manangmdrn

Thanks for all your suggestions! I did call the HR and asked whether it would be okay to resched the interview for the next day. The forecast was really bad (all day snowstorm). I could have gone to the interview but getting back home would really present a problem. It was okay. The next day, there was no more snowstorm, only nasty winds blowing the snow (we had about 2 feet, made worse by the wind). Had some problems with plowing the driveway. I called to warn I could be late, but eventually made it on time anyway. Good news is, I got the job offer the day after the interview! Now I gotta research about the experiences of those who work in LTCs. Thanks a bunch! I am sure I might encounter more such circumstances in the near future, as I just applied to two more hospitals (one 40 minutes away and another one hour away!), so your tips are really valuable, esp to someone like me who is new to this place and to winter driving. :)

I have kids and their school cancels classes during snowstorms. What will be the implications if I reschedule the interview? Or should I not reschedule? (In a previous interview at a hospital, I went ahead. Now, with a nursing home, I cancelled.) Of course, when I am already working and earning, I will make sure to make arrangements so my kids will be with an adult (whom I will pay) during such bad weather conditions so I can go to work. Any opinions? Tips? Similar experiences? Any input will be highly appreciated!

Annointed and Jolie, Thanks a bunch! I will keep it in mind to not emphasize the CNM. I do love all those aspects that you mentioned, Jolie, and I really am interested in sharpening my assessment and clinical skills, because I really want to be able to do more than catch a baby. Thank you for those specific tips on how I should answer during the interview. I really appreciate it a lot!

Hi all, I am a new RN and I applied for 2 positions at a local hospital - one in Birthing Center and another in Med/Surg. The listed requirements were the same for both, and I love OB-Gyn. I only applied for M/S because I was not sure if entry-level RNs are accepted in specialty areas without prior experience. Now I got an interview appointment for both, although the HR seemed to emphasize the Birthing Center. (There were no specifications as to L&D or R/PP or mother/baby.) So I presume that the birthing center position is really accepting new RNs. Am I right on this? If they do indeed accept entry-level RNs in birthing center, and if they have a good preceptorship program, have growth potentials that will lead to CNM, or WHNP, or CNS in OB-Gyn, then I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS JOB. Nothing else gives me the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction than being in the OB-Gyn area. Hence, I need your words of wisdom here. What should I expect and how should I prepare? Thank you very much in advance.

Wow, thanks a lot for that great tip, KatRN,BSN! I have always thought that the HR wanted every applicant to have a clear direction for career advancement, but I have known all along that I want to be a part of a company's growth (as long as that company does not restrict employees from voicing their ideas and suggestions for the overall improvement of the facility and the working conditions). I will be sure to use your suggestion on answering the "5-yr" question in my next interview at the second hospital. You might be in a community where there is a great shortage of nurses that you got job offers immediately. Here in my area, the greatest shortage is, as you said, bedside nursing (mainly Med/Surg, ER, and CCU), but I tend to believe there is a significant competition as well, so maybe the best approach really is to make the employer see that I will, under good circumstances and working conditions, stay within the company and actively participate in its expansion and growth.

Hello everyone, I badly need your advice. Here is the scenario: I applied online for M/S day shift - was told in email it was offered to another candidate. I browsed on their website other possible fit for a new RN like me without prior work experience and ended up applying for M/S/Tele night shift, Rehab, and Float pool. Got an interview with HR, where I said (for the q: how do you see yourself in 5 years?) that I would like to either be a CNM or FNP, and that I only liked to start in M/S (when asked which position I was pulled more into) because I believed it would prepare me better for any other specialty I might consider later on. Okay, fast forward, I got into second interview, with the nursing unit manager, and it went well. I was told they would call me for the next meeting, which I am anticipating to be a job offer, although I would not want to hope/expect too much (because I have read of a post about having very good interview then no more follow up). That 2nd interview was last Wednesday, and I was warned by some friends that HR usually plays it cool for a week, but I did not want to sit here being too comfortable expecting a job offer soon when there might be none, so I browsed again for other job ads and applied online last Friday at a nearby hospital. This second hospital had ads for OB-Gyn night shift (my first priority, given the chance to start there without experience) and Med/Surg day shift. I got a call this afternoon to set up an interview. Today also, I saw an ad for OB-Gyn day shift in the first hospital I applied to for M/S night. Now I want to submit application also for that position (I really liked the people there and the interviewers), BUT my first two interviews were over, and I am wondering whether I should call the HR to ask her if it was fine for me to apply for that position despite what I told her in the interview that I wanted exposure in M/S to develop competence. Should I ask her opinion on whether I, a new RN, should start in M/S before considering specialty areas or could I start right away in OB-Gyn (she knew I was planning towards that direction when I expressed interest in becoming a CNM). Should I wait until I get that call for the 3rd interview before I ask about the OB-Gyn position? (HR and unit manager both offered their numbers in case I have more questions to ask.) What do you suggest I do? I do not want to be seen as fickle-minded, but since many have started in specialty areas and had no problems gaining competence in their desired field, I am now also considering NOT spending my first year as a nurse in M/S (which I know I do not like). I like that first hospital not only because the working environment seemed very good, but it has a very good reputation (JCAHO certified and one of last years Best Places to Work in my state). I have yet to set an appointment with the second hospital so I do not have an idea yet of how the people there are. Your input will be highly appreciated.

