CardioTrans

I had my interview this morning. Talk about intimidating! Not so much the questions as it was the number of people. 8!! I was thinking maybe 3-4... I walked in and was surprised to say the least. No strength/weakness question, thank goodness...that's always a hard one. One that I had never heard before was "What are the 3 most important aspects that a nurse should possess?" I did ask them what qualities they were looking for and what they thought my biggest learning curve would be with my ICU background and having never worked ER before. I honestly can't get a feel for how it went. The director said that they score the answers and whichever candidate scores the highest is who they hire. Now I wait.... She said they will make a decision by the end of next week. Keeping my fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers!!!

Thanks all for the replies. Regular interview questions, just done with more than one person all at the same time. :) I am hoping that my ICU experience will help. I know that it's not the same in many aspects. I have been reading ER references for the past two days to refresh myself with things that I haven't dealt with in some time.

Hi all, I have been an RN for 15 years...all my hospital direct patient care experience has been in a CCU, MICU etc....at a large Level I hospital. I have been asked to come in for an interview for an ER position at another facility. I have never done ER and am REALLY excited about the opportunity. I was told by HR that I would meet with them first to discuss benefits and pay, then go to the ER for a "peer interview". In 15 years, I've never had to do one. As a seasoned ER nurse, what types of questions would you ask?? I want to make the best impression and would LOVE to transition to the ER Any advice/tips would be GREATLY appreciated!!

No, you don't have to retake the exam...but you have to complete all the other paperwork

I agree!!! I am about to start traveling and have to apply for a license in every state. I have been licensed in Alabama since 1994! All the paperwork is a huge pain. Also, Alabama doesn't participate in the online nursing verification either Nursys. I don't understand why the state doesn't participate.

I was the one who mentioned EMS being trained for the VAD patients.... but what I said was the EMS that would respond to the pt with a VAD would be trained. As Highlandlass stated, our VAD coordinators do go into the community where the pts live and teach the EMS how to take care of the VAD.... I agree that not all EMTs are taught how to take care of them.

People who have VADs placed are very well educated in taking care of the VAD before they leave the hospital. As for the patient becoming "dry"... the VAD will alarm if the perfusion or volume is low before they are to the point of passing out. Our VAD coordinators, like ghillbert mentioned, are very willing to do education classes if a patient will be going to outpt dialysis. Pts with VADs live very active lives, much like a person with a healthy heart. One of the main concerns for these patients are risks of infection at the drive line site..... not the pump itself. Our pts are also instructed that they must/need to have a trained family member with them at all times..... The EMS that will be called in case something happens are also taught how to take care of the patient and know how to handle the VAD.

I was just curious to see if anyone who had applied for Fall 2011 with a deadline of May 1 has heard anything. I know that they say that decisions will be sent out within 30 days of the deadline....but just curious :)

It will be a little hard when you first go back, and it isn't inappropriate at all to ask about avoiding certain patients for a little while. One thing........... as you get back to your routine, you can use your experience to help other family members and patients to understand what is going on. I had to do this when I lost my mother to metastatic breast cancer. You will be able to relate to their fears and anxiety. And just so you know...........its ok to cry with them too. :hug:

Many students do very well on exams, in the classroom when asked questions. When it comes to clinicals, they freeze.............. I see it everyday with the students that are on our service. With some of them, they have made comments that they don't feel the safety net of the classroom. They are not dealing with simulators, books, or "scenarios" they are dealing with real people. That's what makes them lose their senses. Like someone else said, you have all the pieces of the puzzle in separate boxes.... you just now have to put those pieces together on the table. As for the poster with the clinical instructor........... I 100% agree with the fact that the instructor may see more potential in you than in your fellow classmates, that is why you are pushed so hard. Believe it or not, when you get in the real world of nursing and even when you take boards, that instructor will be your favorite person in the world. Trust me, I have been there, and to this day 17 yrs and 3 degrees later, I still absolutely think she was the BEST instructor that I have ever had.

I have also always seen it as diagnosis............ have seen Dz as disease.

you're my hero!!!!!

Will do!!

Sounds good!! I sent you my email. Cant wait for this to finally get off the ground!!

Anyone else????????

Thanks and I definitely will Siri!!!! You may be getting some pm's from me asking why on earth I did this to myself!

Thanks!! I am nervous, excited and scared out of my mind all at the same time!

It depends on where you work as to your pay. It also depends on your state board of nursing if you can work in inpatient settings as an FNP. I know where I live, the FNP role is being seriously looked at by the BON, and they are looking at taking away inpatient opportunities for FNP's because of the education they get. As Trauma said, most people who give you negatives do it for their own reasons. I am about to begin a DNP program in Aug... several nurses that I work with and around have made the comment "why are you going to waste your time going through all that school when I will be making more than you?"............ ummmm, education is never a waste of time, it is one of my goals, pay increases with experience....

Anyone with new news????

Just wanted to check and see how you all were liking the program!!

1. University of South Alabama 2. MSN/DNP.... ACNP 3. Will work full time (we are changing from 5 days a wk to 3-12's).......YEYYY 4. Full time school.....online with clinicals in my home town. 5. Nervous and excited.... have to work to pay the bills, but am thankful I can rearrange my schedule at work. Still haven't heard from the other program I applied to, but it looks as if they are just beginning to send out letters.

YEYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will have to make a point to seek each other out!!!! Well, we know that there are 3 of us going to South............lol Wonder how many were actually accepted.

If your NP job market is slow right now, take the job. I currently work in care management and we have several care managers who are also NP's. Some of them work only in care management, and some work as an NP on the side. They are using things learned in their NP programs everyday in care management. Our positions are "BSN required MSN preferred".......so I really wouldn't say that you would be working beneath your education.

Thanks to you both!! I am getting excited and nervous all at the same time. My youngest child starts college in the Fall as well....... he will be in the North end of the state living on campus... and I will be visiting South off and on..... Seems like Aug is forever away, then I stop and think about it, and its only 3 months away!!!

YEYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess I will see you the last week of July?!?!