May I interview you for my research paper?

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · May 5, 2017

I am brand new to this site, so I apologize if this is not the appropriate forum for this.

No this is not the proper forum for this. The response you will get is the same as all of the other "first post" members that have the same assignment that we get daily.

Interview assignments are designed for you to interact in-person with real people. There is no way of knowing that you are interviewing actual nurses through the internet. Try going to a hospital lobby or cafeteria and ask a nurse (with a badge that say "Registered Nurse") and ask to interview them.

When you watch TV news, does the reporter send someone a list of questions over the internet and read the answers on the air? Does Jimmy Fallon sit at his desk and read the answers to questions that celebrities answer? When you are applying for a job, does the manager send you a list of questions to answer and never talk to you in person until they hire you? The answers are, no.

Trauma Columnist · May 5, 2017

Moved to nursing student assistance forum.

MsMcJ · May 5, 2017

Thank you for the feedback. I didn't realize this was such a frequently asked question on the site.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 5, 2017

Thank you for the feedback. I didn't realize this was such a frequently asked question on the site.

That is ok....are you already accepted to a program?

Tell us a little about yourself

MsMcJ · May 5, 2017

Thanks. I am finishing my last semester of prereqs and plan to apply to Samuel Merritt University's accelerated BSN program (I already have a B.S. in Business Management). Before deciding to study nursing I was in the Navy for 8 years, then a preschool teacher for a few years before becoming a stay at home mom. I was diagnosed with tongue cancer when my daughter was a baby and that experience inspired my desire to be a nurse. This assignment is for an English paper. I'm supposed to write about what I imagine being a nurse will be like and then try to find out through research and interviews if the reality matches my expectations.

I am planning to do an in person interview with a friend who is a nurse but thought it would be good to get as many perspectives as possible.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 6, 2017

I am brand new to this site, so I apologize if this is not the appropriate forum for this. I'm doing a research paper regarding nursing as a career path and one of the requirements is to interview some working nurses. If anyone has the time and would be willing to answer some of my questions, they are listed below. It is a long list, so please feel free to only answer a few (or to answer none of them, of course). Thanks for looking!
1. How long have you been a nurse?
6 years
2. What factors lead you to choose nursing as a career?
My experience as a patient. FBI was what I really wanted to do but that wasn't going to be a possibility and I was always glued to the Trauma Life in the ER shows back in the early 90's. After many years as a patient and having some really good and bad experiences, I decided I wanted to become a nurse and be a patient advocate but wanted to do cool stuff too. I needed to figure out a career that would pay decent so I could leave my husband and so nursing seemed like a good option that fit all of it.
3. What do you like about being a nurse?
The ability to have a positive impact in one of the worst times of a patients life. I bring humor, and knowledge and compassion and understanding. Sarcasm if needed and firmness if needed. But for most people they come into the ER and they are scared and vulnerable and whatever else, and I have the ability to put a smile on their face, or ease their pain, or give them a little dignity back, maybe educate them on something no one ever has yet and so they have always come back. I can't think of a greater personal gift then the joy I get serving and helping others in one of their biggest times of needs. I am really good at it and I get to do it while just being my natural awesome self.
4. What don't you like about being a nurse?
The politics of it all and honestly, sometimes what I like least is the attitude of some of my fellow nurses. I understand and can empathize why some of them are the way they are, but they are bringing others down, they are training new nurses to be hateful before they are even off orientation, they are ugly to their patients but for various reasons they feel stuck and won't get out. So their negativity can suck the soul out of an entire unit. I have said multiple times that if I ever get to the point where I have more bad days then good at work, it's time to find a new pathway. 90% of the time I am always having fun at work.
5. Do you feel that a career in nursing is compatible with work/life/family balance?
Yes, it's not always easy or ideal. But overall yes and it helps that my children know that when we might have to adjust Christmas or practices or what not, it's because I am helping to take care of other people so that they can have another holiday or see another practice. My children are proud of me. My daughter when she was in 2nd grade had a classmate make a remark about me not being at one of the functions. According to the teacher my daughter put her hand on her hip and raised her eyebrow and told the girl "my mom saves lives, what does your mom do?" I was very proud.
6. What is your nursing specialty and what made you choose it?
ER, I am an adrenaline junkie and very ADD. It suits me. That said I am thinking of switching things up because I feel like I am just not learning much anymore and it's always the same as much as it's never the same. You might have to work in the ER for that to make sense.
7. Was it difficult for you to find employment in your area of interest?
For me no, but depending on where you live that can vary greatly.
8. Do you recommend nursing as a career? Why or why not?
I can't say because it's so individual on what you like or don't like etc. That said it's a very versatile career with so many various pathways I would like to think there is an area that can suit most people where they would be happy.
9. Does your employer allow part-time or flexible schedules?
For the most part all the places I have worked have had pretty flexible scheduling and self scheduling with various positions.
10. What advice would you give to someone just beginning nursing school?
LEARN! Nursing is 2 parts. There is the book part school part. That's great. Learn your Pharm and Patho and A&P. But most of your "knowledge" is going to come from clinicals and experiences. When you are in clinicals be eager to learn and volunteer. Show initiative and motivation. Do this as a new grad too. If a nurse asks if you want to do something or give something and you aren't doing anything. Never say "I already got my 2 IV"s" or "I've already done a foley" Just because you technically got your check off you can never do enough and nurses hate that. Shows us you're not interested in learning but only doing the bare minimum. I LOVE precepting students and new grads. And I will go above and beyond and forward all my co-nurses to get any procedure or skill for my students if my student shows interest. But the minute my student shows they are only interested in the bare minimum because it's not something they are interested in, I will find another nurse with a student to let them know their student can do any of whatever I have. Because make no mistake there will always be someone eager to show they are in it. Good and bad. And when interview times come around and we see you again our manager will ask us "how was so and so when they were here" We want the hard worker. So be a sponge and absorb everything and do NOT get sucked into the negativity. Don't come off as a know it all either.
11. What advice would you give to a new graduate from nursing school?

