I was ecstatic when I got a call for an interview however, I was not given much time to prepare for the interview. I had two hours to get ready for the interview. I called up my friends who work at this hospital and were told that the interview was very laid back and easy. Did not asked any critical thinking questions and only asked a few personality questions. I rushed to get myself ready and head to the hospital. The interview with the nurse recruiter went well. Basically she told me about the HR stuff. Then I was sent to the unit to be interviewed by the manager and the charge nurse. I felt that I bombed the interview because they end up asking me critical thinking questions and I bombed it. They asked me to provide five words to describe my personality. That should have been easy right? Nope, I had to squeeze the last of my brain juice to come up with five words. The interview was nothing like how my friends describe it. At the end of the interview, the manager said they can not count my one year nursing experience and I may be consider more of a new nurse. However they don't know if they have the resources to hire another new nurse.
So I bombed it and suddenly I really just want to get out of there, however, she then said why don't you come back on Tuesday for a shadowing. So I am so confused and stressed that I haven't been able to sleep well at all. I had tried to write a thank you letter but unable to because what can I truly say other than thank them for granting me an interview? I can't sell myself because I sucked at the critical thinking questions. I've been trying the last couple of days to write a decent thank you letter but unable to come up with words to describe myself. Other than hard working, reliable, and wanting to learn, I can't come up with fancy words to sell myself and have them choose me.
Sorry everyone, I just want to rant awhile. Whoever reads this, thank you.
Thank you so much for posting this. I was offered a LTC position and I declined it because I really want to work acute care. Now I'm having a hard time even getting an interview. I only passed the nclex a month ago... But I haven't worked yet at all and in afraid im going to lose my skills. Congratulations to you on your position. Good luck!
If you get another job offer at a LTC please take it while at the same continue to put in your applications at the hospitals. Just get that experience on your resume. Right now there are too many nurses and not enough jobs for us newbies. Good luck.
Girl, go rock out your shadowing experience. Offer to help, be eager to learn, be friendly, be a team player. Be the kind of nurse they want on the unit. Consider it the second half of your interview. Good luck!
I've been very blessed that I have these nurses who were willing to teach me and took me under their wings during my year at the LTC facility. Several of them mentored me and I'm so grateful for that. Now I'm in a hospital setting I'm excited but also hesitant because I don't enough to be really helpful but I'm working and doing my best. I ask a lot of questions and staying very humble. So far my preceptors and other coworkers have been really nice to me.
Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.
Update: hi everyone, I didn't get the job but a couple of months later I got another interview for the telemetry unit at another hospital and a week later got hired. I am currently in orientation and find myself overwhelmed. Although I have been an RN for over a year I find I don't know squat. Even the new grads know more than me. I am feeling inadequate and frankly stupid. Is it common to forget a lot of my knowledge after graduating and not using it?
You would, very likely, feel overwhelmed and inadequate if you were fresh out of school. It's like that for a lot of new nurses. This is a new experience for you. Try not to compare yourself to others. You don't know what they are going through on the inside or what their life/experiences have been. People are not always upfront about their difficult feelings and struggles, especially in this type of work environment. Just please know that transitions can be difficult and you are not alone in your feelings! They say it can sometimes take months, even a year, to feel competent. Best wishes to you.
For right now I feel like I'm a fraud. Lol. I can't wait for the day I can confidently say yep, I'm an experienced RN. I'm just glad all the nurses I have been working with in the past and currently have been so kind. I'm knocking on wood that I'll never run into nurses that eat their youngs. I can't wait to be one of you guys who can just look at a chart and know exactly what is going on, what to do, and what to expect. Right now I'm just absorbing everything my preceptors are teaching me
Put yourself on a mandatory homework schedule and you will find yourself feeling less intimidated as you realize that you are doing what any proactive employee does when they need to upgrade their skills/knowledge. Congrats on getting the job, now do the necessary work to keep that job and you will be fine!
Jenniferocious
53 Posts
Thank you so much for posting this. I was offered a LTC position and I declined it because I really want to work acute care. Now I'm having a hard time even getting an interview. I only passed the nclex a month ago... But I haven't worked yet at all and in afraid im going to lose my skills. Congratulations to you on your position. Good luck!