Informational Interview

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

Person Interviewed: RN

Job Title: RN

Employer: Hospital

(I hope you don't have to be specific with this answer, because many of us are not willing to share that information. This is the Internet and all of our answers are fully searchable on Google. I recommend that responders only answer in the form of their general area -- hospital, nursing home, etc. -- to protect their privacy. )

1. What do you like best about your job? Patient contact, the ability to change someone's life for the better.

2. What do you like least about your job? Charting

3. If you quit today and moved to another area, how difficult would it be for you to find a similar job? I'd have to get my license for that state before I could take a nursing job. This could involve a process that could take several weeks. After that, it would depend on the needs of the potential employer and how well my abilities matched up. If I was unable to decide, I could probably work agency until I found a good spot.

4. How hard is it for an inexperienced person to land a job in this field? Grads need to get in some hospital experience and generally will find that they'll get better orientation if they go directly from school to the hospital. After that year, it's harder to get training for other areas.

5. What do you actually do most of the day? How do you spend your time? I spend about 40% of my day charting, the other 60% is spent assessing patients and following through on their care needs, whatever those might be.

6. Is this a high stress position? Do you take your job home with you? Very high stress, especially the first year. You learn to leave the job at the job, but it takes time and practice.

7. What are the opportunities for advancement? Nurses have a lot of opportunity for advancement. Depends on your situation and the amount of education you get.

8. What does the job pay? How do you get raises? Generally, you get raises annually until you've been a nurse for about 10 years, then the salary tends to flatten out a bit, so that often you're getting paid about the same as a new grad coming in, except you have a lot more responsibilities. You can get raises by having experience and using your facility's system to advance.

9. Are the benefits good? Is there a retirement plan? In my opinion, benes are average for nurses, and there's no pension, but many facilities offer 401K plans.

10. What kind of training, education, and experience would you recommend to get into this field? You have to enjoy working with people, have great communication skills, be willing to work hard, and understand that when you become a nurse, you must be committed to continuing to improve your practice through even more education.

11. Are there other qualifications needed for this job? (strength, good eye sight, specific skills or abilities) Many jobs require you to be able to lift up to 60 pounds, be dextrous, be able to think on your feet, and have a lot of patience.

12. How stable is your job? Is it seasonal? Are layoffs expected? We don't usually get laid off, but in the summer season, we can get sent home if the patient census is low. If the patient census is high, we might get a call asking us to work overtime. Since there is currently a shortage of nurses willing to work at the bedside, this area is almost always in need, and the needs are expected to increase as the general population ages.

13. What hours and days do you work? Do you have to spend time working outside of these hours? (preparation, maintenance of equipment, overtime, union meetings, volunteer work) Nurses can have very flexible hours, and can work parttime or fulltime, any hour of the day or night. Expect to work weekends and holidays. In some states, you must complete education hours to keep your license current. There are uniform costs, education costs, mandatory staff meetings, mandatory education, and in some facilities, mandatory overtime.

14. Do you work mostly alone or with others? In my area, the hospital, we work alone but help one another out. Some units are more helpful than others; it depends on the unit.

15. Does the company provide additional training as the job requirements change? If Joint Commission requires it or if it becomes necessary to do your job, the job will usually pay for it. Expect change; nothing is ever static in the healthcare environment.

16. Is the same job going to exist fifteen years from now? Yes, but most likely, not in the same form. Nursing has changed before, so I expect we'll have to adapt again.

17. In addition to formal training or education, what should I be doing to prepare for this position? Follow a nurse for a day. Choose a specialty or an environment and ask to shadow the nurse. You'll be amazed at the variety of the experiences and the range of knowledge and skills required. I would also highly recommend reading the threads on the Allnurses bulletin board as it is quite an eye-opener for many of us as well as an excellent resource for jobs, networking, and education.

NewSlang · Sep 11, 2008

Thank you SO much Angie. I can imagine it's very stressful. How do you deal with it? Also, what is charting exactly?

Thanks again,

Adam

NewSlang · Sep 11, 2008

Oh, and yes I'm sure not having your name etc. won't be a problem. I'll explain the circumstances.

Thanks!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

Thank you SO much Angie. I can imagine it's very stressful. How do you deal with it? Also, what is charting exactly?
Thanks again,
Adam

Each patient has a collection of information regarding his/her case. It's organized into a binder, called a chart. Healthcare personnel -- doctors, nurses, and other disciplines -- must write their information about the patient in the patient's chart. The information must be timed, must be accurate, and must be objective.

These medical records are vital to the communication of the healthcare team while the patient is in the hospital. They are also a legal document that must accurately reflect all of the care that the patient received.

Nurses must chart especially carefully because they are often the first to note critical changes in a patient's condition. If the charting does not accurately reflect the steps taken to help the patient, the hospital, doctor, nurse can be sued if harm came to the patient.

The actual writing (either on paper or nowadays, by computer) of these things is called "charting" or "documentation."

Hope that helped.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

Person Interviewed: lorenzo, RN

Job Title: Staff RN

Employer:Hospital.

