mcinjg28

Hi friends! I am a BSN with almost 5 yrs bedside ICU experience. I am interviewing for an ICU educator position with my current hospital next week, full time for two ICUs at sister hospitals. Does anyone have tips for this type of interview or questions to ask? How important is a portfolio? I am new to the educator role but am passionate about continuing education especially with how many new grads our ICUs have. We haven't had an ICU educator since before I was hired (about 2 yrs ago). I know what I would like to offer based on the education I've received at my previous employer, but how do you start from the ground up? I've already successfully scheduled balloon pump education with the machine representative for us. I am on the unit council and education & professional development committees. What is something you would do differently for ICU education?

Got my app in on 5/30! The at-home proctoring of the GRE has very little availability this month, FYI. Good luck to everyone!

Nope, I live in WI. GPA 3.3, ICU x4yrs (2yrs cardiac & medical, 2yrs level 2 trauma/neuro & medical), CCRN, taking the GRE in April.

Thanks so much for the info!

Yep, working on my application! Anyone know why they extended the application deadline the last couple of years?

All that's left for me to strengthen it is work in a nursing home or hospital. That's what she told me before I applied. I went from home health to working in group homes, I guess it wasn't enough. Let the job search begin!

I didn't get in I will be reapplying though.

Well I guess it's best to establish my opinions before I become an RN, lol. I just want to do the right thing. One of my coworkers at that house was in attendance at the meeting when this was brought up. She also doesn't agree with it. She has chosen to not speak up. I left her name out of the email to the admin coord. I feel the need to draw attention to it. I'm glad though that I'm not the only one who recognizes the absurdity of the managers comment. I just hope the admin coord does too.

The only time she is not accompanied by house staff is when she is at work. The place she works at with her bf is also an environment with other mentally and physically disabled adult employees. And rest assured, all decisions have been made jointly with her guardian/adoptive mother who is very supportive of her independence, i.e. let her move away from home to an exciting, albeit unfamiliar, new place just 2.5 years ago. It's the birth family we worry about. And the bf has ties to the birth family. I absolutely want to help and not contribute to any negativity. I whole heartedly believe it is wrong to "remind her she is disabled" regardless of how she got that way. I emailed the admin coordinator (who is 3 steps up in the chain of command) about the house managers notes and how I felt about it. I haven't received a response yet. I'm sure you'd all like to hear what happens; I'll keep you updated. Thanks for all your input, I wasn't expecting such a debate!

If he visits the house they have to stay in the common areas. This is common practice on all the homes I work in when the consumers have a boyfriend/girlfriend. They play football together for Special Olympics, see each other at work, went swimming by his house this summer. As of now there are no plans for them to be alone with the opportunity for physical relations.

Thank you for your responses! She is 25 with the mental capacity of a 16-18 year old. she is in the community working different jobs on a daily basis but cannot ride the city bus by herself. She does not need assistance with personal cares and can make simple meals by herself. Safety is our #1 priority with her. In the past she has given her phone number to strange men and also sent inappropriate pictures. She is not allowed her own cell phone or Internet access. All visits with her boyfriend and birth family are supervised. There is a history of physical/sexual abuse by the birth family. We encourage her to be as independent as possible. I just don't know how to handle the situation with the house manager. She's not an RN. I'll be calling a supervisor Monday morning to see what he thinks. Clearly, telling the consumer why she is disabled is the wrong way to discourage her drinking. She hasn't yet, but the boyfriend has talked about it. During visits we redirect the conversation if drinking or drugs come up.

I am a CNA working in CBRFs and group homes. In this particular home we have an adult female with FAS. She was adopted at a young age and just in the last year has had limited, supervised contact with her birth mom/family. She also has a boyfriend. Her boyfriend has recently been talking to her about drinking and partying. The group home staff is concerned about this behavior as she seeks approval from males. I went into work today and read the notes from the last staff meeting (I'm a float and don't get to all staff meetings as I work at 8 different homes). The home manager stated that if she brings up drinking we should remind her that she is disabled because her mom drank while she was pregnant with her. I feel extremely uncomfortable saying this to her, so is one of the regular staff at that house. Should I bring this up to a supervisor? Is this a legitimate concern? I think it's incredibly insensitive and don't think she would even understand if we did say this to her. Help! I need advice.

Sarah, I hope we both get in! I don't know how many get a phone interview either. They said they were getting down to the end though. I'll post on here when I hear either way! You do the same? I'm nervous too! I read on here about other's interviews and they said they didn't get much feedback like during a face-to-face interview. I felt mine went very well and had great feedback. How do you feel yours went? Good luck! Jillian

I felt my phone interview went very well. It's nerve wracking playing the waiting game now though. I had my email interview 9/23 and found out I was on to the phone interview 10/4. It took me a few tries to get it scheduled, I just had it 11/9. They said they were getting towards the end of phone interviews. They have a hard deadline of 1/30 but expect to know towards the end of December. I don't know about credits being too old, I graduated college in 2006 and mine all count. They also want to know about your CNA experience though and how you've prepared for the program. I did see a "regular" accelerated nursing program in the state that won't take credits over 5 yrs old though. This program seems to be my best bet.

Kristy, Thank you and good luck to you too! Don't worry about the TEAS. The scores are due about a month after the application deadline. And it's pretty easy :) Jillian