Hey yall. I've got a couple interviews lined up, and I'm not quite sure what to ask when on an interview. Not so much things like benefits, salary, etc... but more things specific to the Neonatal ICU. I know things like patient ratio but what things specifically are good things to know about NICU's? Thanks!
Katie R.
 |
|
|||||||||||
 |
||
search realityrn
sign up for weekly cartoons, tips, and blog posts
Register to win a pair of RX Medical Silver Fox Crocs
|
|
|
 |
March 10th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Are you interviewing at a Level II or Level III NICU? Do you have previous NICU experience? It is important to ask what sort of orientatino they have-how long? Do they have designated preceptors? What resources are available for learning? Depending on where you will be going I would ask about typical diagnoses for example do they have ventilator patients? Congenital anomalies (heart defects, spina bifida, renal impairment etc)? NEC? Diaphragmatic hernia? Gastroschesis? Typically any level III NICU would have these but a level II may not take some or any of those types of patients.
I wouldnt ask anything about benefits or salary, as you said already. Thats for HR to answer. But you would need to know what hours you will be working (is it a night position? days?). I hope this helps!
March 13th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
thanks for the reply! Ya I have a little bit, I’ve been precepting 132 hours in a level 3 at another hospital.
I do know that this position is for a graduate nurse residency that is a year long. You have to rotate between one of three tracks, and I chose to interview for the NICu track which includes NICU, med-surg and pacu.
I just wanted know what were some good questions to ask that showed I was definently interested in the NICU and that I am not just another new nurse who thinks it will be fun to work with babies, since I know alot of my fellow classmates think thats what the NICU is about.
Someone gave me a few hints about like nurse patient ratio, turnover rate, and things like that. Thanks for your help!