1. What do you like best about your job?

I like being able to help my patients get better or ease through a transition time.

2. What do you like least about your job?

Having to deal with politics and workplace policies that do NOT make good common sense. managing aides who do NOT care about patients or making sure requests/communication are followed through with. I had a CNA just the other night who did NOT come tell me a patient was having pain on a 8/10 first night post-op, and when I went in 1/2 hour before that..the patient was asleep. I went back a hour later...and the patient had told the aide 45 mins ago...but she didn't know who she told. I KNOW i'm the new grad, but if that ever happens again and I find out who did it...I'm writing em up. I take pride in my care. As do most nurses.

3. If you quit today and moved to another area, how difficult would it be for you to find a similar job? Probably not very...but as a new grad, people would have to give me a chance.

4. How hard is it for an inexperienced person to land a job in this field?

Landing the job is easy...learning and retaining is hard. It is a little easier if you know how the setting works.

5. What do you actually do most of the day? How do you spend your time?

I work nights...so I come in, prepare for the shift..get my papers, stock my pockets, and get report. Then I look at labs, new orders, see if I have any medications due, and go look at my patients. I'll take meds with me, and before I give them, I assess the patient from head-to-toe.

If I have a admit, I get caught up, and then go admit the patient.

If I don't, I'll check meds, if I have to call a doctor with an update, or for new orders...then I'll sit down and start charting(computer)...writing down all important information.

I'll do 2-3 patients(normal load is 6) charting. Then I'll go back and reassess my patients to see how they are(need pain meds, concerns, etc.)...answering call bells as they come up.

Then I usually sit down and take my break for dinner....Then I'll sit down and do the remaining charting. Then I grab all my charts and do a 12 hr chart check...making sure old orders are in the system for each patient. Sometimes, it's easy(no new orders)...sometimes not.

Then I go back through and give scheduled meds....and check my patients before bed. After that, I'll catch up with stocking, ask if anyone needs me to do anything for them, etc. Usually I'm done with charting about 1-2AM...shift ends at 5. I'll rewrite my report for the next shift, and then put out fires the rest of the shift.

6. Is this a high stress position? Do you take your job home with you?

It can be. We're responsible for patient's lives. Sometimes you have difficult family members or patients themselves. I NEVER take my job home with me. I leave it at work...unless work tries to pull me in on a day off. Or they have some kind of concern. If they call me at noon, and I'm sleeping, I ignore it.

7. What are the opportunities for advancement?

Geez, where to start. You could go any route at all...with time comes promotion. Manager, charge nurse, teachers, preceptors, advanced practice nursing, anything....

8. What does the job pay? How do you get raises?

It depends on area. Very well for what we do around here, one of the better paying jobs. 28 bucks a hour on nights....raises once a year...based on evaluation, but I never got one more than cost of living. Usually they raise it, due to the fact they start paying new grads more than current nurses...so everyone is essentially paid the same...which sucks, but it is what it is.

9. Are the benefits good? Is there a retirement plan?

yes, I have free health insurance with a 3000 buck deductible for me alone. Good time off policies, 1/2 price fitness center membership, etc. 403b plan with a 6% match. Counseling etc. It is where most of town would like to work.

10. What kind of training, education, and experience would you recommend to get into this field?

ADN and CNA work.

11. Are there other qualifications needed for this job? (strength, good eye sight, specific skills or abilities)

Judgement, confidence, not being afraid to ask questions, call doctors, strong mentally and physically(it is demanding).

12. How stable is your job? Is it seasonal? Are layoffs expected?

Very stable...not seasonal..no layoffs ever in the 60 years of operation. however, extra personnell would probably be the first to go...I imagine nurses would be one of the last.

13. What hours and days do you work? Do you have to spend time working outside of these hours? (preparation, maintenance of equipment, overtime, union meetings, volunteer work)

I work 3 days a week, 5p-5:30am. I do NOT have to work outside of there unless I choose to. I work overtime if I want to. I volunteer if I want to...not because of work. I do have to have 20 hrs of education every 2 years, but my employer has a lot of hours for that. You do what you have to to keep your license.

14. Do you work mostly alone or with others?

We are a team..if you have a question, or need help, or just want validation..you can ask your coworkers...I work 1:1 with patients, doctors and the CNAs taking care of said patient...but you are always around other staff.

15. Does the company provide additional training as the job requirements change?

yes

16. Is the same job going to exist fifteen years from now?

If anything, it's going to be needing more people to fill positions.

17. In addition to formal training or education, what should I be doing to prepare for this position?

I would ask questions. Work as a CNA. Read through an.com. Understand that school prepares you, real-world makes you learn. and good luck!

NewSlang · Sep 14, 2008

Hey Lorenzo, thanks as well for posting your interview answers. :) I learned a lot and I'm glad I stumbled upon this site. I've spent hours reading posts so far and haven't made a dent I'm sure.

Someone kindly sent me a response via Private Message so that's all of the interviews I need. Thanks again to all of you. I very much appreciate it.

Adam