SICU shadow after interview, advice/tips to impress for new grad

Specialties MICU

Published

I'm a new grad RN (already licensed, yay!) and have been invited to have a shadow experience after my interview last week. I am really excited about this opportunity and would love to land this job...it would be a dream (as well as a lot of hard work!)

I know this is strictly observation and that I am a "newbie," but I want the nurses that I will potentially be working with to know that I am competent and truly interested as well as show I can be a valuable and fun part of the team.

Any advice from those of you who currently work in SICU?

I'm not trying to be someone I'm not, clearly I know that I am new and do not know everything; however I'm up for the challenge of this position and I want to portray that.

Many thanks in advance!!

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I also shadowed on a Critical Step Down unit. I think they mostly want to know if you are going to work well with the other nurses and if you feel after your shadow if this is the unit for you. Just be yourself, ask good questions, and try to get good insight into what working on that unit would be like. I re-stated some things my nurse did like oh yeah just had to study all this for the Nclex. You would be surprised how much is fresh in your mind after just taking your boards. I also asked my nurse how he felt the unit would fit with a new grad. Afterwards I e-mailed them about my experience and how I still thought I would be a good fit. In the end I got the job!! :)

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Specializes in CCRN, ALS, BLS, PALS.

Here are a few tips. First off make sure you ask alot of questions, it will show that you are truely interested in the unit, but definitely dont be OVER inquisitive, example- asking things you already know just to "look" like you are interested. Another thing that I see alot of new grads entering a more critical care area is that they try to "impress" the preceptors with their knowledge. Alot of them act like they know something when really they only have a shallow depth of knowledge on a subject. It is very important to be confident but not cocky. If they try to offer you information about a subject, let them talk, dont just say "I already knew that.", just to make it look like you know whats going on.

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Thank you for your help! I shadowed last week and used many of your tips. I got the offer and accepted today!!!

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