Lakeland Regional Interview

[MursingMedic, DNP, RN, EMT-P]

Hey everybody,

I am in my last weeks of school at Polk State College (Transition) and just got a call for an interview at LRMC for next week. I live in Orange County, but have enjoyed my clinicals at LRMC and the staff have a much better morale than other hospitals I have seen (or transported patients to).

Any PCC or LRMC alumni have any advice on how best to approach this? This will be my first ever nursing interview and don't know how different they go as compared to EMS interviews. I applied for the generic new grad application, but am really hoping to get placed (if hired) into either SICU, TICU or the ER.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks and wish me luck. :)

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

What department is it that has this good morale?

The unit I worked was poorly staffed, nurses frequently floated/ low censused, pts placed on floors inappropriate to their care, and never being able to get a meal break. I left when I got tired of watching nurses breaking down crying in the break room, from fatigue, verbal abuse/derision from physicians, and hypoglycemia from not being able eat during their shift.

Admittedly it may be better than many of the area facilities, but that is not saying much.The other major facility - pretty much had to get Magnet status because no one would work there (bad behavior towards staff in the late 1990s, led to massive amounts of staff quiting - they were basically importing many of their nurses until retrogression/ICE crackdowns stopped that. The two smaller forprofits, are just that, owned by Forprofits, and treat their staff accordingly.

And that was before the most recent round of cuts at LRMC, discussed in the local papers with the usual lie of "it won't affect pt care".

They just laid off/cut close to 300 jobs at LRMC (in the last month or two - reference Lakeland Ledger for more data), many in HR so I suspect there are many changes in how HR handles interviews and hiring. This does not bode well. They have also been hit by some serious funding cuts and some expensive fines.

I would go to Orlando or Tampa for employment.

[MursingMedic, DNP, RN, EMT-P]

Coming from EMS, these are typical type situations I'm used to.... being berated by patient and management, not eating in 12 hours, etc....

I would love to get a job in Orlando since I live up here but since no one up here is wanting to hire ADN GNs because magnet is everything, I have to take what I can get, especially in this economy where I will be unemployed as of OCT 1 since my EMS agency is being dissolved.

I'm unfortunately fully aware of the layoffs at LRMC. My lead instructor was the highest ranked person to be laid off.... I'm just going for what's available.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

When I interviewed, HR asked the usual questions(why did you become a nurse, tell me about your best attribute, discuss one of our faults/problems, how did you handle a tough situation, if your coworkers did this -what would be your response?) then they discuss pay rates and the legal issues.

Then you meet with the manager and talk some and then they have some unit staff come in and do a little group interview (not many as few can make it off the floor).

Any specific questions and I will aid you as best I can. Am familiar with the area.

[MursingMedic, DNP, RN, EMT-P]

Thanks for the help caroladybelle. I interviewed with HR, and the nurse recruiter and I hit it off pretty well. I'm now waiting for one of the departments to bite. She told me to follow up with her this week if nothing develops. Fingers crossed.

[roma4204, BSN, RN]

I enjoy working there, so don't worry too much! I've only seen one nurse on my unit crying, never been floated and the physicians I work with are very nice. I don't want to stay forever but it's been a great place to start. Good luck!

[jlaureng]

What happened MursingMedic? Did you get the job? :)