New Grad With Interview!

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Hey everybody! I'm graduating in December and just got the call today about my first interview in a PICU. I'm so nervous! I've mainly been applying to NICU and PICU hoping to land an internship in either one. I happened to email a nurse manager on a pediatric floor asking where to send my resume, etc. and next thing I know I'm getting a call from the PICU manager asking for an interview. Kinda shocking cause she hasn't even seen my resume or transcript. But I'm really looking for some help on the interview process. Its a first interview so I can expect some of the basic questions. What other kinds of questions are usually asked? My concern is that with my pediatric rotation in school I was at a hospital that mainly focused on orthopedic issues...lots of spina bifida and muscular dystrophy. I haven't really had much experience in a PICU. But I'm so ready to learn...and truly feel a calling to work with children in some way. Any interview help and words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hey everybody! I'm graduating in December and just got the call today about my first interview in a PICU. I'm so nervous! I've mainly been applying to NICU and PICU hoping to land an internship in either one. I happened to email a nurse manager on a pediatric floor asking where to send my resume, etc. and next thing I know I'm getting a call from the PICU manager asking for an interview. Kinda shocking cause she hasn't even seen my resume or transcript. But I'm really looking for some help on the interview process. Its a first interview so I can expect some of the basic questions. What other kinds of questions are usually asked? My concern is that with my pediatric rotation in school I was at a hospital that mainly focused on orthopedic issues...lots of spina bifida and muscular dystrophy. I haven't really had much experience in a PICU. But I'm so ready to learn...and truly feel a calling to work with children in some way. Any interview help and words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

:balloons: Hello and Welcome to Allnurses.com:balloons:

It is a pleasure having you in the PICU forum.

If you have not had PALS and ACLS, you need this. You can tell them you are ready to take these courses and if you have had them, capitalize upon these facts. Intensive care settings are about the same except you will be with Peds.

Good luck.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Welcome aboard. Congrats in your upcoming graduation. :)

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I just interviewed for a PICU position on Friday. The questions I got asked were "Tell me about you, how you ended up in nursing, why you chose the school that you did. Where do you see yourself in 3-5years, 5-10years. How would your friends/co-workers describe you. Name 1 thing you liked about your last job (as a nursing student). Name 1 thing you would change."

Before you take PALS, find out if the facility offers that to you. I was told don't even bother taking it now because things will make so much more sense after you've been working in PICU for 9-12 months. I can take a course the hospital offers free of charge when the time comes.

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I went to PICU right after school in 1991 at a large children's hospital. I am now in management. Since you are a new grad I would ask you why you chose nursing to be a profession. It would be helpful if you had something creative to say. Everyone says I want to help kids. If there is something that happened in your life or some nurse you admired as a child that influenced you to become a nurse say so.

I would ask you what your long term and short term goals are. Short term being within the next year and long term being within 3-5 years.

I would ask you how you have handled a difficult situation. Elaborate and give details

I would ask you what accomplishment in your life are you most proud of. Answer and tell why.

I would ask you what are your strong attributes and what you feel are your weak attributes. I would be looking for things like willing to learn, sense of humor, etc. Always elaborate and explain your answers.

Your goal is to sell yourself. Tell the manager why you will be an awesome nurse and an attribute to the unit. At the end the manager needs to believe that you have a lot of potential and will be a good addition to the unit.

Interviews are a give and take thing though. Make sure you have questions to ask the manager. Make a list and bring it with you if you want. You will not be viewed as stupid just prepared. Questions like how long is orientation? Will I have one preceptor or several? What types of patients are cared for in the PICU-surgical, trauma, etc. Will I receive specialized training beyond my preceptor (any class room time) Or what does orientation entail?

Best of luck to you. I hope I have been helpful. I worked PICU for many years and I enjoyed all of it!!!:nurse:

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Welcome to the site! Good luck w/ your interview and let us know how it goes!

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Specializes in ICU.

These interview questions are very helpful and exactly the type of information I was seeking. Thank you for taking the time to post it.

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goodluck!

It was great that kfabian32 share interview questions to us because it was really a great help esp.to us as a beginner.:yelclap:

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Your welcome. It was no problem.

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