KyFNP13

I had a lot of people like CRNAs tell me to apply before I got my license but I too was like what's the point. If they want someone now they want a licensed person. I have had my license for a week now. I really did not think it would be this tough to get a job everyone wants experience.

That's good I hope you get it #teamnewgrad. I am hoping I get an interview for a surgical np in one of my local hospital. It requires office, hospital rounding and or time. My app is waiting to be reviewed by hiring manager. Do you have to take call with that position? You apply anywhere else? I have been doing reading and employers like if you are interviewing other places with similar role. They feel you are marketable.

Hi, I was curious to know how your interview went. What kind of questions did they end up asking you? What are they looking for in a surgical NP?

I currently work in surgical services and they prefer that you have some critical care experience before transferring to the unit. However, we have hired new nursing graduates in the operating room. We do not allow new nursing graduates into the recovery room because we do take care of critical care patients. The best way to find out what your hospital requires is to talk to the operating room nurse educator. Sometimes there are classes that you can take on your own in order to show your desire to work in surgical services. At the hospital I work at, a new grad is anyone with less than one year experience as a registered nurse. We have a new grad residency program for BSN graduates and the time requirement is less than one year of experience as registered nurse to be able to enter into the program.

In theory you would work three 12s in ICU and a shift or two a month in a psych unit (or however much you wanted). Not sure where you are from but free standing psych facilities would be an option. Maybe even the state facility of you we close enough to work it occasionally.

I think that you should work both areas of interest. I know in my area you can usually get into a PRN psych position. When I graduated RN school I wanted to be a CRNA, so I went to ICU right out of school (for two year critical care experience). While in the unit, I found that I did love the Operating Room setting but my passion was the procedure . Fast forward six years, I am a new NP and I am training to become a first assistant after my 4 years as an RN in the OR. I think you find your passion after you get in practice so I say try both. You may be surprised what you actually love.

I agree with the other posts; it is difficult to answer your question without an example. You stated that you saw medical staff creativity. Give some examples of what you have seen.

I am also a new graduate and am interested in working with surgeons (more colorectal/oncology patients). I was curious to know are you a first assist?! I know you stated that you have worked with the area for some years. I work have been in the operating room for 5 years and have also worked in a clinic setting. I am not currently a certified first assist but I do know how to scrub and do some minor assisting. I am not sure who will interview you but I interviewed with a physician recently and he did not ask me any clinical case scenerios he came up with, but he did ask me about most challenging clinical situation and how I handled it. If your initial interview is with the practice manager they probably will not ask you clinical questions either. If you are not a first assist but are interested in becoming I think that doing some research on becoming a first assist would be good when they ask what you can bring to the table, your willingness to expand your knowledge base. I found a powerpoint and it addressed what a APRN could do for surgical services. Remember your importance for the NP in pre-op, intra-op and post-op phases for the surgical patient. Such as freeing up the surgeon from non-billable activities such as post-op follow-up in clinic. Good luck and let us know how your interview goes.

I just graduated from NP school in December so I remember those clinical days quite vividly. I would say that it is perfectly normal to experience some nervousness especially if you are going to not only be with a new population but also a new preceptor. I think that one thing I found as not only a registered nurse but also a nurse practitioner student that way deep down somewhere in our memories we know more than we are confident that we know. One thing that I found helpful during clinicals was to focus on an organ system, and let your preceptor be aware what organ system is your focus each week. But let them know that you also want to know about any abnormalities that they notice that you may not. Being that you work NICU you may be very familiar with hearing heart murmurs, but that was my weakness. So I let my preceptor know and whenever she heard one I did not, she let me know even though my focus for health assessment may have been head and neck that week. You are learning and you are not expected to know everything be confident in what you do know and do not be afraid to not know something but always know where to find the answer. Good luck and enjoy your time learning, it will go by so fast.

Associate degree nurse are employed in my OR. I currently work in the OR and most of the nurses are ADN trained. I went to the OR with ICU experience and an ADN. I went through a periop course through a local college, did clinicals for the class at my hospital then transferred from ICU to OR. I went on to get my BSN and MSN though l did work other positions, I work OR PRN. My OR wanted an experienced nurse and they preferred critical care but some nurses have had no other nursing experience. Have you shadowed an OR nurse since you have been out of school? I think while in nursing school anything new looks exciting but you may have different eyes now that you have graduated. Contact your nursing education department and they should be able to get you in contact with OR educator.

Congratulations and good luck on your future endeavors.

FYI engraving stethoscopes voids any warranty they may have. I was told that when I was talking to the clerk when I brought my last Littman stethoscope. I didn't care but some can be quite pricey so the warranty may be important.

FYI engraving stethoscopes voids any warranty they may have. I was told that when I was talking to the clerk when I brought my last Littman stethoscope. I didn't care but some can be quute pricey so the warranty may be important.

I would say while working in the OR is the same setting as a CRNA you will not get the experience that you need for that role as a circulator. I currently work in the OR as a circulator and I do not do what an ICU nurse does. Most CRNA programs state they want ICU/CCU experience for at least 2 years because as a CRNA you are the one maintaining a life in the OR not looking for lost sponges, as a circulator would. ICU nurses take care of patients on a different level than a curculator. I do not know if you would cross train in PACU but I know a nurse who went to CRNA school because our PACU would hold ICU patients but it was approved by the program director on an individual basis. If you know the program you are interested in research it with them. I have seen where it said OR experience does not count. Hope this helps.

Hi chillnurse, I know this is a few months old but I really enjoyed reading it. I am a new FNP in KY and I was wondering if you did any "door to door" job hunting? How was that perceived? I am interested in ultimately working for a surgeon as a NP first assist but feel that I need some experience as a nurse practitioner first since most surgeons I know are hospital or group employees and their bosses want experience in your role (nurse practitioner).