Graduating with a new nursing degree is one of the most thrilling highlights for anyone just starting out in this career track. A degree represents hours of hard work and lots of sacrifice to achieve this goal. Congratulations to you if you have a new diploma in hand!
Now comes another tough hurdle – finding a job! With waves of new nurses hitting the market after graduation, you want to stand out to potential employers. You know you need a spotless resume and work experience to get a foot in the door, but don’t forget the power of the face-to-face interview. Once you show up, it’s game on and you need to be at the top of your game.
Here are five ways to prepare for an interview and gain confidence, too..
1. Show Up on Time
Honestly, this is so simple and yet so many people fail to do it. Do whatever you have to do, but make it to that interview on time and unruffled. It doesn’t matter if you had to take five detours to get there – when you extend your hand to introduce yourself, your interviewer should only see a cool, calm, and collected candidate. Don’t complain about the hassle, just smile and be positive.
2. Dig a Little Deeper
Being ready for a job interview means bringing several clean copies of your resume, knowing the names and contact information for references, and being ready to answer all the potential questions. But being prepared enough to impress an interviewer means knowing details about the job you are interviewing for – what the unit is like, what work is done, who the patients are, and who’s in charge. This is routine information you can find through a quick web search or a couple of phone calls. Do your homework.
3. Know The Interviewers’ Names
You can call ahead to find out the names of all the people you will be speaking with. If you can’t pronounce the names, ask the person on the phone how to pronounce it correctly and then write it down the way it sounds. When you meet your interviewers, you’ll project confidence by not stumbling over names, and they will appreciate your extra diligence.
4. Show Your Passion
Yes, you are careful about what you say during an interview and being nervous is normal. But it’s important to show your passion about why you want the particular job you are interviewing for, so don’t be afraid to do just that. Why does this job, with this organization, and this manager appeal to you? Why do you want this particular job? If you don’t know the answer, you aren’t prepared for the interview.
5. Say Thank You
When the interview closes, thank anyone who was part of it for taking the time to speak with you. Let them know they have a great organizations and that you would like to work for them. Think of one way you would add to their organization and mention it. Leave them with your enthusiasm and your gratitude and you will honestly say you gave it 100 percent.
Katrina Sanders, RN, ONC, is a clinical coordinator at Novant Health. In addition to being a nurse for 14 years, Sanders is a busy mom of twin one-year-old girls, a five-year-old, and a 10-year-old while still earning professional credentials that add value to her hospital and work unit.
Sanders is committed to going above and beyond the call of duty for her patients and their families. She has been known to go to get their lunch from the cafeteria, locate a recliner for a family member to sleep in, or share DVD’s and laptops for family members to play with while they wait for a loved one.
Today she shares how she became interested in a nursing career at a young age and what inspires her to be the best nurse she can be.
What made you become a nurse?
I love nursing because I am able to provide comfort, passion and encouragement to my patients. At the end of the day, I feel like I gave my heart and soul to make a difference in someone’s life. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was in the 10th grade. I have a strong desire to help people and care for them in their time of need. For me, there was no moment of divine intervention, no following the footsteps of an admired parent or relative, but rather a gradual realization that nursing would be the perfect job for someone who has a big heart like I do.
What inspires you about nursing?
What inspires me about nursing is that as a nurse you can take care of the patient’s physical needs like dressing wounds and giving medications. However, as a nurse, you can also comfort them when they are scared, read a book to them or play a game with them. I am inspired to be a nurse because I know I can more than physically heal a patient.
What do you think are the most important qualities for a nurse to have?
The most important qualities of being a nurse include being attentive, being a great listener and being sensitive to people’s needs. Why? Because you can’t properly care for someone if you do not know what is physically, mentally and emotionally going on with them. In order to give someone holistic care you need to know their story.
Where do you see the future of nursing headed?
I see nurses starting to practice at the fullest extent of their education and training. Nurses will need to be skilled in the use of computer technology.
What goals do you still have for your career?
I plan to graduate in December with my BSN and then pursue my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
What advice would you give to other minority nurses?
Be open to new experiences and do not be afraid of change. Have an open mind to whatever experiences come along and take advantage of the opportunities as they come your way.
Denene Brox is a freelance writer based in Kansas City.
You got your foot in the door at your current employer and your goal is to advance your nursing career and climb the ladder to more responsibility, challenging work and a higher salary. There may be a nurse manager position opening in your facility or perhaps you wish to take your nursing background in a new, non-clinical direction and apply for a patient advocate or nurse educator position. Many employers are eager to promote from within, but what does it take to stand out among competition from both internal and external applicants? Here are a few tips to help you land your next position within your current company.
