1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Healthcare Professional - What is your job title?
Staff Nurse, Icu - Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I am currently employed as a staff nurse, working the night shift in an approximately 90 bed community hospital in rural Mississippi. I care for a variety of medical, surgical, obstetric and pediatric patients in our 6-bed intensive care unit.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
1.5 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
36-48 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
36-48 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I care for critically ill adult medical/surgical, obstetric and pediatric patients in a small community hospital intensive care unit. I provide direct patient care as well as performing basic clerical duties such as order entry. I am required to maintain licensure and hold specialty certifications.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
50000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
55000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
403B, health/dental/vision insurance, reduced price health club memberships, 60 hours sick leave/year, 100 hours vacation/year - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
I feel I am well compensated at this time, but cost of living is always increasing and raises are not guaranteed.
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
I work closely with professional on many different levels - physicians, other nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists and unlicensed assistants. It is important to be able to work well with others and as a member of a team to be employed in healthcare. I also work very closely with patients and their families, providing direct bedside care as well as patient education and emotional support. At times, these aspects of the job can be very stressful and trying.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes - Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes - Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it
In order to provide the most cohesive and best possible care for all our patients, I and the other healthcare providers must work seamlessly and cooperatively as a team.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 7 Income
- 5 Work Environment - co-workers
- 6 Work Environment - supervisors
- 2 Benefits
- 3 Hours
- 4 Level of responsibility
- 1 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 8 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I would certainly recommend someone interested in pursuing a degree or career in nursing to spend some time either working in a healthcare facility or shadowing a licensed professional. Nursing can be a very stressful occupation and one should be prepared for both the positives and negatives of this career well before investing a significant amount of time and money into it.
- What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)
Reliability, honesty and integrity are crucial skills in being a healthcare professional. Good technical and organizational skills are also important, but many things can be learned and improved upon with practice. A solid education will provide many skills but is only the beginning for a nurse. Someone who desires to become a nurse must wish to work closely with the public and other healthcare providers as a team. They must also commit to lifelong education, keeping up with current practice standards and certification requirements.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
In order to practice as a licensed nurse, one must graduate from an approved and accredited program of training and pass national and state licensure examinations. - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Do not be afraid to ask questions or admit that you don't know something. Seek out the older and more experienced nurses and let them serve as mentors to you. Never quit learning! Immerse yourself in as many educational opportunities as your employer will allow!
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
I did clinicals at the hospital as a student, but I received my current position by word-of-mouth. - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
I provided both a paper copy of my resume and was required to fill out a general application and reference form. Additionally, fingerprints, background checks and a drug test/physical were required. - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
I interviewed three times, once each with the Director of Nursing, Human Resources Director and my departmental director before being offered a job. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
I was asked a variety of questions, mainly such things as "Why do you want to work here?" and "What makes you qualified for this position?" - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
Yes - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I graduated from an accredited Bacclaureate of Science Nursing program and then took national board exams to become a registered nurse in the state of Mississippi. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
I was offered both departmental and hospital orientation. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
I felt that my college education prepared me well for the workforce. However, as a healthcare professional, there are always many new things to learn with ever changing research and technology affecting our daily practice. - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
Every day, we are able to make a positive difference in our patients lives. Whether is it responding to a "code 99" (cardiac arrest) and bringing a patient back from the brink of death, or sitting at a patients' bedsid - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
- Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
- What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
- Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
I actually work the nightshift, so this would be 7pm-8pm for me (and as follows). I will discuss my average day in vague terms since to be more specific would defy patient confidentiality laws. At 6:45 pm I arrive to the hospital, clock in and take the elevator to my department, ICU. When I arrive in ICU, I check the locks and defibrillators on the crash carts and document that I have done so. Following that, I and another nurse count the stock of narcotics and verify its accuracy. I then recieve a verbal report on the 1-3 patients I will be caring for that evening. Following report, I proceed to the rooms of my patients to assess them. - 8 am - 9 am
- 9 am - 10 am
- 10 am - 11 am
- 11 am - 12 am
- 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
- 2 pm - 3 pm
- 3 pm - 4 pm
- 4 pm - 5 pm
- 5 pm - 6 pm
- 6 pm - 7 pm
- 7 pm - 8 pm
- 8 pm - 9 pm
- 9 pm - 10 pm
- 10 pm - 11 pm
- 11 pm - 12 pm