Parkland SICU Residency

mernah · Apr 30, 2014

Thanks I applied. Hopefully I will get the job but my goal is to eventually get down to the ER.

mernah · Apr 30, 2014

I wonder how many positions they will have.

TWU80 · Apr 30, 2014

well mernah, just a bit of a problem if they have that 3 year contract in SICU (which i don't have that information). Now, according to the ER sample contract they sent me, i can NOT be in another Parkland residency until November 18, 2017! That is the end of the 3 year commitment to the ER. Hope that helps.

TWU80 · Apr 30, 2014

don't know mernah, but have heard they have approximately 9 traveling nurses whose contracts are going to expire (getting this from my daughter who is in CPICU and has done extras down there). So that might be a good starting point.

mernah · Apr 30, 2014

I have no problem working SICU for three years or more. I think it would make me a really well rounded nurse especially if I can realize my dream of being a trauma nurse. I have taken care of ICU boarders plus three more patients where I am precepting right now in the ER so I'm very comfortable and excited about the possibility to get a job in SICU. What sort of things do you think they want to here from us in an interview? I remember stating in my ER interview that I was teachable, welcomed constructive criticism and actually frequently ask for it, I enjoy teaching myself and look forward to working at a teaching facility, I have a laid back personality but don't hesitate to speak up when necessary etc....any pointers are so very welcome....

TWU80 · May 1, 2014

Use something personal that relates to their questions, make THEM think that sounds insightful coming from this person. Know who parkland is, read everything you can about it. Why SICU? Not MICU or the ER? How do you handle conflict? Your strengths, your weaknesses? And when they ask do you have any questions for us, come up with the most heartfelt reasons THEY WOULD WANT YOU. During my interview with ER, I tried to take what they asked and direct it to my areas of atrength. Dress for business not for party, conservative, have people review your resume, have them be mean. Practice interviews with 3-4 and have them be HARD on you. The more comfortable, confident BUT humble, willing to learn is a tough line to hold. I was asked that I will be working with a lot of 20 something's, can you take their criticism and direction? I said of course, I would be angry if they didn't correct me and I would be looking up those items I didn't know. Why a residency? Learned doing RN refresher that one, I loved the ER and two I didn't know enough and need that residency to be proficient. I could go on, but hope that helps!

mernah · May 1, 2014

I don't mind you going on....I really want to get a residency bad. I don't want to be a new grad and get a useless "orientation" and then get thrown to the wolves. I want to be a great nurse and safe nurse from day one on my own. Thank you so much any more insights would be greatly appreciated.

TWU80 · May 1, 2014

MOST important thing? be YOURSELF. If you get an interview, that means you had a great resume that caught their eye. Now, you need to close the deal. I practiced almost 2-3x a day to have the answers to their open ended questions come easy. There were NO guarantees i was going to get the ER job. That kept me grounded and not cocky. Show them that you have learned a lot, want to be exactly the same things you just said, safe, proficient, learn the correct way. Just have "mean" panels of friends to make it harder on you than a real interview. I have been on panel interviews before (not nursing but law enforcement) and I knew within the first 5 minutes if this is the right person for the job. How? Why do you want to this job? What do you know about this job? If they were vague, not sure of themselves, they had a hole to climb out. Some did, most did not. They did not know what an individual would do in the job they were interviewing for!! You have to know something about the unit. Patient load, type of patients, how will you deal with the stress of MULTITASKING between patients? How flexible can you be? Most of all, why should i PICK MERNAH? Confidence, passion are infectious. Show them they will be stupid for not taking a chance on you. I hope you see where i am going with this. One more thing, how would i deal in a "crisis" situation? I use the same techniques for the last 30 years. I told them I take "my own pulse" which means I talk softer, slower to make my brain slow down and THINK clearly, not develop tunnel vision and deal with the problem as I would do any other time. I gave examples in my life experience AND work experience. They asked only about three questions that were "standard" questions and I tried my best to show them that I can do it. I had my wife review, critique my resume to flow better, to "pop" when someone sees it. They asked won't you be bored? of course not!

mimi90 · May 2, 2014

@TWU80,

SICU at Parkland is my absolute dream job. thanks for the advice on this thread!

TWU80 · May 2, 2014

Remember, don't give up Mimi90, parkland is a great place to be and start your career. I was so fortunate to begin there and still have had life long friends from it! FB has been great for keeping in touch with all of them. Loved SICU but it's time to go in a different direction and going to ER. I would not hesitate to have gone back to SICU if I had to. Good luck!

mernah · May 2, 2014

TWU80- I've been trying to find out more about SICU at parkland and I haven't been able to locate numbers or typical patient loads...are you privy to that info? Am I also to assume that SICU at parkland also handles the trauma cases? If so would it be a good idea to mention how motivated I am to become TNCC certified and eventually become a trauma nurse clinician?