Interview on Monday...HELP!

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I just found out I passed NCLEX yesterday...amen.

I am a student nurse intern (not graduate intern program) here at a hospital. So, there were 10 of us hired as interns. I was the first to graduate and I called the nurse recruiter as he told me to let him know when I pass. He set up an interview on MONDAY...today is FRIDAY and he wants me to bring letters of recommendation...which is hard to get a hold of people on a Friday afternoon to bring letters on Monday :uhoh3:

The other issue...it's a CTU...NOT my favorite unit, at all...but not the worst and right now a job is a job is a job.

They want reasons why I think I'd fit in well on a CTU? I don't know how to respond to these types of questions :confused:

We only had about 4 days of clinicals in a CTU and the hospital I was at would only let us take 1 patient at a time...the lady I had really should've been a general patient...so really that experience was pretty much useless.

Idk...Any advice? How do I sell myself for a position I feel slightly uncomfortable in.

I am ACLS certified, so I suppose that helps, slightly.:confused::crying2:

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What is a CTU unit?

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I just found out I passed NCLEX yesterday...amen.

I am a student nurse intern (not graduate intern program) here at a hospital. So, there were 10 of us hired as interns. I was the first to graduate and I called the nurse recruiter as he told me to let him know when I pass. He set up an interview on MONDAY...today is FRIDAY and he wants me to bring letters of recommendation...which is hard to get a hold of people on a Friday afternoon to bring letters on Monday :uhoh3:

That is short notice for recommendations. The time to ask for recs is well before you need them when your recommender is still working with you and remembers you. At this point, ask, explain the situation, and for your interview explain that you've placed a request and will forward the recs as soon as you have them. See if you can keep those letters on file at home or with your school for future use.

The other issue...it's a CTU...NOT my favorite unit, at all...but not the worst and right now a job is a job is a job.

They want reasons why I think I'd fit in well on a CTU? I don't know how to respond to these types of questions :confused:

Well....what DID you like about working CTU as a student? Think about how the unit functions: will you be required to work independently, as a team, in a tight knit interdisciplinary group? Are there certain challenges that the patients face that you like doing support and education on? What about the hospital itself- what sets it apart from other hospitals in the area?

We only had about 4 days of clinicals in a CTU and the hospital I was at would only let us take 1 patient at a time...the lady I had really should've been a general patient...so really that experience was pretty much useless.

You weren't able to use that time to observe how the department was run, and what the other folks working there were doing?

Idk...Any advice? How do I sell myself for a position I feel slightly uncomfortable in.

I am ACLS certified, so I suppose that helps, slightly.:confused::crying2:

What are your strengths? What do you do that makes you a good nurse? Do you communicate well with patients? Help your classmates when they need it? Seek out opportunities to learn new things?

This site is really helpful: http://www.son.jhmi.edu/resources/career/center/resources/

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Thank you! I realized reading my own quotes that I am being totally negative about this!

Yes, I actually enjoy talking to patients, holding their hand if they need it. I AM a GREAT listener. I genuinely CARE about people. I do like teaching patients about meds, diet changes, disease process, etc. Those are strengths I think! I do enjoy a fast paced day (although I feel like NOW as a new grad that's scary, but I have to realize I will not be on my own immediately).

I did get my instructor to write me a letter of rec. and picked it up today :yeah: I think my boss (who works at the same hospital) will be more than happy to write me one Monday morning...good thing my interview isn't until 12:30 and the nurse I worked with for my internship *said* she'd write me a letter...so far I've gotten nothing from her, but I suppose as long as I have two it's better than zero or one right?

I NEED to be positive!

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What is a CTU unit?

Cardiac Telemetry Unit

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I have only been an RN for 5 months. LPN for 8 years. I went out on a limb and interviewed for Case Management with Hospice.

Knowledge is important however the third lady that interviewed me said, "I like your confidence" I was hired, I practically ran out of there screaming I got the golden ticket, I was super excited!!

My advice... go in there confident with your abilities. Believe in yourself.

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