Get out there. Get your resume and references ready, get the head start on everyone when you're done. Do your NCLEX right away. You don't need a month to study. You just spent YEARS learning this stuff. You either know it or you don't. Don't psych yourself out and don't put it off. Get it done. When you interview dress professionally. Be ready and be on time, have a GOOD FIRM HANDSHAKE. Be personable. They know your nervous it's ok. But let your passion shine through. The hiring manager doesn't care that you got the best grade in the class. They don't want to hear how you're smarter than everyone in your class or better than everyone in your class. What they want to hear is that your passionate, your serious, your personable, that you want to be that fresh new nurse that is going to bring positivity back to the unit, that you're willing to do what it takes, that you're a team player, that you are not afraid to ask questions and that you're capable of taking constructive feedback. They want to know that YOU are worth their investment because it's expensive to train new grads and they want a good return on their investment. IF you're interviewing for med/surge do not go on and on about how your passion has always been the ER but you want experience first because that tells them you're out after a year. Be humble but confident.

Most of all be proud of yourself and when you start questioning everything, go back and remember what you got into all of this for and focus on that.

MsMcJ · May 6, 2017

Wow! Thanks for that. I really appreciate it.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 6, 2017

Wow! Thanks for that. I really appreciate it.

You're welcome. Best of luck to you in your endeavors.

guest042302019, BSN, RN · May 13, 2017

I am brand new to this site, so I apologize if this is not the appropriate forum for this. I'm doing a research paper regarding nursing as a career path and one of the requirements is to interview some working nurses. If anyone has the time and would be willing to answer some of my questions, they are listed below. It is a long list, so please feel free to only answer a few (or to answer none of them, of course). Thanks for looking!
1. How long have you been a nurse?
I was licensed on April, 2013.
2. What factors lead you to choose nursing as a career?
A change in my life. I was doing construction and decided to become a paramedic but changed to nursing ultimately.
3. What do you like about being a nurse?
The adventure, challenges, and the experiences. It's rewarding obviously. The money is good. I'm a travel nurse and move around every 13 weeks.
4. What don't you like about being a nurse?
The stress, coworker bullying/lateral violence, intra-work politics, regulatory bodies
5. Do you feel that a career in nursing is compatible with work/life/family balance?
Absolutely. My wife and I are both nurses. We make it work. The scheduling is tough sometimes but works out.
6. What is your nursing specialty and what made you choose it?
Medical step down travel nurse. I fell into it when I took my first travel nurse assignment. I started out in nursing homes then pulmonary step down in a large university hospital.
7. Was it difficult for you to find employment in your area of interest?
Absolutely not. There is a MASSIVE shortage right now.
8. Do you recommend nursing as a career? Why or why not?
Yes, ultimately, but I wish I was more aware of the challenges nurses face before nursing school. However, I don't know if that was possible.
9. Does your employer allow part-time or flexible schedules?
Yes. I have a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I take 2-4 weeks off every 13 weeks because that's the end of a standard travel nurse contract.
10. What advice would you give to someone just beginning nursing school?
Form a study group. Use case studies to mull over the content. Study at least 20 hours a week. Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake or fail something. It happens. Learn from it and move on. It's not the end of the world. Just pass the program. In the real world, no one cares how you get to the end just get there so you can take the NCLEX.
11. What advice would you give to a new graduate from nursing school?

