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hey candynThanks for your response. I am a new grad btw. The dread is definitely not the work or knowledge base behind it. Dont get me wrong, there are many times I dont know what to do or need help and I ask. The problem is I have to be choosy with who I ask cause some coworkers look at that as a weakness or make negative comments about it.So i think its more the environment. I work nightshift and its very understaffed. There are many nights nurses have to triple (have 3 patients) and I think its discouraging going to work and wondering how bad is it going to be tonight.

Thanks for your responses so far to both of you.@Esme: Like I said in my original message, Im totally aware that the "stepping stone" viewpoint isnt the best. I can reassure you though that I love learning and I do believe pharmacology is a strongpoint of mine.Going back to how my co workers act toward me: You might be partially correct with how they perceive my motivation or etc. Thats just my normal personality though. I come off as a boring person to most people. Im overall very quiet and just stoic most of the time.The way they act toward me is more what Id refer to be as unprofessional. Most of the people......actually i think the only people Im referring to are the other male nurses. They just seem to have the need to belittle me to make themselves feel better or to be the " alpha male". Coming out of nursing school, I visioned everybody would be very helpful, supportive, and a team player. I do have that in my unit, but just not with everyone. Thanks

Hey all, I've been a nurse now for only about seven months, and I was luckily hired into a CVICU. I'm really inquisitive, and I love to learn. However, there are many days that I just dread work or just don't have the motivation to work at all ? Don't get me wrong, there are just as many days I enjoy what I'm doing. I just always have the question in the back of my mind "Did I choose the right job?" Is this normal to ask yourself this (I'm only 24 y/o btw)? There is a part of me that feels like I'm using my time in the ICU as a stepping stone to CRNA school. That doesn't mean I'm not taking my job seriously. I know it's better to not look at my icu expereince in that manner, but I cannot help it because I'm ready to go back to school already?. 1 ) Is it normal to have these thoughts? I just don't know if this is what i want to continue to do in life, but being a CRNA is or can be totally different I'd assume? 2 ) Also, how important is your experience in the icu before you go to CRNA school? Is it more for the knowledge or for technical skills or what? PS: I don't know if I have these doubts or negative thoughts about being an icu nurse because I don't get along with my coworkers as well as I'd like (I feel like they are condescending and I get "picked" on due to my lack of inexperience as a nurse). It could be my depression/anxiety issues. Maybe a combination of these things? Thanks in advance.

Thanks to all that replied to my thread. It is greatly appreciated. I'll try to let you all know how it went.

I'll try to keep it short . Graduated in May and now officially licensed. I finally got my first interview in a CVICU in a very nice hospital down in Panama City, Florida (I'm from TN), and I'm really looking forward to this because it's what I want to do. I've been doing a lot to try to prepare for this. I have a document with several possible interview questions which I'll post last , so please feel free to add more. I saw a great link on this site with many questions too that I'll look into later. 1) I've been told and read to do research on the hospital that you're applying for. I know this is helpful in asking them questions and showing them how interested I really am. Well, I've been doing that a little, but what exactly am I looking for? What kind of questions about the hospital should I be able to answer in an interview? 2) How many copies of my resume/cover letter should I take? I have to meet with the HR representative, the nurse manager of the CVICU, and the chief nursing officer of the hospital (they said I had to because I'm out of state). Got a nice outfit for the interview and all of that good stuff. I just have to finish putting together my portfolio from nursing school and print stuff out on "nice" paper. 3) Anything else I need to be reminded of besides basic interview skills. Here is my list of questions I'm preparing. Feel free to suggest more. Thanks in advance for any response. Questions to answer: 1) Strengths/Weaknesses? 2) Time management/organization? 3) Core values of the hospital? Answer questions about hospital. Why that hospital? 4) Why they should hire me? 4) How to handle stressful situations or how you would react? 5) What would prevent you from being able to perform on the job? 6) How do you handle mistakes? Ever made one? 7) How would you describe yourself? 8) Hardest decision you've ever made? 9) Tell us about yourself? (Talk about future, goals, professional aspirations, other interests) 10) Most difficult situation encountered and how you handled it. 11) Personalities you struggle with. 12) How would you describe your skills as a team player? 13) How you deal with difficult doctors, patients, and families? 14) How do you deal with unexpected circumstanced such as being short staffed and performing treatments you haven't done before" To ask: 1) Orientation program - length, classroom teaching 2) Qualities of a successful candidate 3) Continuing education opportunities/classes? (Professional development opportunities) 4) How often do nurses get floated to other units? 5) Scheduling? 6) Nurse to patient ratio? Support staff on the unit for nurses? Thanks for reading.

Hey all, I just recently graduated with my BSN, and I also am happy to say I have passed my NCLEX. I am currently now in the search for a job. My "dream job" is to work in critical care or an ICU, but I know it's hard to get a job in those areas as a new grad. So, I've been realistic about applying for another position. I just discovered a telemetry position in a city I'm just dyiing to live in. However, I do have some concerns/questions. 1) My biggest concern is how do I answer the question: Why do you (i.e. me) want to be a telemetry nurse? The honest answer is so I can get my "foot in the door" to transfer to the ICU? I wouldn't say that in an interview right? How could I answer that question appropriately/professionally? 2) Do telemetry nurses have direct patient contact or is it simply just watching monitors (forgive me for my lack of knowledge of telemetry)? I know telemetry would be a GREAT learning experience, and it would help prepare me well for an ICU. I love to learn, and I really want to become an expert with EKGs. I'm also really wanting to become ACLS certified. Thanks in advance for any responses!