OMG, I cannot believe it...I need PICU interview tips!

Specialties PICU

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Hi all,

I cannot believe this, I got an interview in a PICU, WITHOUT having my BSN :eek: ( I am set to graduate this December with it)!! I feel like I won the lottery!

I want to cry... this would be my total dream job, I love taking care of critically ill pediatric patients and helping the family cope as well ( I know that sounds odd to say) .. I recently worked in an ER that sees a high volume of sick kids and we transfer the ones requiring intensive care to this hospital, so I have experience with the acute phase of pediatric illness, and some vented neonates and kids etc.

So any tips? They said it will be a two hour interview with management and HR. Do you think they will ask clinical questions? This is the same PICU my niece stayed in for two weeks in December, so some of the nurses kind of got to know me and I have already informally met the nurse manager, which helped me get the interview I think!

Any advise is appreciated, thanks, I was so excited to get the interview my head print is in my ceiling!

HPRN

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Most often they'll interview the top 3 or 4 people based on their resumes, sometimes a few more. They look for those keywords I mentioned, and then read how the keywords fit into the overall package. It's extremely difficult to interview every applicant, given that many postings will have more than 100 applicants. Interviews will all include the same questions in the same format so as not to influence their impressions of the candidates. Usually there's a script that has space for the candidate's responses so that later they can be reviewed and compared if there isn't a clear best choice. I remember an interview I had a couple of years ago for a peds rehab unit where I was given a scenario. "You have a 13 year old patient who has Type 1 diabetes. There's a birthday party on the unit for another patient. At 1130 you check her blood glucose and it's quite high. What would you do?" In my head it was 1130 at night so I went off on a tangent about how it shouldn't be that high, I need to call the doc... Both the manager and the educator were madly scribbling on their copies of the interview questionnaire. Bzzzzzzzzz! Wrong! When I thought about it later I felt like the stupidest person on earth. I didn't get the job.

They may offer you a chance to shadow on the unit, although that doesn't happen on mine. (There's nothing to say you can't ask for the opportunity.) All interviewees should get a tour of the unit, which sometimes scares people off. In a way, that tour is an extension of the interview. If the candidate asks really good questions about what they're seeing, that's another box ticked. Our unit is much too small for how we use it, crowded, inefficient, grubby, with ancient equipment. All things readily acknowledged by upper management and well-publicized by this year's radiothon fundraiser. This could be a big turn-off for someone coming to us from a newer, more state-of-the-art unit, but not necessarily so for someone with no experience otherwise.

So. Who's going to win the Super Bowl?

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Thank you primetime.

I put in my resume and cover letter that I was still in the process of obtaining my B.S.N., do you think there is any possibility that they missed that part? It said B.S.N. required in the job description, but when my niece was in the unit a lot of the nurses told me to apply anyway since I will be done in December.

They will probably give me a tour, which I will gladly take part in, but I already got a two week tour when my niece was there :) . I already know the unit is nice, but nothing super fancy. I know they receive a lot of mix diagnosis which would be great for learning. They do not do hearts, but that is fine.

Well I am from the Boston area, so I guess I have to vote for the Patriots! :)

Thanks again for all the tips and information!

HPRN

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I really don't think they missed anything, and I don't think they would have set up an interview with you just for practice. I don't have a BSN and I have no intention of getting one either. It didn't stop me from working in peds ICU since 1997. Go with it!

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Ok, thanks again, I only ask because the job is in a Boston Hospital and getting hired into a PICU without a BSN would be almost unheard of! I am still going to give it my best and hope though, but I know there is ridiculous competition since the job market, especially for pediatrics is saturated in this area!

HPRN

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Peds is that way everywhere. It's too small a specialty for there to be lots of vacancies. Just look at any major hospital system's job postings and you'll see about 20 adult-care positions to every 1 peds. You're almost done your BSN (yes, you ARE) and I think your resume speaks to your intelligence and work ethic, so they're not worried that you won't finish and graduate. All you can do is your best, right?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Well, as I write this it's almost 3 pm in Boston and your interview should be in the past. I've been sending you positive vibes all day... hope you were feeling them! I can't wait to hear all the details...

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Thank you for the positive vibes Primetime!! I sent you a PM!

HPRN

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

OMG, the wait is going to kill me, I am positive of this! :zombie:

We have lost a couple of days in this area secondary to getting buried in snow... So I am hoping that is what the delay is, although it has only been 3 business days since my interview, I have never been so attached to my phone!

Crossing my fingers and toes since this would be my dream job! :yes:

HPRN

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Make sure you let us know when you hear something! I got all caught up in your thread and I'm wondering how it went.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi,

Heard from them today... they still haven't made a decision! :yawn:

It is a very large teaching hospital so I would imagine they all have a lot on their plates, plus we have been getting totally buried in snow so that hasn't helped at all!

Annie

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Oh, boy... Second interview next week. They were in the process of reconfiguring their education department so that is why it took so long.... I am already nervous! Please cross fingers and toes for me, thanks.

Annie

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