Don't be afraid to take a non-traditional job right away. They preach to start in the hospital. That's not necessary. Broaden your horizon. Be willing to drive up to an hour away for a job. Sometimes smaller towns don't have the opportunities. Be willing to be move. I started in a nursing home then a pulmonary step down unit then I became a travel nurse. I've worked on medical and trauma step down units all over the country. Nursing is a great career and you don't HAVE to fit the traditional mold.

Good Luck!

Feel free to contact me personally if you have further questions or concerns at [email protected]

MsMcJ · May 13, 2017

Thank you so much!

poopylala, BSN, RN · May 18, 2017

1. How long have you been a nurse?

10 months!

2. What factors lead you to choose nursing as a career?

I was pre-med and didn't feel the passion. Friends recommended nursing school but I thought all nurses did was take vital signs (SOOOOO wrong). I looked into it finally and realized all my biology degree electives matched up with the prereqs for nursing school!

3. What do you like about being a nurse?

I get to work with people and make a difference. I love using my knowledge to assess a critical situation and know how to help fix it.

4. What don't you like about being a nurse?

All the extra non-nursing stuff we're asked to do- patients asking for hotel-type treatment or having to do filing because we don't have a night secretary.

5. Do you feel that a career in nursing is compatible with work/life/family balance?

Absolutely! The downside to all this is that you may run into caregiver burnout quicker but it also makes you a better person, I think.

6. What is your nursing specialty and what made you choose it?

Burn ICU. I love ICU because of the knowledge and skill required. I see so many interesting things and I love wounds. It's great to follow my patients from ICU to floor to discharge since we're a multi acuity unit.

7. Was it difficult for you to find employment in your area of interest?

Actually, no. We have one ABA certified burn unit in my city and I interviewed there and in the hospital I worked at as a tech. I had offers for both places and picked Burns because I knew I would see things here that I couldn't see anywhere else.

8. Do you recommend nursing as a career? Why or why not?

I do only if it is your passion. Some shifts can be very difficult and it's a disservice to your patient to be there if you don't love it. I love people so bedside is good for me right now. Some people are better suited to nursing behind the scenes. There's something for almost everyone so I encourage people to look into what jobs are available where they want to live to see if there's something within nursing they'd like.

9. Does your employer allow part-time or flexible schedules?

Yes! I couldn't be more pleased with my manager allowing the flexibility she does. Our hospital system allows for part time and PRN.

10. What advice would you give to someone just beginning nursing school?

You may struggle more during this than you have ever struggled in your life. It will be okay. Nursing isn't for everyone and if you decide it isn't worth it or what you want, there will be other things to pursue. At the end of the day, remember why you are pursing this degree and let it push you to learn everything you can. You learn to be the difference between life and death for a patient, not just to pass classes.

11. What advice would you give to a new graduate from nursing school?

It was such an incredible feeling to graduate from nursing school, more so than when I graduated from my first degree. This meant everything to me and I had no idea how much it would affect me. You are going to start on a career that literally changes lives. You will struggle during orientation because school teaches you perfect world scenarios and responses. You will find that sometimes, that just does not work in reality. It will be difficult to learn how your hospital does things and sometimes, you'll cry and wonder if you really have what it takes. You will survive. Always keep in mind that angry or belligerent patients are temporary and that your favorite patients will one day be discharged. Both kinds of patients still deserve your compassion (but don't lose your sanity!) and are in need of your care and knowledge. To paraphrase the meme based on "the help"- you is tired, you is hungry, you is a nurse.