interviewing for MICU/ICCU CNA job...

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

What would you like to see in a new CNA interviewing for a job in MICU/ICCU? I am a LPN student and this will be my first job in the medical field. I know there will be a learning curve, but it would be an educational and challenging experience. I'm just wondering what this tpye of unit would be looking for in a CNA?

Thanks - I interview on Aug 1!

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I am not a nurse but I am an LPN student that recently started work as a CNA on a medical ICU. One of the major things they looked for was to be self-directed. They want you to be able to know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it without being told (at least on my unit after orientation period). Some of my responsibilities include setting up the rooms and stocking supplies for a new admit, performing (not reading) EKG, accuchecks, cleaning/turning patients, assisting with transport of pt. to diagnostic tests (x-ray, ct, mri)-this requires alot of stuff to be brought with you in case of emergency. There is a lot to learn and I really like it and I wish you the best of luck!

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

Thanks Wildcats! That sounds like it would be a really educational place to work! Had you worked as a CNA before this job? That's my concern because I haven't done it before, but I'm told that they like to have nursing students. What kind of orientation did you have? That's one of the things I plan to ask in the interview (any other ideas for interview questions?) I just don't want to be thrown in unprepared. Does that make sense? I mean I know the basic skills, and I have the education from my LPN program so far, but I still feel unprepared.

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I had worked as a CNA in a nursing home. But MICU is way different. The CNAs on my unit don't have a pt. assignment, we just help everyone. Some of the things you see are really sad, like overdoses and suicide attempts in a young pt. My unit has pts. age 14-elderly. My orientation on the floor is about 2 weeks with another CNA but the nurses are great and they understand that I wont remember or know everything in that amount of time. The thing I really like about my unit is that the CNAs arent made to stay over past their shift to wait for another CNA to relieve them like in other settings. Sometimes there just isn't a CNA scheduled and thats okay because the nurses have 1-2 pts. and they will provide all care to the pt., but of course the nurses like to have a CNA there to help. I don't know how many MICU operate that way but it is nice. I can't really think of anything for you to ask your interviewer right now, but it is almost 3 am here. :zzzzz

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I had an interview for CNA on a SICU. Anxiously awaiting a call back...it's been almost 2 weeks. I really want this position, but i'm afraid all my experience in a nursing home isn't going to help me there. I learned alot in my CNA classes because it was actually the first 1/2 of an LPN course for post HS grads. (12th grade as a CNA class then 10 months of LPN school) They didn't have room for me in the LPN class so here I am 10 yrs later as a CNA still. I figure this will give me a chance to use all I've learned and see if I could possibly hack it as a nurse.

If I blew this interview how do I nail the next one? DO you think the current students have a better shot?

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I'm kind of in the same boat. I just accepted a position in a icu/pcu unit, and we have a two week training period. I think my biggest fear would be not getting a vital piece of information and screwing something up. Two weeks seems awfully short, especially since I just got my cna certification, and it's my first medical job. At least they won't run out of linen! I'll post again when I know more about my unit and how it works.

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