Interview for Special Care Nursery! Tips???

churchsgirl · Aug 1, 2011

WOW! Best of luck to you! Where are you located? I am about to graduate in December and your post is giving me hope!

SydneyJo1 · Aug 1, 2011

I'm in Wisconsin. I am beside myself with excitement!! I cannot believe I am lucky enough to get this interview--OB/GYN, Mom/Baby is my absolute first choice specialty, but it is next to impossible to get an interview for these positions as a new grad. I hope I can knock this interview out of the park, which is why I need some tips!! :)

churchsgirl · Aug 1, 2011

I wish I had some tips to give you! I will be moving to Ohio and I am applying to all Mom/Baby internships/recidencies! Let me know how it goes and I hope someone offers some tips!

churchsgirl · Aug 1, 2011

Apparently I was so excited for you I cannot even spell correctly...

PedsHopeful · Aug 1, 2011

Hey Syd, I am in wisconsin too, if you can inbox me and let me know what facility this is for and where, Id appreciate it. Id like to get into labor and delivery and knowing what place is receptive to new grads helps. Thanks! And good luck!

PedsHopeful · Aug 1, 2011

I also see you went to Stritch, I start there Spring of next year. Im happy to hear you had such a great Mom/baby clinical, it gives me something to look forward to!

neonurse75 · Aug 1, 2011

Best of luck to you!! My best advice is show your enthusiasm! I think of all the places I have worked, my enthusiasm was what got me the job. Unit managers look for someone who is eager to learn and will be a good fit. It is a very rewarding place to work :)

SydneyJo1 · Aug 1, 2011

Excellent! I have enthusiasm in spades! :)

everthesame, LPN, LVN · Aug 1, 2011

In addition to the intensive care these babies require, don't forget about their families. This is an especially difficult, confusing and scary time for the new parents. They are not going to have the birth/postpartum experience they have been dreaming of for all of these weeks. They need a calm and compassionate soul to guide them through this very stressful time. They will need lots of education and tons of encouragement.

Also, stress turns some parents into the parents from he**. You cannot take it personally and know that it is often their reaction to the complete loss of control they may be feeling.

If the opportunity arises during the interview try to find a way to show you realize the above things and look forward to caring for the needs of the family as you care for the baby.

Some things to ask about are visits...who can come see baby, do they allow siblings to visit? Do they offer any support groups for the families? Some babies are in the NICU for months and it takes a toll on the family...especially if they have other young children at home and have to juggle going back to work, caring for the other kids and being with their baby at the hospital.

What sort of deliveries does the SCN attend? Who is on the delivery team? Where I worked it was an RN, an RT and either a neonatologist or the neonatal nurse practitioner. Does the SCN utilize NNPs?

What are the staffing ratios? What is the average census? Does the charge nurse take an assignment? I worked in a level 3 NICU and we usually had 2-3 babies. Sometimes less if we had a baby who was extremely unstable or was expected to die soon. If staffing was truly horrible, sometimes we had 4 babies. Very rare but sometimes it happened.

Check out the hospital's website and read up on whatever info they may have on the SCN and think of some questions based on the info you read.

Yikes this post got really long. I hope it gives you a few things to think about before your interview.

Good luck and be sure to let us know how it went.

SydneyJo1 · Aug 2, 2011

Thank you so much!! Your post really, really helps! I'll keep you all posted. :)

PedsHopeful · Aug 2, 2011

GOOD LUCK!