I got the Job!!! Now what?

I got the call on friday morning, they offered me a full time clinical I position in the ICU stepdown unit. I know it's not the NICU of my dreams but I think it's a good place to start. The hospital actually has a NICU and so the option is always there to transfer after a yr or two. I start orientation Dec. 1. I'm very excited but also terrified. I guess the biggest question in my mind is "will I be a good nurse?" I have alot of compassion but I am still unsure of certain clinical skills. My hands still shake (bad) when I go to place an IV, Ive never placed an NG ( I know how to care for them and check placement, just never actually placed one). Of course I also worry about making mistakes, I know I will. My soon to be coworker (and hopefully preceptor) told me "you will make mistakes because you're new, you just have to pray that mistake isn't the one that kills them." I am just really nervous,I know I will have a preceptor for at least 3 months but it's still scary. I mean I know what I lack in clinical skills I make in my bedside manner but just the same theres alot to remember from school and learn from the real world.

I am so excited to get to do what I love. I feel so privileged to be a nurse, to have others trust me with their lives and their well-being. It's a great responsibility, one I do not take lightly and hope I never do.

Here's a question for you though..... Do you think it would be inappropriate to request a certain person to be my preceptor? The floor nurse that I interviewed with made me so comfortable and seemed to have alot of knowledge. I would like to learn from her.

Anyways I will keep everyone posted on how this goes.

That second interview!

I had my in person interview today. It went really really well.I was in with the nurse manager and a wonderful floor nurse named Cami. I was in with them for about an hour and 15min. I felt really comfortable with them, they were very nice,laid back, and made me feel like I was one of them already. They seemed pleased with my answers and there was even some small talk. :) She even gave me a tour of the unit and introduced me to the other nurses. I am hoping this is all a good sign, the manager said I would here something by early next week at the latest.Crossing my fingers!!!

The Interview

I had my phone interview today and it went really well. Ill admit I was a little unprepared for some of the questions asked. I thought I was being really smart and wrote down a list of points I wanted to make and answers to potential questions. Hey, I know it seems like cheating but I had just gotten off of working a 12 hr shift. I was surprised because instead of the usual "Tell us about yourself" and "what are your weaknesses" I was presented with ethical dilemmas. They also had some screening questions that were along the line of those personality test they make you take. I just answered honestly; apparently that was enough.
I was asked to come in for a second interview! I am very excited. The recruiter said she could tell I had a real passion for nursing.
Now I get to work on endorsing my license in MO which is proving to be a bit of a pita, they want alot of paper work.
I'll let everyone know how the interview goes on Wednesday, hopefully I will have a job soon and this blog will be more interesting. :)

The Job Search Continues

So here I am. I survived nursing school and passed my boards. Now I sit day after day obsessively applying for jobs anxiously waiting to begin my nursing career.
For a field that is supposed to be suffering a shortage, jobs are hard to come by. After two months and about forty applications (believe me I’m not exaggerating) I have had one interview at a Dr.Office. I have another interview Monday at great hospital in a challenging unit; I'm praying that I’m able to somehow wow them more than the other applicants, and land this amazing job. I will admit it's not exactly the area of nursing I want to be in forever. The job is for a telemetry unit and I want to work in the NICU, but many nurses have told me that med-surg or step down is a good place to start, plus the hospital has plenty of opportunity for growth.
Of course, there’s this part of me that says what if I actually get the job? Then I’m a real nurse, in charge of real patients without the security of my instructor standing behind me. On the other hand, I’m excited to finally be doing something I love.
One thing I wonder though is this saying I keep hearing about "nurses eating their young. I suppose I will find out when I start working if it’s true.