Hi! I will be graduating in August (Accelerated BSN program). I have just scheduled an interview for an RN position in the NICU in an awesome hospital. It's in 2 weeks and it will be my first interview for an RN position. What terrifies me is that this is the unit and hospital I want to work at and with it being my first interview, I'm afraid I'm going to mess something up.
I've looked through the forums and know that there have been some questions answered about interviews, but I'm looking for some advice on what to expect. What kinds of questions might I be asked?
NICU is where I want to be....this is why I went back to school to be a nurse. I have a bachelors already in another field - but couldn't find a job in that field. I refuse to work in another unit besides NICU! I want to show the Nurse Manager that although I don't have any experience in the NICU that I am determined, hard-working, love to learn and will make a good addition to their team (without looking too desperate!!!!). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Glad to hear that you came to Cincinnati. I am a nursing student who just finished my sophomore year in a BSN program. My goal is to become a NICU nurse. Just wanted to say congrats on the position at Good Sam, and thank you for starting this thread. There were a few really good responses that I think will be helpful for new grads!
Hi! I will be graduating in August (accelerated BSN program). I have just scheduled an interview for an RN position in the NICU in an awesome hospital. It's in 2 weeks and it will be my first interview for an RN position. What terrifies me is that this is the unit and hospital I want to work at and with it being my first interview, I'm afraid I'm going to mess something up.
I've looked through the forums and know that there have been some questions answered about interviews, but I'm looking for some advice on what to expect. What kinds of questions might I be asked?
NICU is where I want to be....this is why I went back to school to be a nurse. I have a bachelors already in another field - but couldn't find a job in that field. I refuse to work in another unit besides NICU! I want to show the Nurse Manager that although I don't have any experience in the NICU that I am determined, hard-working, love to learn and will make a good addition to their team (without looking too desperate!!!!). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Congratulations on almost being finished with school! I have recently interviewed for a NICU position and I was lucky because I was working in a NICU unit as a clinical aide prior to getting my NICU RN position. The key to getting the position is to take your time when answering the questions. Look at each interviewer so that they are not left out in the interview. Smile, but also be serious about the interview. If you are feeling nervous that can also be a strength because you can focus in on the question and think before you answer any questions. If you cant hear what your saying thats a bad sign. Here are some questions I came across during my interview. Why did you choose nursing? Why do you want to be a NICU nurse. What are you strengths and weaknesses? What did you like least about your past job? What would your prior employers say about you? What is critical thinking to you? How did you use critical thinking in your clinical experience? How have you dealed with conflict? Just remember to practice before you go in the interview, think about scenarios you have had in your past clinical experience. you dont want to say anthing negative when it comes to your weaknesses. Just say something like a weakness would be that you dont have any experience in NICU, because you are a new grad. All in all good luck to you and I hope these questions will help better prepare you for this interview.
Congratulations on almost being finished with school! I have recently interviewed for a NICU position and I was lucky because I was working in a NICU unit as a clinical aide prior to getting my NICU RN position. The key to getting the position is to take your time when answering the questions. Look at each interviewer so that they are not left out in the interview. Smile, but also be serious about the interview. If you are feeling nervous that can also be a strength because you can focus in on the question and think before you answer any questions. If you cant hear what your saying thats a bad sign. Here are some questions I came across during my interview. Why did you choose nursing? Why do you want to be a NICU nurse. What are you strengths and weaknesses? What did you like least about your past job? What would your prior employers say about you? What is critical thinking to you? How did you use critical thinking in your clinical experience? How have you dealed with conflict? Just remember to practice before you go in the interview, think about scenarios you have had in your past clinical experience. you dont want to say anthing negative when it comes to your weaknesses. Just say something like a weakness would be that you dont have any experience in NICU, because you are a new grad. All in all good luck to you and I hope these questions will help better prepare you for this interview.
The OP posted her original post back in 2007, and she's been working in NICU for the last 3 years. She updated us last year not too many posts ago.
I had NEVER set foot in a NICU in my life when I interviewed.
