so I did the bare minimum in asking questions, and didn't even bother sending a thank you e-mail. Sure enough, they had already had a candidate in mind. 

Hospitalist position: first one was with a teaching facility. I was interviewed by HR first, asked about my previous nursing experience, and then told about benefits. I was then interviewed by the MD director and head NP. I was given specific patient scenarios, equipped with an EKG and vital signs. One was new onset of SVT (EKG), one was differential diagnosis (between sepsis or PE), and one was stroke. I had a colleague who interviewed with the same facility and was offered the position because they were both affiliated with the same system. Second Hospitalist position, I believe they were just desperate and would take anybody because someone was leaving. They didn't even bother asking me any questions besides can you start as soon as credentialing is done. Third Hospitalist position, I was very prepared, as I wanted to work for this particular hospital system since graduating. I did my research and I sent the HR recruiter my resume via e-mail asking for an interview for the advertised position. I was called the next day, interviewed with HR, and then set up on a panel interview a week later. I interviewed with the MD director, three doctors, and the lead NP. I was asked questions about myself, and I was told by the MD director they were going to start the interview off very informal, and wanted to know one thing about me that they couldn't get from my resume or CV. And that really set the tone. I was very honest and open during the interview. I also came prepared with my own questions and at the end of the interview, I was asked to provide three references. A week later, I was officially offered the job and this is where I am now. It has been the best job thus far.

Sorry so long winded. I hope this helps you in any way. Good luck!

 

 

 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

My ICU NP interview was conducted while I was already working for the organization in the hospitalist group. I was interviewed by the lead NP and one of the attending MDs. There were some general questions like why was I leaving my current position (it was being eliminated), why did I want to work for the organization, why critical care, etc.

I was still relatively new in my previous role, so I was being interviewed more as a new grad, which was helpful. They didn't get into specific scenarios because they said they expect a lot of teaching and orientation (I'm still on orientation 11 months later, they do about a year). They did ask more about personal strengths, areas where I expected I might struggle a little more, what has gone well in past situations that might help with my transition to this role, and what was my critical care experience before. 

Overall it wasn't something that required study or preparation, but I'm sure all departments approach things their own way. Good luck!

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Thank you both for giving me an idea of what the interviews were like for each of you. I had my initial interview with the CVICU Medical Director via Teams/online a few weeks ago. I was really nervous but the interview was more of her telling me what kind of patients I would expect to care for in the unit and what her expectations are. Now I've been asked to schedule a face to face interview with the other NPs and ICU Medical Director, and I was told this interview was going to be 4 hours. 4 hours! Now I'm not sure if I wanna put myself through that grueling interview... I'm also told that orientation is only 6 weeks (all hands-on, didactics are on your own). I just feel like the learning curve is going to be so steep for me. I have ICU experience but not really cardiac background. I'm so torn whether I should still go for this interview and possibly be humiliated, or let go of this position and end up wondering what it would have been like had I went for it.

Thoughts?

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Specializes in 11 YRS ER RN, 6 YRS Travel RN, New Grad AG-ACNP.
RN2783 said:

Thank you both for giving me an idea of what the interviews were like for each of you. I had my initial interview with the CVICU Medical Director via Teams/online a few weeks ago. I was really nervous but the interview was more of her telling me what kind of patients I would expect to care for in the unit and what her expectations are. Now I've been asked to schedule a face to face interview with the other NPs and ICU Medical Director, and I was told this interview was going to be 4 hours. 4 hours! Now I'm not sure if I wanna put myself through that grueling interview... I'm also told that orientation is only 6 weeks (all hands-on, didactics are on your own). I just feel like the learning curve is going to be so steep for me. I have ICU experience but not really cardiac background. I'm so torn whether I should still go for this interview and possibly be humiliated, or let go of this position and end up wondering what it would have been like had I went for it.

Thoughts?

I don't know what they could possibly be asking you for four hours! I think they may go through a series of interpersonal questions (to see how well you'll fit in with the team), maybe provide a few scenarios of "tell me a time when....", or maybe this time will include a tour of the unit(s), as well as meeting other providers/team members on the unit, and possibly shadowing someone?

Also, I think six weeks is not enough time on orientation. What is your patient load after orientation? Will you be working alone or will there be another provider on site or available to you?  Are you expected to do procedures (central lines, intubation)? My orientation was 12 weeks and I was an experienced NP (although, not THAT much experience) and I have weekly check ins with my collaboring doctor to talk about my cases. I also have 14 years of ER/Trauma background as a RN. 

If you don't feel this is the position for you, I'd keep on looking. However, I would still interview so you can atleast have the interview experience to land the position you really want. 

 

 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I agree, go forward with the interview and see how it goes. If you have an opportunity to talk with people that work there, ask them what they thought of the orientation process. The job I took, I thought would have a great orientation, I've been on orientation a year! But, there are no goals, no regular meetings, very limited feedback of any sort, so the orientation sounds great on paper but didn't really meet my expectations. Good luck!

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