Job Interview

The main city hospital in Colorado Springs--Memorial--is opening a new hospital (Memorial North) this April. The Springs is growing so much and the fact that this facility is being built attests to that. I've been feeling like it's time to return to work and noticed a job posting for Mem North's outpatient surgery unit. I was a labor and delivery nurse for 6 years, worked in an OB office for one year, did home health for high-risk pregnant patients for a year and dabbled in postpartum, antepartum and maternal-fetal medicine. In addition, i worked for 2 years in outpatient surgery and loved it (some of these jobs overlapped--I've been a registered nurse for, holy cow, NINE years?? Crap). Anyway, yes, women's health is what i know and love. I used to tell people who came to me for advice that "if you don't have a uterus, I can't help you." But, I am totally not at all interested whatsoever in ever working in labor and delivery ever ever again. It was a fantastic ride, but it's not for me anymore. It's very stressful and demanding and I had a tendency to take my work home with me (no, not delivering babies on the side, just always on my mind). Don't get me wrong--it was very rewarding too. I'm just ready for a change. And as i said, I did work in OPS for a couple years and really enjoyed the pace and patient interaction. I love teaching patients and there is a lot of teaching that needs to be done quickly in this setting. So i saw the job posting and sent my little resume on in. Got a call back. Set up and interview. And off i drove this morning in the ice and snow to chat with the OPS coordinator and PACU manager.

I really didn't know what to expect with this interview. In the past, the majority of my interviews are not interviews. They are tours of the unit, introductions to some of the nurses, a looky over past work experience and a "when can you start" simply because i do have experience and there is such a shortage of nurses. This, was, most definitely, an interview.

I am not a fan of real interviews. I do not feel that i express myself well on the spot. I talk in circles. I give half-assed answers and hope the interviewers don't notice.

However, I ROCKED this interview. I have apparently become much more comfortable in my own skin. I was able to come up with examples of past experiences to answer their questions. I didn't stutter. I dare say I was articulate and funny (when appropriate). There was one answer I gave that I thought was pretty lame, but, hey...And when it was my turn to ask questions, I had really good ones that gave them even more insight into the type of person I am and the kinds of skills i have, the things that matter to me and so on.

I was interviewing for a per diem position--basically "as needed" or somewhat on-call. I told them I was looking for one day a week. They asked if i would be willing to consider a 2-day/week part-time position...In theory, this sounds great. Unlike per diem, this would mean i would have 2 set days. That would certainly make childcare easier to schedule. But am i really ready to commit to that??!! I've always worked weekends and evenings and been home during the week. Am I really ready to work part-time?? Leave my babies 2 days a week? I guess i should wait and see if they offer me the job. Getting a bit ahead of myself!!