hi pinoynp, you know, sometimes i feel like pm'ng you, :) but thought that maybe it is better to share here for everyone to see how my jobhunting experience is going. so here goes my story for everyone who might be interested to read... within 24 hours of the first interview i made a thank you letter (as adviced by the other threads here). then i called num at the earliest possible time monday morning, and was scheduled for interview wednesday morning. (i got cold when i realized i failed to bring extra copies of my resume and credentials that time, and hoped it would turn out alright.) got to the hospital 10 mins before the appt, was delayed a bit by the information/receptionist, but was able to be in the unit 5 minutes before the appointment, during which time the num was inserting an iv. i took the chance to use the rest room and check my appearance. :) i was accompanied to the num's office by one of the people at the station, and greeted in a very friendly manner by a surprisingly young (probably about my age) lady. i felt at ease at once. she had my resume in front of her (a print-out from my online application) and took note of my "extensive" background (extensive only in that aside from working as a gp, i had two years of working as quality assurance manager of a clinic which was required by international labor laws to have iso certification (much like jcaho) -- i.e., quality system -- in place for conducting medical exam of international seafarers, which the doh had extended to apply as well to other ofws.) i made it clear to her that i felt i was still in the beginner phase of qa (2 yrs) or even as a gp (about 3 years total years of practice). other than these, i worked as home-based mt (she thought i worked in ma where the office was located) while working on immigration issues and driver's license and nclex. (as a side note, this hospital was touted as one of the "2006 best places to work in me" and has jcaho certification.) she was saying she really did not quite know what else to ask me, so she invited me to ask questions. i reiterated questions on scheduling and she showed me their tabulation of self-scheduled duties, offered tips on having 4 nights in a row instead of staggering them throughout the week so as not to screw up my sleep pattern. told me some stories about some nurses who had been working there for several years, about a single parent who was asking for a 40-hr/wk sched, etc. (as if to imply -- or at least that was how i perceived it -- that their nurses were happy there and were comfortable with her, the manager). i asked about possible cross-training (say, in ob-gyn or ccu); and she said i would have to request for that later on. she mentioned that they had a float pool of rns and they were the ones being cross-trained in various specialty areas. i told her about my plans of getting experience in med-surg only for about a year then apply to another specialty. she had no problems with that plan of mine to "move on" in pursuing my personal career goal down the track. i asked if there was a possibility of me working during the day, and she said i had to wait for someone in day shift to leave and that i just had to keep checking for jobs online and apply accordingly. i asked again about n:p ratio, and she said it boiled down to 1:6 (it was a 30-bed unit; they have 24 px on the average). i asked if they had lpns, and was told there was usually 2 "licensed" and 4 cna's in a team (when i got home, i later on figured that the "licensed" must have meant lpns? am i correct? during the interview i thought it meant 2 "licensed" rns.). she said she was working on hiring more rns for the unit to lighten up the load. i asked about the preceptorship and clarified that it would be one-on-one. i asked about how long the training will be, and was told 6-8 weeks; could be longer or shorter depending on the rn's level of comfort/confidence. she asked me if i had bls training already, and i explained that i was supposed to have it this january but had to re-sched for feb because there were not enough attendees. she said they give bls training for free anyway, and that i just had to have it before sept and acls within 2 years (timeline probably had to do with quality audit scheds). (i guess that cpr requirement that initially hindered me from applying for the position was not an absolute requirement after all.) that's all i can remember from our conversation in the office, and when she asked me if there were more questions, i just said that right now there was none, but i was sure there would be more to come when i would be actually working there. then she offered a tour around the facility. she showed me the rooms; precautions carts; supplies room, how they kept track of individual needs and how they requested for replacement; "family room;" nurses' lounge; px snack room (where we would be preparing coffee/juice/water/snacks for patients or families); charting room; telemetry; etc. she told me they would be starting training in computerized charting, and that i was lucky that i would be starting my work without having to learn the old (manual) charting style, while they had to learn anew. all in all it was a very positive experience for my very first job interview in a very large hospital system, that i could not help but wonder if i sounded too presumptous when i asked questions and answered theirs as if there was an implied employer-employee relationship already (but i could not find a better way to answer). is that a normal feeling for anyone undergoing a second interview with the nursing unit manager (as in, do they really make a candidate feel very positive, only to be turned down later)? or do i have enough reasons to feel that i have a very good chance of being accepted given the above experience? (you do not have to answer these questions :) ; i am just merely voicing out what's in my head.) i was told to wait for a call from either her or the hr about the next meeting. i thanked her and left. that same day i made a thank you letter and mailed it. in the meantime, while waiting, i am not quite sure what the next phase will be all about. i am presuming there will be a job offer. if so, what should i expect to transpire during the meeting? how should i approach it? (sorry, i have not found a thread/website that answers specifically this phase in rn interviews.) what questions should i be prepared to ask? if you have some ideas, please share. also, if you think i should have asked some more questions during the first two interviews that i should ask on the third, please give advice as well. i feel now that i can relax a bit with this company, and am browsing and applying for other hospitals' job listings. after the very pleasant interview experience with that big hospital network, i feel like i am ready to face other interviewers (other hospitals near me are much smaller in comparison). i am so grateful to all those who have given tips, and to allnurses.com for being such a wonderful resource. additional input/insight welcome!

