Want to work in ICU

[QTNurseBSN]

Hello,

I have been reading the various posts and think that those of you that work in ICU are awesome! I did a nursing internship my senior year of nursing school on a Cardivascular ICU unit for open heart surgery patients. The unit was very small and the nurses were very close...I didn't feel like I would be great fit plus I thought the unit would be overwhelming. I doubted myself (something I should have never done)..even though I did exceptionally well in school, graduated with HONORS and had great recommendations from my professors.

Well almost 7 years later, I am feeling the desire to go into the ICU. I have med-surg nursing experience and community health nursing. I had a loved one die this past fall, who was a pt in a SICU. I was so amazed at the care he received, the expertise of the nurses and I thought to myself "I could really do this".

I applied for a job in our local SICU and am waiting for an interview. I spoke to the nurse manager who informed me that she would call me for an interview upon receipt of my app. Well she has it and has not called me yet. I am not sure if my lack of ICU experience is a factor or the fact that my current job is in community nursing. I don't know if its easier to orient an experienced nurse or a new grad. I am very flexible and am definitly NOT a "know it all" even after 7 years. I feel like going into the ICU would be just like I was a new grad..so all of the learning would be fresh to me and I would be SO receptive to learn!

I love working at the bedside and providing quality patient care and I am really starting to miss it with my current job. I chose a job in community health for convenience of hours (no wkends, no holiday, M-F) mainly because I am a mother and wanted to convenience of a job that doesn't obligate me to crazy hours, weekends and holidays. But there's a void in me to do so much more in nursing and working in ICU is my calling. It may sound crazy that I am willing to give up a "easy" job to return to the hospital setting, working night shift in a surgical ICU. Do I sound crazy? I need a little advise on how to land this job..if I ever get an interview.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Biffbradford]

Q: "Can you work weekends and holidays?"

A: "You bet!"

Q: "So, you're working in community health now?"

A: "Yes, but working in the ICU is my calling!"

Okay, you're hired!

[QTNurseBSN]

It use to be a time when it was that easy..just apply, get an interview and get offered the job on the spot. Now, jobs are just so competitive and nurses that should have retired are still working due to the economy. So if I get this job (if I ever get an interview) I really have to sell myself!

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Did you have to submit your application to HR or directly to the SICU manager? Sometimes there is a lack of communication between HR and the NM. HR may have the application and not feel you are qualified and not pass your application on to the NM.

I would give it about a week and follow up with the Nurse Manager. Sometimes if they have multiple applicants applying for a job they might be trying to setup interviews on the same day. Sometimes they are just busy and forget.

[QTNurseBSN]

Actually, I communicated my interest to the NM first who then urged me to apply and to have HR forward the app after I applied. So, I applied and had HR forward the app. The NM advised me that once she received the app she would contact me for an interview. So she has received it..just has never called me to schedule the interview. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that she may have received it and is working on setting up for interviews OR that she may have just been busy with meetings and other managerial tasks. I will give it about a week and see if she gives me a call. If it's meant to be it will. Thanks guys!

[formyinfo]

Thank you for the advice on steps to take in the hiring process. I for one am finding it hard to obtain the Nurse Managers names, titles and email addresses in order to contact them. Any advice on how to search the hospital sites for this information or to get the receptionist to release they "golden" information?

Thank you