New Grad with NICU interview..PLease Help!!

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Hello:

I'm graduating in October with my RN. I have my very first interview next week with the NICU. I'm extremely nervous and very excited also. Can anyone let me know what to expect, kind of questions and what their expectations may be?? I would appreciate any info...thank you and wish me luck!!!

Amy

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Amy,

I just went through the interviewing process for a NICU position and yesterday was offered the job. When I interviewed with personnel, I was asked to tell 5 of my strengths and 3 weaknesses. I was asked what was one thing that my co-workers were really surprised to learn about me. (I really had to think a few minutes to come up with something) I was asked how I felt about patient satisfaction....to name a few. When I interviewed the NICU Mgr., she asked why I thought I wanted to work in NICU, how I react/deal with difficult people, and different questions about working in a critical care unit. Both were positive experiences. I also asked to shadow a nurse and this was a great experience. I was given the choice to follow a nurse taking care of the "feeders and growers" or a nurse with very critical baby. I chose the latter and new right then NICU was where I wanted to be. Good luck

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I wish that I had fabulous words of advice for you....but I'm just posting to say good luck!!!! I hope VERY much that I am in your shoes in May!! Did you precept in NICU, or just apply there for a job?

Please keep us posted on what happens with the interview! Thanks also to the above poster for posting your experience. It's good info to stick in the back of my mind!!!!!

Good Luck!!!!!!

Amy :yelclap:

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Thanks for all of the support, I had my interview in the NICU yesterday and then got the call this afternoon offering me the job!!!! I'm so excited. I actually don't finish school untill October 14th so I'll start in the NICU on 10/31. YAY!!!!

:blushkiss

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Congratulations!!!! I start in NICU on 11/7. I can't wait. Good luck to you. We'll be going through this together.

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Congratulations, guys!!

I wish you the best of luck and would love to hear from either one of you about the interview process. Questions, etc.

Y'all ROCK!!!

Amy:balloons: :)

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Congrats! I hope Im in your spot soon. I graduate in December! Good luck and let us all know how it goes!!

Amanda

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If you don't mind me asking...what were the answers to your interview questions? (since you got the job I am curious)

Amy,

I just went through the interviewing process for a NICU position and yesterday was offered the job. When I interviewed with personnel, I was asked to tell 5 of my strengths and 3 weaknesses. I was asked what was one thing that my co-workers were really surprised to learn about me. (I really had to think a few minutes to come up with something) I was asked how I felt about patient satisfaction....to name a few. When I interviewed the NICU Mgr., she asked why I thought I wanted to work in NICU, how I react/deal with difficult people, and different questions about working in a critical care unit. Both were positive experiences. I also asked to shadow a nurse and this was a great experience. I was given the choice to follow a nurse taking care of the "feeders and growers" or a nurse with very critical baby. I chose the latter and new right then NICU was where I wanted to be. Good luck

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Well it would be too hard to write all of my answers to questions I had during my NICU interview...i felt like I babbled on and on. But really I just tried to be honest and express how grateful I would be to work in the NICU right out of college as a graduate nurse with no experience.

Some of the things I was asked were:

What do you know about the NICU?

What was your best clinical experience and why?

What was your worst clinical experience and why?

Who was your best preceptor and why?

How do you handle stress?

What do you think about confrontation in the workplace?

How do you handle the emotional aspects involved with the NICU (death)?

(I actually had tears in my eyes when I aswered this...i recounted with them about an experience I had with a fetal demise on my maternity rotation and how upset it had made me.)

Anyways, that might give you an idea of some questions. They weren't asked so formally, more like an ongoing conversation we were having. I really liked the two charge nurses that interviewed me and felt very comfortable...i know that helped.

Thanks, Amy :p

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Thanks for all of the support, I had my interview in the NICU yesterday and then got the call this afternoon offering me the job!!!! I'm so excited. I actually don't finish school untill October 14th so I'll start in the NICU on 10/31. YAY!!!!

:blushkiss

WOW!! I graduated nursing school on October 14th and my start date for NICU was also October 31st...1994!!!!! I have been there ever since, and now am in school for my NNP. Best wishes!

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I start in NICU on 10/3! There are a few of us on here starting together! I would love to hear about each of your experiences, and I will tell you mine!

Heidi

Mother to :

Anna Catherine b. 11-5-01

Ethan David b. 5-4-03, d. 6-10-03 My NICU baby

Grace Marie b. 6-27-04

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