I was just talking to my cousin who's been a nurse for about 10 years or so. She's your hard core med/surg ICU nurse. I was talking to her about how I hate my current job that I'm in (research) and am in school now for my MSN in Nursing Education and would love to work as a CNS at this particular hospital that I applied for.
This particular hospital is an inner-city, high risk population. The CNS job is in OB. I have 5 years OB experience with moderate to high risk, but not inner city. I was telling her how I don't mind high risk but don't necessarily "like" the high risk patients; I don't know if I am explaining this right. But basically she told me I'd be doing a disservice to the patients if I were the CNS because I don't really prefer that population. Now I feel guilty. Is that true?
I mean, I love OB and love labor patients - I love labor and delivery and love the high risk preterm stuff. In fact pre term labor is my forte. But every job has it's aspects that is crappy and L&D's is drug addicted moms. Would I be a bad CNS in that hospital?
Now that the interview is scheduled, I'm nervous. I've never interviewed for such a position before. I want to do well.
Any tips?
It appears there are two CNSs on this large unit: one for L&D and one for mom/baby/nursery. I have been cross-trained in all areas but NICU. I hope that's not a downfall.
Ask questions and, if possible, look at the detailed job description so you can make an informed decision. Interviews work both ways, they're interviewing you for the position, and you're interviewing them as an employer. You may also want to ask about the compatibility of work and school schedules.
Good luck with the interview, Suzy. Having been a neonatal CNS for 14 years in a variety of different settings ... I say, "If the job feels right to you after you have seen the place, talked to your prosective new colleagues, etc., then go for it." It's really a "gut level" issue and besides, you won't really have lost much if it doesn't work out in the long run. You will have gotten some valuable experience and learned a lot.
The situation reminds me a one I was in many years ago, working as a neonatal CNS in Charleston, SC. The Head Nurse and I were both white and from the North. Some of our impoverished, African-American patients would not accept anything we said in regards to discharge planning, teaching about caring for their babies at home, etc. They would just tune us out and ignore us because to them, we came from a different world. Fortunately, we had a team of African-American LPN's who would reinforce our teaching -- sometimes even scolding our patients vigorously (like a mother would) for not listening to us. "How dare you not pay attention to her! She was just trying to help you keep your baby safe! You better start growing up fast because you have a child to take care of now!" etc. So, a lot of our efforts were directed to supporting those LPN's in THEIR influential teaching role and helping THEM to help the patients we could not reach.
Sometimes, as a CNS, you have to help the patients indirectly rather than do everything yourself. But that doesn't mean you can't help those patients with whom you may have trouble establishing that connection.
Suzy, I don't know if you've had the interview yet, but if you haven't, good luck, and if you have, then I hope you get the job (if you want it ). I think it sounds like an interesting job.
Q.
2,259 Posts
Psst.
I got an interview. Yay. :)