New grad nicu interview @ UCSF

dixRN · Sep 3, 2011

I have interviewed new grads at my old job in Florida. We asked them how they would handle a conflict with a coworker or with a physician. What were their strengths & weaknesses. Tell them that one of your strengths is your enthusiam to learn as much as you can to be an excellent NICU nurse. They will love that. Your weakness is your lack of experience which of course you will overcome. I would emphasize that I was a TEAM PLAYER & that if you did not know how to handle a situation that you would ask your charge nurse or more experienced coworker. POSITIVE attitude is very important. Of course look crisp & clean. Not the time to wear fake nails (which are strictly banned in NICU) or tons of makeup/jewelry( big dangly earrings are also not on NICU dresscodes). Everything else being equal the professional looking candidate will make a better impression. Go read a current edition of Neonatal Network so you can mention it. Feel free to tell them how excited you are about working in their unit. Oh yes, google that unit & know how many NICU beds they have & know something about the unit before you go. Do they do cardiac surgeries or ECMO? Are they a level III or IV? That shows you care enough to research them. Ask them about their internship/orientation/preceptorship program. Good Luck.

kimsjc · Sep 4, 2011

Thanks, that's helpful info. I belong to NANN and read the journals, which has been inspiring to me. I have NRP cert., so I reviewed my NRP stuff a little bit in case they ask me anything about that.

I've done a lot of research about the unit and the hospital itself and think it would be a great place to work. I hope I am able to show them how I would be a good fit.

Thanks again for the good advice!

dixRN · Sep 4, 2011

Having NRP already will show them that you are serious about working in a NICU. That is a great start. If you can get your hands on a S.T.A.B.L.E. book & study it & mention that in your interview it will impress the interviewer with your initiative & your desire to learn.

RNnicu42 · Sep 7, 2011

How did your interview go? I had an interview there last week and am now just playing the waiting game. I think we are supposed to hear by this friday. Is that what you were told too?

kimsjc · Sep 7, 2011

I thought it went pretty well, but with so many well-qualified applicants, it's hard to gauge whether it will be good enough to get an offer. They told me we'd find out on Friday, too, so at least I don't have to wait in suspense as long as you have. I was also told they will be selecting six new nurses. Best of luck to you, I hope we both get good news on Friday

RNnicu42 · Sep 7, 2011

I felt the same way. All of us are well qualified. I hope we get selected!!!! Good luck

RNnicu42 · Sep 8, 2011

I just got the email that I didnt get the position. They said they went with applicants who had previous level II experience. Oh well... the search continues

kimsjc · Sep 8, 2011

Sorry to hear that, I also just got an email letting me know I wasn't selected. Back to the drawing board. Good luck to you in your job search!

MSNRNCNL · Jun 6, 2012

Hey Kimsjc, do you remember what questions they asked you?

kimsjc · Jun 7, 2012

Sorry, I don't remember many questions at this point and I didn't write them down afterward, some basic stuff, tell us about yourself, why nursing, why nicu, etc. There were more pointed questions, but I do not recall specifics. Hope that helps.

lizlemonrn · Aug 10, 2012

Hello all! I'm excited to say that I've been offered a position in a Level III NICU. Before the interview, I looked at this thread and many others about new grads interviewing in the NICU. So, I thought I'd share my story if it could help anyone.

I was sort of nervous about the interview because I was a little scared the interviewer would ask me NICU specific questions, and I've barely set foot in a NICU. However, all she really asked me was "why this hospital?" and "why the nicu?" (At the very end of our meeting, she told me that she that she would have asked me more questions, but that she didn't expect me to really know much because I am a new grad.) The rest of the interview consisted of her telling me about the position (hours, orientation, floating), me asking her questions, and a tour of the NICU.

I think that as a new grad, you just have to accept the fact that you don't have the knowledge of an experienced RN. I knew that it would be more about my attitude and my passion. During our walk from the main lobby to the NICU, I asked her questions about the NICU, so I think she knew that I was very interested from the beginning. When she asked me why the NICU, I made sure to tell her that I'm passionate about working in the NICU and how rewarding the job can be. I also mentioned that I was aware of the negative parts of the job and how emotionally stressful it can be. She really seemed to respond to this. Make sure that the interviewer can sense your passion and commitment to the job.

I also wanted to say this to those of you weren't offered a position after an interview. First of all, don't let it bring you down. You got that interview for a reason. You have a lot to offer. Also, I think you just have to convince yourself that that's not where you were meant to be. Before I graduated, I had an interview at another hospital (not a NICU). I really felt like it was an awesome floor and that it was where I was going to be. However, I wasn't offered the job. I was devastated for a little while. I had been so excited to work in a unit that I thought was where I wanted to be. Plus, I really wanted to have a job before I graduated (even though that would have been nice, it was no reason to beat myself up. Part of me felt like I was a failure for graduating without a job, but I was being too hard on myself.) At the end of the day, I realized that there might have been someone with more experience than me, and that's just the reality of job hunting in any career. Now, I feel like my journey has lead me here, and this is where I'm meant to be. I'm going to be a NICU nurse, and it's going to be exciting/terrifying/challenging/awesome.

Good luck to all with your job search!