What do I ask my interviewer in the ER?

purple_rose_3 · Mar 29, 2007

Since your talking about a 2 year contract I would definately ask if you could job shadow for awhile to make sure this is what you want to sign your name to.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 29, 2007

1. What is the nurse/pt ratio? ENA recommends no more than 4:1

2. What type of certs will be offered while in orientation? SHould be at a minimum ACLS, PALS or ENPC, TNCC, PHTLS, or some other trauma cert. Should also include classroom as well as clinical.

3. What is their turnover rate? The lower the better. Are there older, experienced nurses or are all the nurses new with less than 3-4 years experience.

4. What type of on-going education do they offer? This should consist of having at least one full-time ER-only educator with a minimum of a BSN and preferably an MSN.

5. What characteristics do you look for in a new ER nurse?

6. If you want to get to another shift, how long can you expect?

7. Are there trauma-dedicated RNs? OR does everyone take their turn.

onmywaytoRN · Mar 30, 2007

Thanks! Those are great questions.

tabymac · Apr 2, 2007

Hey onmywaytorn,

that job sounds much like one I was just offered.....6 month orientation and 2 year contract because it is a specialty unit. I am a little weary about signing a 2-year contract myself. Have you found out anything about how restrictive/binding your contract will be? I didn't want to ask my interviewer (mine was today) seemed like it might be a little awkward asking, but maybe I can find out with HR. Let me know if you find out something. What city are you in?

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · Apr 3, 2007

I'm in the same position as you, and was just offered a job at L1 Trauma Center as a new grad starting in about a month.....YAY!!! Good luck to you too!

I asked pretty well all of the questions that TraumaRUs listed, plus I also asked about continuing education opportunities, and what kind of education programs the hospital had, how they would support me to get instructor status for the listed certifications, cross training to other specialty units (ie. CCU/ICU), how many new grads they've taken on before (nobody wants to be a guinea pig for a new ed. program), what they're retention of new grads has been like, and I asked for a tour of the ER.

Best of luck to you, and let us know how it goes!!!!

onmywaytoRN · Apr 3, 2007

Tabymac,

I'm in Atlanta and it's Grady. It's a level I trauma that saw about 170,000 pts last year and the nurse manager told me they see at least 350 a day. I took a tour today and had the interview. The nurse giving me the tour was introducing me as an RN that was coming on board so I guess they'll offer me the job. Said she'd call me tomorrow. It looks like the pt load is about 8:1. But there seems to be alot of help. Don't know though cause I'm going to be new to the ER. I am just going to do my two years b/c I want to travel and after I make it two years at Grady I'll be able to go anywhere. What do you experienced nursed think of this. The orientation is at least 6 months with classroom and clinicals and after one year you will be able to get trauma certification. ACLS and PALS is included in the first 6 months I think. BTW, I figure there are always loop holes to contracts.

~~onmywaytoRN --31 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aliakey · Apr 3, 2007

8:1???!!!??? Hope there's *plenty* of help when you get that "lays on the nurse call button every five minutes patient" in one room, explosive "Code Brown" in the other, room #3 with the patient who must devulge every bit of medical hx (splinter, toothache, hangnail) she's had since she was six, and the *real* trauma in another.

I'm not an RN, but an ED Tech. Even with 4:1 ratios at this ER and ED Techs to help where possible, these RNs are workin' their butts off (so am I, lol!). ED Tech ratio is about 10:1. When a new patient comes in, several RNs/Techs pitch in to help get all the the inital stuff done (vitals, blood draw, IV, 12-lead, documentation, etc.) ASAP and to keep the mega-burden off just one RN. But even with all the initial "processing" done and now waiting for labs to come in, etc. the 4:1 ratio is keeping our RNs hopping.

Just something to consider perhaps?

loricatus · Apr 3, 2007

Will I be assigned a TRAINED preceptor? If so, what type of training do they receive and what is the minimum qualifications for a nurse to become a preceptor? How many different preceptors should I expect? Do the preceptors receive additional compensation/perks (if not, what is that person's incentive to train me)? How will my progress be measured? Do you have a list of weekly goals for me during the training period?

UNCgirl · Aug 15, 2007

Hi onmywaytorn,

I was searching the archives about Grady and found this thread. I, too, am looking to start in the ED right out of school (I graduate in Dec.) I am looking at the other larger hospitals in Atlanta as well and want to know how Grady and its new grad program measure up. I was wondering if you took the job with Grady and how you like it so far? I appreciate the help.