Hello all, I had my first interview with the HR last Friday (despite a snowstorm -- she said she appreciated my not cancelling. I thought it would not make a good impression if I canceled because of a bad weather. Appearing on time despite the bad weather ~ going to work on duty no matter what.) First I would like to thank you all for the useful tips. I had a business attire but wore slacks (that was the most I could do with the weather condition). Not only that I looked professional, but I also projected more confidence easier if dressed in such manner (the same way I did in my past experiences). I also browsed the net for other questions that may be asked and which I could ask. The employees there were all polite (maybe because of their quality policy? Or maybe they were really happy?) that I really felt relaxed during the entire interview. Even the recruiter/retention specialist was so not intimidating. She attested to her satisfaction as an employee in that she has been working there for 26 yrs now (also an RN). Questions/Issues I remember being asked/discussed: Which of the positions was I pulled more into (M/S/T vs Rehab), then she went to explain how each ward differed. We talked about the shift. How I see myself after 5 years. After giving my answer, she talked about how the direction of the hospital plans are going (as if to say that my career plans go with the hospital's growth direction). How I handle conflict (personal first then immediate supervisor). What to do when understaffed (prioritization and delegation; team nursing is what they do there, she said.) How I found the transition from being a MD to a RN (not much difference actually). I used this to express past experiences and limitations as a GP in PI. I asked about orientation, training (she said structured and individualized; usu. 12-wk), continuing education incentives (many in-house; reimbursement is available), scheduling, N:P ratio (1:8, RN working with CNAs; this is when fully trained). She gave me literature on hospital's Mission/Vision/Quality Policies, and the job description. I am about to set up another interview with the nursing unit manager. The HR would have arranged for the meeting that same day but NUM was not available. I got a message that afternoon for setting up the appointment but unfortunately I was out. Gotta call her early Monday morning for that. There is a possible facility tour. Need your help again on this. What should I expect during this meeting? What questions should I prepare to ask? What answers should I be prepared to give when questioned (i.e., what do they usually ask during this interview?). I browsed topics on Nursing Career Advice but there is not specific post on the interview with the nursing manager of a specific ward. Thanks a lot in advance!

That is exactly the reason why I posted above about this link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti-alien.pdf If you read that, it will give you exactly what the medical exam is all about, as instructed by the CDC to the panel physicians (MDs conducting med exam of visa applicants. More related information can be found here (including required vaccinations): http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel.htm I hope that helps. :)

pinoyNP, Thank you so very much for the very useful tips (and the encouragement)! You have answered more than what I have posted. A friend of mine told me about looking for a day shift, because during that time, I would have more learning opportunities (vs night shift), so that was the reason I first applied for that position, which was given to another applicant. But I was wondering how the orientation/preceptorship would be, and if I would be left on my own (without much mentoring) if I were indeed accepted for that position. You have just answered my un-posted question -- that I will have orientation on days. Thanks for the tip about requesting for a day position when one opens. I was really worried on whether I will learning anything during the night shift, and the only reason I applied for that position was to try to get into the system and get my foot on the door. So I really appreciate the advice you gave. I have started browsing the other threads you suggested and I am learning a lot! I now wish I had done things differently from the day I received my ATT! Five years from now I am also seeing myself as a nurse practitioner, although I am not quite sure what type will be in high demand in my area. I will do more research (in allnurses) on that later. Again, thanks a bunch!

