VCUHS New Graduate RN Residency

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I was wondering if any new grads have interviewed recently or in the past for the residency program with VCU Health System. This Friday I interviewed with an external human resources nurse recruiter that went very well. She told me she wanted to leave my application/resume with as many units as possible to get the interview process started and give me a chance to job shadow a few of my options. I did my preceptorship in the CCU and am hoping to stay along ICU lines. Anyway, just wondering if anyone has had experience with this particular interview/hiring process! Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks!

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Hi @BoRN17 I live out of state so I'm scheduled for a phone interview instead. Was it a difficult interview, what kind of questions can I expect? Do u have any tips that can help me? It's my first interview so I'm very nervous.

Would you happen to know how many new grads they will be hiring, and can new grads be hired into the ICU?

Also, if you don't mind me asking. Have you already taken the board exam? What are your qualifications? Are you in-state? I'm worried they might not want to hire an out-of-state candidate.

I apologize for bombarding you with so many questions. Just nervous.

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Well first, congratulations on landing an interview!!! I'm sorry I'm getting back to you so late. Is your phone interview with HR? Where would you be traveling from for an in-person interview with management?

To answer your questions, I've gone through both the HR interview and so far one interview with a manager in the MRICU. YES, new grads can be hired into the ICU in the VCU Health System. The unit I interviewed for last week is looking to bring on about 5!! Both interviews were behavioral questions, never any clinical-based questions so don't be nervous about that. I would say do some online searches about behavioral interview questions. They want to know about your character, how you handle conflict, examples of how you've solved problems and communicated with others. It's also very important to be able to express that you function effectively as a member of a team and that you have leadership qualities. ALSO, come ARMED with clinical examples of conflicts you may have had and how you went about resolving them, times where you worked effectively as a team member, etc. Have lots of questions as well!!!!

I have taken boards and passed in July. I would say the one experience that I feel is a prerequisite for me is having completed my senior practicum in the CCU. I am in state, and live about 30 minutes outside of Richmond actually. As far as your concern for being hired out-of-state, where are you licensed?

Overall, do some research on questions during nursing interviews, copy them down, and have in your mind what you'd like to say. If you like some sites I visited, or have any other questions, just let me know! Best of Luck!

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Thank you for the very helpful tips and yes, I would appreciate if you could list the websites you visited to practice for your interview :) So far, I have had one phone interview with the HR dept. My resume was forwarded to two of the ICUs, but it's been two weeks and I still haven't heard anything. I'm about to go nuts. I will be traveling in from California when I'm granted an interview. I'm planning to take the NCLEX in the coming weeks. I have sooo many questions lol, but I'm just hoping I get called for an interview in any of the ICUs first. Keeping that hope and staying sane have been challenging, though.

Congratulations on your interview with the MRICU manager. Please allow me to tap into that blessing :). Have you received any formal offer yet?

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Thank you for the very helpful tips and yes, I would appreciate if you could list the websites you visited to practice for your interview :) So far, I have had one phone interview with the HR dept. My resume was forwarded to two of the ICUs, but it's been two weeks and I still haven't heard anything. I'm about to go nuts. I will be traveling in from California when I'm granted an interview. I'm planning to take the NCLEX in the coming weeks. I have sooo many questions lol, but I'm just hoping I get called for an interview in any of the ICUs first. Keeping that hope and staying sane have been challenging, though. Congratulations on your interview with the MRICU manager. Please allow me to tap into that blessing :). Have you received any formal offer yet?
Oh my goodness! I can't believe you're coming all the way from California!!! Trust me though, I know how you feel about staying sane and patient with this whole process!!! It's so hard to be on someone else's time! However, I have received a formal offer and accepted approximately one week after my interview! It was funny because the manager had a great poker face and I really didn't know if I was what she really wanted, but when I sent my thank you letter via email that night and a part of her response included "I hope you'll consider joining our team", I knew I had it! Such a great feeling! So speaking of thank you letters and good feelings, here's a list of resources I hope will give you just that! The first two links are the best!!!! Good luck on NCLEX and I hope you get everything you're looking for! Let me know if there's anything else I can help you out with!http://nursing.jhu.edu/life-at-hopkins/center/documents/interview_guide.pdfhttps://www.southern.edu/careers/Documents/Nursing%20Interview%20Question.pdfhttp://www.nursezone.com/recent-graduates/recent-graduates-featured-articles/New-Grad-Interviewing-Tips-How-to-Make-the-Right-Impression_20110.aspxhttp://www.nursezone.com/recent-graduates/recent-graduates-featured-articles/What-are-Hiring-Managers-Looking-for-in-New-Nurse-Graduates_20152.aspxhttps://sites.google.com/site/newgradnursegroup/fly-thru-tough-interview-questionsALSO, think of a time you had a miscommunication and how you resolved it. How important is it to you to solve conflict quickly? Lastly, If I said to you "All nurses are leaders", what would you say to that?
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Congratulations! And thank you!! I pray for some good news for myself as well. Will keep you posted :)

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Hi Bemm, I am in the same boat as you - my application being sent to two units hiring managers and waiting to hear back. Let's pray for both of us to get an interview!!

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Hi Bemm, I am in the same boat as you - my application being sent to two units hiring managers and waiting to hear back. Let's pray for both of us to get an interview!!

Oh wow Om Shanti :) When did you interview? Are you in-state too?

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I had the HR interview about two weeks ago. I live in DC, so I need to relocate if I were luck enough to have a job there.

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What units did you select? Goodluck to us!

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Hi there! I recently applied to the VCU nurse residency program! I would really love to work there. Did any of you end up getting the job? What unit and how was it? And how was the interview process? How is life in Richmond, I'll be moving from California if I get it! Thank you so much!

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