Interview tomorrow for a NICU position! Any advice?

t2000JC · Jan 14, 2005

I think you should seem enthusiastic about the position, the NICU. Check if they have ECMO, how many admissions, etc. Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses (that could be seen as a strength too). Know about the hospital before you go...um, sorry it's late so that's all I can process now. Good luck! t.

SJSU_Mami · Jan 14, 2005

Thanks! I went ahead and made the list of strengths and weaknesses.. it helped a lot!! Best of all, I WAS HIRED ON THE SPOT!! YAY!! I start my new career Feb 28 at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital! :balloons: :rotfl:

lmcnabbkv · Jan 15, 2005

SJSU...Congrats!! :balloons:

I will also be starting on the 28th in the NICU new-grad program at LPCH!! I know they had 10 spots or so open...I wonder how many are filled so far??

SJSU_Mami · Jan 15, 2005

Congrats to you as well! I'm not sure how many spots were left, but she did tell me that they were going to hire about 60. I'm looking forward to the new program, 22 weeks is the longest I've ever heard! I went ahead and bought the books the manager recommended to read; I don't have any NICU experience so I have to prepare. Congrats again! :chuckle

t2000JC · Jan 15, 2005

Congrats! T.

NICURNwannabe · Jan 20, 2005

I'm so envious!! Good luck in NICU. I was wondering what books they recommend for you to read.

Keep us posted on how your days go.

rn/writer, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Thanks! I went ahead and made the list of strengths and weaknesses.. it helped a lot!! Best of all, I WAS HIRED ON THE SPOT!! YAY!! I start my new career Feb 28 at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital! :balloons: :rotfl:

Congratulations! 22 weeks of orientation is amazing. You've got a wonderful opportunity ahead of you. :nurse:

I sent off a letter today requesting an informational interview with the goal of employment toward the end of May. I'm hoping to meet with the nurse manager of our NICU sometime soon.

Could you elaborate on the strengths/weaknesses list. I know this is a common interview question but thinking about it makes me a little crazy. :uhoh3: I think I can state my strengths in a pretty straightforward manner. But the weaknesses--sheesh! On one hand, I can see myself spilling my guts and giving the interview, a) reasons not to hire me, or, b) things to hold over my head or keep watching me for. :chair:

On the other hand, I think it's cheesy (and I'll bet the interviewers do too) to use the transparent trick of putting a backhand spin on a strength and *calling* it a weakness. For example--I'm just so attentive to detail that sometimes I have to stop myself. Or, I'm a workaholic (Good, she'll pick up extra shifts), and I have to learn to smell the roses. :saint:

How does one come up with things that are real but not a real mess?

Congrats again,

Miranda F.

KarenNICU · Jan 21, 2005

I just got hired too and will start orientaion on Tuesday at Cedar-Sinai Hospital.

Benson5 · Jan 21, 2005

:rotfl:

Hi Everyone! I am looking for avdice, I am applying for CNA training, and I need to write an essayon why I want to become a male nurse. I am not good at writing adn was wondering if there are any pointers out there? Feel free to e-mail me too. Thanks SO much!!!

SJSU_Mami · Jan 25, 2005

Thanks for the replies!

As far as the books, the nurse manager recommended three:

1. Merenstein & Gardner- Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care

2. Deacon, et al- Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing

3. Watson- Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing

Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses I wrote down:

Strengths:

Very safe, I ask plenty of questions, a team player, display leadership abilities, am eager to learn, I incorporate the family in the patient's care, and that I'm culturally sensitive (I live in the Silicon Valley, which is very diverse and cultural sensitivity is important).

Some weaknesses were that I need to work on communicating in a difficult situation such as death or decrease in positive outcome prognosis; I need to improve on practicing skills, and I would like to improve my Spanish to help me more effectively communicate with patients. Hope this helps!

:rolleyes:

SJSU_Mami · Jan 25, 2005