RN interview for my nursing class...

86toronado, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2010

1.what kind of education or training did you undergo for your nurses career?

i got my associate's degree in nursing, and since i started working i have gotten further training in ekg interpretation, and critical care nursing

2.why did you decide to pursue the career of nursing?

i was working in a job that didn't require a whole lot of brains, but i enjoyed the problem solving aspects of it. i realized i wanted to do something that would challenge me more intellectually, but still require me to think on my feet. i decided on nursing because the entry to the field is only a two year degree, vs. the 3-5 years it would have taken me to become a pa.

3.what kinds of tasks do you in a typical day?

there are the basic things i do every single day, such as give medications, assess my patients, and draw blood and place iv's. there are also the tasks that require more thinking, such as when i evaluate lab values, interpret cardiac rhythms, and communicate changes in my patient's status to the healthcare team. then there are the very basic things i do: make sure my patients are comfortable, keep them from accidentally harming themselves (i work on a neuro unit - lots of confused people). i think a full list of tasks that any nurse does on a typical day would be impossible to give, because there is no such thing as a typical day!

4.are you a member of any professional organizations? what kind of involvement do you have in this organization?

i am a member of the new york state nurse's association, and the ana. i am one of the nysna delegates for my unit, which means i am responsible for communicating news from the association to the rn's on my floor, as well as giving feedback from them to our nysna representatives.

5.how do you use new research in your practice? how do you stay current with new information?

i rely on the nurse educators at my hospital to provide me with the information that i need to stay current. because i work on a neuro unit, i am required to complete a certain number of hours of stroke education per year. i also use allnurses.com:) to see what is going on in the world of nursing outside my little piece of it!

6.how has the nursing shortage impacted your practice?

that's a touchy subject. if you look around here on allnurses.com, you will see that many of us believe that there is no nursing shortage, only a shortage of nurses who are willing to work in the conditions which are currently present in most healthcare settings.

7.describe some stress factors in your work environment. how do you cope with these demands and how do you avoid burnout?

i am very lucky to work in a collaborative environment, where i rarely have to ask for help from my colleagues, because it is usually offered before i even ask. that said, the most stress i experience at work is when i have to deal with md's who are not receptive to my concerns for my patient. because i work nights, i am usually calling the on-call md who generally does not know the patient, and is therefore not that interested in hearing my concerns. fortunately this doesn't apply to the neurological patients that i usually take care of; the neuro team is great where i work. it's more when we get the occasional medical patient admitted to our floor that this happens. as far as how i deal with the stress? i work 12's, so i only have to be there 3 days a week. since i don't have children, i have a very stress free environment at home, so i use my time off to decompress from work.

allie_mae · Oct 14, 2010

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out!

KateRN1 · Oct 14, 2010

1. What kind of education or training did you undergo for your nurses career?

I started with an ASN then completed a BSN, plus Certification as an OASIS Specialist (COS-C) and case management.

2. Why did you decide to pursue the career of nursing?

I wanted to be a nurse as long as I can remember, from my earliest childhood. I've never known why, only that it's what I was meant to do.

3. What kinds of tasks do you in a typical day?

I am a Clinical Manager/Supervisor at a medium-sized home health care agency. I manage full- and part-time RNs, LPNs, Physical and Occupational Therapists, home health aides, and a team of around 100 patients. I schedule staff for visits, make sure that patients get the kinds of care they need, follow up on problems or issues, and also see patients after hours and on weekends. I take call about once a month or so, sometimes more sometimes less. I assist with the development and implementation of patient care plans. I review OASIS documentation for consistency and completeness and assist nurses who are new to home care with all the Medicare rules and regulations.

4. Are you a member of any professional organizations? What kind of involvement do you have in this organization?

American Nurses Association, Florida Nurses Association, Home Healthcare Nurses Association, International Home Care Nurses Association

5. How do you use new research in your practice? How do you stay current with new information?

That's a bit tricky. Very little research is geared towards homecare but occasionally I find articles that are pertinent. I subscribe to several email lists and regularly request information from several sources that I pass around the office.

6. How has the nursing shortage impacted your practice?

The nursing shortage is a myth. There is no shortage of nurses. Just ask the thousands of new grads who cannot find that first position. However, there is a shortage of *experienced* nurses in some areas. Not in Northeast Florida, though. The competition here is fierce.

7. Describe some stress factors in your work environment. How do you cope with these demands and how do you avoid burnout?

The drive from marketing and upper management (non-clinical) who want to admit everything short of a ham sandwich is probably my biggest stress, but we still have to meet Medicare guidelines. Then there's trying to manage clinicians and get them to turn their paperwork in within time. Having 14 hours worth of work to do and 8 hours to get it done, I end up working extra hours (and I'm salaried, so no extra pay) or taking work home. Accusations of inability to manage time effectively by those who don't understand that it simply can't get done in that time frame is another big stress. I can't say that I'm avoiding burnout, more like facing it every day. I escape to Starbucks once or twice a week, eat a lot of chocolate. I tried to do Yoga weekly but schedule doesn't allow it much. I used to get up early every morning and walk but lately would rather have that extra 45 minutes of sleep. I'm hoping that one day something will click. But I'd still rather do this than most anything else.

