RN_Mama

hi all, question about the interview process, specifically related to nicu. does anyone know anything about the 'peer review interview' process? i've been an aspiring nicu nurse for 8 years since my own preemie was born. since nursing school, a year ago, i've worked in an inner city emergency room just to get critical care experience and get all my certs completed so that i could qualify for an interview. well last week was a wonderful week and i landed 2 different nicu interviews at 2 regional hospitals. i had my first interview yesterday and it went really well. i was told the next round of interviews was a peer review interview. specially trained personnel in the nicu will be interviewing me in a group setting is all i really know about the process. wondering if anyone has gone through this on the applicant or hiring manager side and what to expect. is it more of a technical interview or a social/moral/teamwork evaluation? thanks in advance! rn_mama

Wow, that was a harsh response. Well here is a little about me Tyler77 before you judge me. I am a middle aged woman who has a Bachelors in Biochemistry and Computer Science from Rutgers. I've worked for Fortune 500 companies and consulted for Ivy League schools. My first son was born weighing 660 grams - 1 lb and my whole life turned around. I spent 6 months in the NICU and 6 months in the PICU and became a home health aid to be able to take care of him at home for the next 4 years. I gave up a very well paying job to switch careers because I believed I was called to go into Nursing. I have no other ambitions but to use the experiences I have go through to help others and to heal. I think one of the reasons the new class of nurses cannot get jobs is because the older and burnt out nurses can't and won't retire because they have mismanaged their money and retirement funds all these years. Now they are forced to work, when clearly they have lost their passion for nursing.

As a December grad with honors who has already passed NCLEX and is finding it challenging in the job market, I wanted to give a little advice. I wish I had followed this path! If you are currently in nursing school in NJ, make sure you get into a PCA or safety sitter job with the hospital - part time. full time, PD - whatever before you graduate. The only people from my class who got jobs after NCLEX already had an 'in' with the hospital. And you should do this before your senior year. I saw the writing on the wall in my senior year and was rejected from the many PCA jobs I applied for because they knew I wouldn't be there more than 6 months before I passed NCLEX. I went the route of getting the highest grades possible instead of getting the part-time job and although it did pay well in scholarships, I'm unemployed right now! Hospitals don't give a care in the world what your GPA was - they want to know if you passed and have passed your NCLEX. Also - if you are in an Associates program right now - try to transfer into a BSN program. I've applied to over 100 jobs in the last 2 months from more than 8 different hospital chains and even nursing homes. EVERY ONE asked me if I have a BSN in the 'screening form' in the back of the application. I have a degree in another field and no one cares about that. NJ is an all BSN state right now, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Some colleges will let you transfer from ADN to BSN - might be a little extra work but worth it in the long run. At minimum after you graduate with ADN it is another full year of full time study or nearly two years of part time study to get your RN-BSN bridge. I'm in that boat and it seems like another long ride. Hope this helps someone. I got into this field blindly from a passion I had for nursing and now realize I should have done some research and should have talked to more people with experience before I jumped in to my community college program. Love and blessings to you and to all of us new RN's waiting on the call!:redpinkhe

I can totally relate. Finished in December with honors, got my NCLEX done immediately. Thought I had all types of contacts lined up who could help me in. Been applying for months with not even one call or email back. On recent count I've applied to more than 100 jobs and up to 1.5 hour commute from my house. I've gotten over 70 rejection emails so far. Even applied to PA jobs but that is an even longer wait becuase of the out of state license issue. Can I really go from graduation to unemployment? Anyone have any advice. And please don't say nursing homes or LTC because I've tried this route already too. What is the problem? Is it the cost of all the first year of training? I would get a loan out to pay for my own first year of trainig. There are tons of jobs out there but no love for the new grad. Any advice? Anyone......

Hi, Just have to say that HURST is the best! I took my NCLEX on the 16th of February (last Wednesday), finished in 75 questions, 2 hours and found out Friday that I passed. I used NOTHING but HURST online review and the HURST NCLEX book. The audio and videos on the website are funny and brilliant in getting you to remember the information. It is worth every dime. I found the NCLEX book (from HURST on Amazon) to be a better synopsis of Medications and of things you just need to memorize than the '5th Day' segment of her online review. She also gives you 6 different online NCLEX style exams on the website which I felt were pretty close in difficulty to what I saw on the NCLEX test last week. I give her materials all the credit for helping me pass in 75. Hope that helps! All the best to you!

Hey numby1, Thanks for the info. I was really hoping for Jersey Shore since I am on the Ocean/Monmouth border. Getting into Brick and TR is not fun and JS is only 20 mins away. Plus having a sick child, I am very familiar with JS as well. I'm hoping to meet with an advisor shortly so I can register for a section soon. My kids are 5 (tomorrow!) and 2 - both boys. I think we'll be even better nurses given that we are already moms. Good luck to you! Keep in touch.

I just found out today that I am in the program as well! And am excited and terrified also. I have 2 small kids that I stay home with during the day and work at night in the computer field (been doing that for 8+ years) - so I am a newby to the medical profession too. I'm sure we'll all be way overwhelmed and then somehow pull it all together and get through. My letter didn't mention anything about choosing a professor? Did I miss something? Does anyone know how the hospitals are assigned or what hospitals have open programs for the spring? All the best!

Hey Tsangia, Congratulations! That is terrific. I've applied to ODPW Spring '09 and am taking my TEAS TOMORROW! So nervous. How did you do on the TEAS? Any advice? Hope to see you on Thursdays next semester:wink2:. Best wishes!