please help w/ job interview - outpatient surgery center

brownbook · Nov 1, 2012

Get whatever information you can about the surgery center. From the Internet or go to the center and ask for a brochure or pamphlet about them. Hundreds of surgeries a month or less? Also GI procedures? Pediatric cases? Only orthopedic?

"Surgery related......surgery setting".....are very broad terms.

A circulating nurse (few if any surgery centers take inexperienced circulating nurses) works in the OR assisting the scrub tech, surgeon, and anesthesiologist.

An admitting ambulatory surgery nurse gets a patient ready for OR. Witnesses the consent, has all the necessary paperwork, current history and physical, lab work and EKG if needed, may shave or prep the area. Starts the IV (some centers the anesthesiologists start their own IV's).

A recovery nurse in ambulatory surgery receives the patient from OR, gets report from anesthesia or the circulating nurse, assess the patient, gets them ready for discharge, reviews discharge instructions, discharges the patient to a responsible person who must be their ride home.

In many centers nurses are expected to float between admitting and recovery.

You may need ACLS and PALS. Good IV skills may be preferred. Fast worker, a minor procedure with minimal anesthesia "they" expect the patient out the door quickly.

ILveNursing · Nov 1, 2012

Thanks for all your advice brownbook. They said Perioperative nurse will cross train in pre-op, circulating, and PACU. I'm doing research on the net right now. Thanks again.

nursefrances, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2012

I posted some info on my thread (thread: "I got the job..) that you also posted on. Sorry, I didn't see your posts until now and your interview was yesterday. How did it go? I hope it went well and you got the job (fingers crossed). If not, now you know what they ask. Don't give up. Check out other surgery centers in your area and drop of your resume with a nice cover letter sharing your enthusiasm and desire to grow in this field. When I transitioned from hospital bedside to outpatient surgery, none of the places I walked into were hiring/nothing posted. But you never know until you ask. I wrote an article about this in the "Nurses Rock" area.

ILveNursing · Nov 3, 2012

Thank you nursefrances. The interview went good I think. DON said "I really like you" and he seems impressed but who know what exactly they are looking for. I hope I get it. Thanks again for the tips. I really appreciated.

nursefrances, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

Thank you nursefrances. The interview went good I think. DON said "I really like you" and he seems impressed but who know what exactly they are looking for. I hope I get it. Thanks again for the tips. I really appreciated.

I would sit down and write her a short thank you letter for the interview. Maybe hand deliver it or mail it. I am not sure if this would be over kill but you want her to remember you.

ILveNursing · Nov 5, 2012

Yup..I already mail a thank you note. He also told me that he is busy and if I don't heard from him give him a call. I hope that's a good sign.

nursefrances, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2012

Yup..I already mail a thank you note. He also told me that he is busy and if I don't heard from him give him a call. I hope that's a good sign.

I think so. fingers crossed. Keep is posted.

ILveNursing · Nov 7, 2012

I got the second interview today via skype. He offered me the job!! but the pay is pretty low though for Bay area California but he said when I finished with the training and pass the test, pay will go up.

rntm85 · Nov 8, 2012

I too have an interview at an ambulatory surgery center in the Bay Area. I am a new grad RN an I'm interested in what the pay typically is and how much I should ask for. What was the starting pay at your center?

ILveNursing · Nov 8, 2012

Hey rntm85,

Where is your ambulatory surgery center located? You don't have to say the name if you don't want to. Starts above mid 20s and goes up after the training and passed the test. Good luck w/ your interview!

rntm85 · Nov 9, 2012

There are many offices, located in Walnut Creek, Antioch, and Pittsburg. It's an eye surgery clinic. Thank you for the info and congrats on your new position!