Should I be up front with the nurse recruiter about my CRNA intentions

tryingtohaveitall · Oct 25, 2008

While I wouldn't feel the need to hide my desire, I don't think there's any need to state for certainty that is what you'll be doing. A lot can happen to change plans and you wouldn't want that to be a reason they decide not to pursue hiring you.

OTOH, I would def check on tuition reimbursement programs. It's fine to say that you are interested in furthering your education as you gain experience and see how flexible and supportive they are.

GL!

slcpicu · Oct 26, 2008

In short, absolutely not. Hospital invest a lot of money on orientation and might not hire you if there is another person without your intentions of leaving. IMO

MB37 · Oct 26, 2008

Absolutely not. I am a new critical care nurse, and a classmate was told by the nurse recruiters (casually at a job fair) that mentioning that one was even interested in CRNA school was the "kiss of death" in an interview. In my interview for the position, I was asked about my 5 year plan. I simply said that right now I was interested in staying focused on becoming the best critical care nurse I could be. I mentioned that I had some interest in going to "grad school" eventually, but that I wasn't 100% sure what for. All true - I am currently planning on going to CRNA school, but we all know that life happens and plans can change. Later in the interview, she volunteered that nurses who are "only" in the ICUs to gain exp. for CRNA programs tend to be unsuccessful. I am absolutely sure that if I had been up front with her that I wouldn't have gotten the job. Don't lie either, but don't volunteer the information. If you are planning on working for at least a few years before applying, say something like what I did.

Riversurfer · Oct 26, 2008

Thanks for both of your respones. This begs another question: How to answer when a recruiter asks why I want to work in the ICU so badly? Besides differing numbers of patients to care for, why do you prefer to work in an ICU over med-surg? (I have not had my senior ICU rotation yet)

tryingtohaveitall · Oct 26, 2008

Have you done ICU time yet? If so and you enjoyed it, you can state that you like the intensity and being able to focus more closely on 1 or 2 patients.

Riversurfer · Oct 26, 2008

Absolutely not. I am a new critical care nurse, and a classmate was told by the nurse recruiters (casually at a job fair) that mentioning that one was even interested in CRNA school was the "kiss of death" in an interview. In my interview for the position, I was asked about my 5 year plan. I simply said that right now I was interested in staying focused on becoming the best critical care nurse I could be. I mentioned that I had some interest in going to "grad school" eventually, but that I wasn't 100% sure what for. All true - I am currently planning on going to CRNA school, but we all know that life happens and plans can change. Later in the interview, she volunteered that nurses who are "only" in the ICUs to gain exp. for CRNA programs tend to be unsuccessful. I am absolutely sure that if I had been up front with her that I wouldn't have gotten the job. Don't lie either, but don't volunteer the information. If you are planning on working for at least a few years before applying, say something like what I did.

Great advice! I suspected this to be the case. Thanks for the info.

BTW- What region of the country are you in, if you don't mind me asking? Fairly common to hire new grads into the ICU in your area/hospital?

Riversurfer · Oct 26, 2008

Have you done ICU time yet? If so and you enjoyed it, you can state that you like the intensity and being able to focus more closely on 1 or 2 patients.

Thank you. More one-on-one interaction; one of the reasons I decided to get into nursing in the first place.

slcpicu · Oct 27, 2008

Currently, I am in denver, co. I have worked in slc, ut and mississippi, all of which hired new grads into there ICUs and had excellent educaion programs for new grads. (peds and adult)

MB37 · Oct 28, 2008

I'm in FL, and everyone from my class who wanted to start in a specialty got into one. However, I went to an accelerated BSN program, so we all have two bachelor's degrees plus more life experience than many new nurses. Some people did have to compromise a little - they may not have been hired immediately into their dream unit at their dream hospital, but those of us who wanted critical care are working in it. I don't know about C students without great faculty recommendations though.

As far as why you want to work ICU...will you have had some experience in the units before you graduate/have to interview? I told my interviewer that while I didn't dislike my med-surg rotations, I loved the intensity and one-on-one time I got with my patients during my time in the units, and that I knew after my first few weeks that ICU nursing was for me. I think it's OK to say that you look forward to the challenge, and that you're type A and would much rather take care of 2 very sick patients very closely all day long than have 6 semi-stable pts on the floor and not be with them all the time. I know that even if something happens in my life and I never make it into CRNA school that I'll enjoy critical care nursing in some fashion or another for the rest of my career.

Riversurfer · Oct 28, 2008

will make a note of those places. thanks

Riversurfer · Oct 28, 2008

thanks. i feel like graduating with my BSN at age 30 with some life experience under my belt should aid in my getting an ICU position. grades are above average and very motivated. type A for sure and love a good challenge too.