Hello lawrence, pinoyNP, and suzanne, First off, thank you for all the tips/insights that I have found very reassuring and informative (for someone like me who has absolutely no clue on how to start in this new career). Okay, I left my resume at the nearest hospital (15 mins away) in Skowhegan, ME, and applied online (the only way to apply there) at the next nearest hospitals, both in Waterville, ME (30 mins away). There is another hospital 22 mins away which I am considering applying to but there are no ads for RN aside from those for LTC. Based on the above posts, I am putting LTC positions as a lower priority as I don't feel it is the best area to get my first experience in. Today I got a positive response from one of those in Waterville where I applied for Med/Surg/Tele positions, and one Rehab position. I was asked to schedule an interview. I am predicting it will involve, among other issues, choosing which one - Med/Surg or Rehab. Based on the above discussions, it seems that Med/Surg will be the best option. However, the position is for night shift (36 hr/wk, e/o wkend and holidays) as the day shift was already given to another applicant (I also applied for that previously). As for the walk-in resume submission at the nearest hospital, I decided to follow up today at 12 noon with an e-mail, also saying that I left my resume last Friday at the recptionist. I plan to call later this afternoon to follow up on my application. I have not set an appt with the hosp in Waterville. Any input as to what I should expect: 1. during the interview? 2. during the night shift? (what am I really getting into?) 3. specifics on Med/Surg (usual cases, usual tasks, etc.) The reason I like the one in Skowhegan is because it is nearest, and I already know some Filipino doctors, a PT and a nurse working there, so it would be like family to me. I have met them briefly, and they all seem to be very down-to-earth and have really, really pleasant personalities. I also like the one in Waterville because it is not too far away (30 mins) and the thing that sets it above the former is that it is a larger institution - so many potential for growth. Any reactions? Further advice? I feel so inept at this time. Thank you so very much in advance!

PinoyNP, Thanks a lot for your reassuring words. I badly needed that. Sorry I was kinda late in replying...maybe I posted my last reply at the same time you posted yours... I am seeing more jobs for home health care or long-term care...but I applied (online) to some Med/Surg/Tele positions and Rehab...not sure if these are the right moves. I tried to drop my resume at the nearest hospital but the receptionist told me she would forward it (make sure it will reach) to the HR...I am getting paranoid that she might just be getting nosey and might be saying something bad to the HR (like she might say I had a bad attitude. I have read some HR likes to ask the receptionist about the attitudes of applicants) Well I was very polite, but I can't help being paranoid. I will try to follow up on Tue (coz Monday is a holiday). If I will not get accepted there, I will be desperate enough to consider working somewhere more than 30 mins away from my house). Many of the jobs require CPR, but I went ahead and applied, saying that I am scheduled to take the CPR Professional Rescuer Class (by ARC) this Feb (or March, if there isn't enough attendees). In relation to the above posts, should I consider applying to graduate nurse position? There is a hospital 1 hr away that posted that. Am I selling myself too short?

Lawence01, Thank you very much for the info, links and the encouragement! I am on my way now to the nearest hospital to submit my resume! :)

I am a permanent resident already when I took the NCLEX. Now that I am licensed, I am quite nervous because I never really had any experiences working as a nurse. I am not even sure how I should prepare my resume when I had minimum to say about nursing experience...While my experiences as an MD (GP lang po) may wow any layperson and make them think that I should be hired right away, I can't truly say that I feel qualified/prepared enough for the positions that I see are available around my area. Sometimes I can't help but think that being in PI and passing the NCLEX would open up many wonderful and better opportunities, but I already have a house/home and a wonderful community here (Maine), and I really do not want to relocate. Bottomline, I want to work somewhere near me, but I am not too confident that I would be accepted. If I had known these hospitals around here accepted graduate nurses as they prepare for ATT (with the requirement to pass the NCLEX within 90 days), I would have gone through that even as I reviewed for NCLEX. Now I have a license, but I do not have any experience! Any advice? words of encouragement? I fee horrible...

Here is a link to the Technical Instructions to Panel Physicians for Medical Examinations of Aliens http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti-alien.pdf Panel physicians are the doctors in Manila's US embassy who conduct the med ex. (In contrast, civil surgeons are the doctors authorized by the USCIS to conduct med exam on aliens in the US/permanent residents.) Read the whole thing so you understand what the purpose of the med exam is. The whole point is to (1) protect the public from communicable diseases and (2)to avoid letting in people who will potentially be a burden to the government (e.g., psychos, drug addicts). After you read it, you will have a fair gauge of where you stand, and what to do is you have some medical problems.