Good luck with your homework!

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2010

Hello! I am having to do an interview for my intro to nursing class, and I do not know any nurses.. I would appreciate it so much if someone wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me! I will use an anonymous name, and I will be writing a paper comparing your answers with nursing journals. The questions are...
1. What kind of education or training did you undergo for your nurses career?
I got my BSN as a second degree. I went to school for Pre-Law but decided against law school because I found the pre-law classes extremely boring. Since I really wanted to understand the way hospitals worked, I decided to take a weekend job as a unit secretary in Labor and Delivery while in school. This helped me TREMENDOUSLY because I was able to learn medical terminology and abbreviations. When I completed the first year of nursing school, I then qualified for a CNA position on the Gyn/Onc unit. I got tons of hands on experience and got to know many of the nurses and docs at the hospital.
2. Why did you decide to pursue the career of nursing?
My mother, a cancer researcher, was diagnosed with renal small cell cancer. By the time she was symptomatic, it was already at Stage IV. Her hospice nurse was my hero. I wanted to have an impact on others like she had on my family. I immediately enrolled in nursing school when I returned home from her funeral. Mom would have been proud at my graduation.
3. What kinds of tasks do you in a typical day?
I work in the OR, so I mostly assist the surgeons in what they need to do procedures. I scrub and circulate. Sometimes I am charge. I make sure we have the correct supplies in the room, make sure that sterility is ensured at all times, assist the surgeon with the surgery itself by holding retractors, handing off instruments and trying to keep my mouth shut! I also read the patient's chart pre-operatively, check labs, consents, current histories. I interview the patient, calm their fears and hold their hand during induction. I assist anesthesia with induction and whatever else they may need during the surgery.
4. Are you a member of any professional organizations? What kind of involvement do you have in this organization?
I am a member of AORN. I use my membership to check on correct policies and recommended practices. I also use my membership to advance my learning and prepare for certifications. I love their journals.
5. How do you use new research in your practice? How do you stay current with new information?
Luckily enough, I work at a teaching hospital where new research is brewing in the very building I am working in! I ask the surgeons questions, they direct me to journals and papers that are a wealth of information. My nurse educator is great at keeping me informed of new practices and holds monthly in-services for education on various topics. We also attend medical conferences sponsored by local hospitals.
6. How has the nursing shortage impacted your practice?
I am not sure there is a nursing shortage in the city I live in. I have noticed that we are usually understaffed, but the reasons are many, and I doubt it is because there are no nurses in my area.
7. Describe some stress factors in your work environment. How do you cope with these demands and how do you avoid burnout?
Since I work at a teaching hospital as previously mentioned, the attending surgeons get really stressed out when they have a new resident to teach. Sometimes the tension in the room is palpable. If we don't have everything in the room that we are supposed to prior to the surgery starting, there is HECK to pay. The nurses get yelled at, no matter who is at fault. If we are not paying attention to the surgical field at all times, there is a heavy price to pay. Sharps and needlesticks are an added risk in the OR. Working without a break for hours on end is stressful in itself. Poor management effects us. I avoid burnout by talking to my patient husband (who is also in the medical field) about my worries. I also take ONE day a week to do NOTHING. If I don't do this, I will crash and burn quickly. I also make sure to take a yearly vacation-two if I can.
Thank you so much!!

Hope this helps!

robby5313 · Oct 15, 2010

1. What kind of education or training did you undergo for your nurses career?

I first recieved my LPN and then went on for a 1 year LPN to RN program

2. Why did you decide to pursue the career of nursing?

I have always been fascinated with health care and really always admired nurses

3. What kinds of tasks do you in a typical day?

My day varies. I could be setting up phototherapy for a jaundiced baby, performing newborn health assessments, following up on a child with a feeding tube or a PICC or central line. Doing dressing changes on a PICC or central line. Teaching a parent how to use an enteral pump or infusion (IV) pump or alot of other various things

4. Are you a member of any professional organizations? What kind of involvement do you have in this organization?

Pediatric Nursing Certification

5. How do you use new research in your practice? How do you stay current with new information?

We receive information from the hospital that we are affiliated with.

6. How has the nursing shortage impacted your practice?

Truly I cannot say that we are affected. We have nurses that quit, but usually we have another one hired shortly

7. Describe some stress factors in your work environment. How do you cope with these demands and how do you avoid burnout?

Trying to get from one visit to another in a short period of times can be stressful. Trying to get your home visits done so you can move on to the next one. You just have to try to be as efficient as possible and be organized. Know what you have to do before you start the visit. I relax with my co-workers when we get back to the office and we tell alot of jokes!

Thank you so much!!

allie_mae · Nov 14, 2010

Thanks for helping me out!! I ended up using mostly canesdukegirl's information, but I kind of worked everyone's experiences in. I ended up making a 97, so I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to y'all.

az_2995 · Mar 25, 2011

Hello Everyone ! I have to do an interview for my intro to nursing class, I would be happy if someone answer This Three Quiestion .

1- Discribe the nurse's perception of workplace bullying/ harassment? what if anything does he/her do to handle bullying behavior in the workplace?

2- How do you Stay Current with new information?

3 - Describe how the nursing shortage has impacted his/her practice

Thankyou in advance.