I did a lot of research before my interview about the NICU environment, patient population, and I even pulled out my maternal/child textbooks from school and read the parts we didn't cover in school about the sick neonate.
By doing all of this, it also showed my director how serious I took this and how much I wanted to work there. It also showed that I WATNED to learn and grow and become the best I could be.
I came in prepared with questions for my supervisor as well. Things that I was curious about such as management styles, doing primary nursing, orientation, expectations of a new grad.
While they were interviewing me, I also interviewed them. I wanted to make sure I was going to get into an environment that was going to foster learning and help me along as a new grad. I also wanted to make sure that I was going to fit in with the personality of the unit. While we don't do peer interviews at the hospital I work at, I feel I got very good and accurate information from our director.
Make sure you go in with an open mind. I was hired to nights and my director asked me what I felt about that. I told her right off the bat that I prefer days and am looking forward to going there, I had to do what I had to do to get to work where I really want.
I had NEVER set foot in a NICU in my life when I interviewed.
I did a lot of research before my interview about the NICU environment, patient population, and I even pulled out my maternal/child textbooks from school and read the parts we didn't cover in school about the sick neonate.
By doing all of this, it also showed my director how serious I took this and how much I wanted to work there. It also showed that I WATNED to learn and grow and become the best I could be.
I came in prepared with questions for my supervisor as well. Things that I was curious about such as management styles, doing primary nursing, orientation, expectations of a new grad.
While they were interviewing me, I also interviewed them. I wanted to make sure I was going to get into an environment that was going to foster learning and help me along as a new grad. I also wanted to make sure that I was going to fit in with the personality of the unit. While we don't do peer interviews at the hospital I work at, I feel I got very good and accurate information from our director.
Make sure you go in with an open mind. I was hired to nights and my director asked me what I felt about that. I told her right off the bat that I prefer days and am looking forward to going there, I had to do what I had to do to get to work where I really want.
Be flexible.
Go in. Be yourself. Smile.
Hello,
I don't know if you'll get this as you posted a while back but I have a question about you doing research prior to your NICU interview. I am anticipating a NICU interview in the near future and I got a few really good neonatal books out and I've been studying quite a bit. I am just confused as to what I should study, what they could possibly ask me about in an interview, etc. What did you study/ research? Simply things like physical assessment of a newborn? What do do if you walk in and a baby is having difficulty with _______? etc. Thanks so much! I just have no idea what to look into!
NICU is where I want to be....this is why I went back to school to be a nurse. I have a bachelors already in another field - but couldn't find a job in that field. I refuse to work in another unit besides NICU! I want to show the Nurse Manager that although I don't have any experience in the NICU that I am determined, hard-working, love to learn and will make a good addition to their team (without looking too desperate!!!!). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Congratulations on almost being finished with school! I have recently interviewed for a NICU position and I was lucky because I was working in a NICU unit as a clinical aide prior to getting my NICU RN position. The key to getting the position is to take your time when answering the questions. Look at each interviewer so that they are not left out in the interview. Smile, but also be serious about the interview. If you are feeling nervous that can also be a strength because you can focus in on the question and think before you answer any questions. If you cant hear what your saying thats a bad sign. Here are some questions I came across during my interview. Why did you choose nursing? Why do you want to be a NICU nurse. What are you strengths and weaknesses? What did you like least about your past job? What would your prior employers say about you? What is critical thinking to you? How did you use critical thinking in your clinical experience? How have you dealed with conflict? Just remember to practice before you go in the interview, think about scenarios you have had in your past clinical experience. you dont want to say anthing negative when it comes to your weaknesses. Just say something like a weakness would be that you dont have any experience in NICU, because you are a new grad. All in all good luck to you and I hope these questions will help better prepare you for this interview. 
cooktm2
4 Posts
Glad to hear that you came to Cincinnati. I am a nursing student who just finished my sophomore year in a BSN program. My goal is to become a NICU nurse. Just wanted to say congrats on the position at Good Sam, and thank you for starting this thread. There were a few really good responses that I think will be helpful for new grads!