Apply
The first step in applying for any job, whether it’s at your current employer or at an outside company, is to fill out an application and/or submit your resume for consideration. Treat your application packet just as thoughtfully as you would if you were an outside applicant. Just because you are a current employee doesn’t mean that you’re a sure pick for the new position. Ask a trusted mentor or friend to review your application to make sure you’re presenting yourself in the best light.
Put it in Writing
Writing a cover letter as part of your internal job application is a great way to stand out – especially if it’s not a requirement of the application. Some companies only require an online application, but you will make a statement by taking the time to craft a cover letter that details your experience and why you are the best candidate for the job. Attach your letter and resume to your application, if possible, or email it to the appropriate hiring manager.
Dress for Success
If you land an interview, again, it’s vital that you treat the process just as you would if you were applying for an outside position. Internal candidates can sometimes feel more confident and comfortable than outside applicants because they may already know the hiring committee and they already feel comfortable in the environment. But you are still competing for the job with many other candidates, so don’t get too comfortable. Dress for success and present yourself as professionally as possible by wearing a business suit – this is no time to wear your nursing scrubs.
Follow Up
After your interview, be sure to follow up with the hiring manager or committee with a written thank you letter to reiterate your interest in the position and your commitment to the company. You’d be surprised how many candidates do not follow up after an interview, so if you do, you’ll stand out. Send a handwritten note on a professional note card for a personal touch.
Tell Your Boss
Should you tell your boss that you are applying for internal positions? This can be a tricky area since you’re not certain that you will land the new job and you don’t want to give your current manager the impression that you’re unhappy (even if you are). According to Allison Doyle, About.com job search expert, it’s best to present your desire for the new position in a positive light. She writes: “The best rationale focuses on the positive aspects of the new job without expressing dissatisfaction about the job you have now. In fact, it is usually safest to emphasize that you are enjoying your current job, so your boss doesn’t think you can’t wait to move on.”
Ensure your boss that you would like to advance your career and this opportunity is too good to pass up. Try to be selective about which internal positions you apply for so that it doesn’t look like you’ll take any open position.
Landing a new position within your current company can be a great way to grow your career. Keep your eye out for a more challenging position and follow these tips for landing the job.
Denene Brox is a Kansas City-based freelance writer.
You earned your degree and landed your first nursing job. Congratulations! You’re well on your way to a meaningful and challenging career.
Everyone wants to make a great first impression when starting a new job. Here are a few pointers to get you started on the right foot.
Be Positive
Negativity exists everywhere – even among nurses and in healthcare facilities. Be determined to be a positive team player on your new job. Avoid gossip and complaining with your coworkers because it only contributes to a more toxic work environment. Instead, put your energy and creativity into being a problem-solver, not a problem-starter.
Learn the Culture
You’re the newbie, so give yourself time to learn the culture of your new company and figure out how you fit into it. Alison Doyle, About.com’s job search site author wrote that company culture is defined as “the personality of a company and defines what a company, from an employee perspective, is like to work for. Company culture includes the company mission, values, ethics, expectations, goals, and work environment.”
There are nuances to each company’s culture that you can’t know until you actually work there. These subtleties can’t be picked up during a job interview. Once you know the culture, you can decide if it’s a fit for you or if you’d like to try another environment. As a new nurse, give yourself time to decide, but realize that you can always choose to move on if it’s not a good fit.
Be a Team Player
You’ll score major points with your fellow nurses and manager if you work as a team player. Being a team player means stepping up when you see something that needs to be done. This is also an important quality that directly affects the level of patient care.
Focus on Exceptional Patient Care
Your number one priority is to be the best nurse your patients could ask for. Though work can sometimes get hectic, always remember why you became a nurse – to help people. You’ll go a lot further in your career if you are the nurse who goes above and beyond for his/her patients. As a nurse you should listen to your patients and work hard to make them feel comfortable and meet their needs. Also focus on learning good communication skills as you’ll be communicating with many different people including other nurses, doctors, patients and their families.
Plot Your Next Move
Now that you have your foot in the door at your first job, keep an eye out for advancement and/or educational opportunities. What is the logical next step that you can work toward? When you have an end goal in mind, it helps you to excel in your current role in order to be considered for a higher level position.
Also, consider getting an advanced nursing degree — another career booster. Does your company offer educational assistance? If so, take advantage. The more education you have, the further you’ll go as a nurse. If your current employer offers tuition reimbursement, this is the perfect time to hit the books without incurring a lot of student loan debt.
Make your first year on the job all about learning as much as possible about the field of nursing and how to be an exceptional nurse and you’ll move up the ranks in no time.
Denene Brox is a Kansas City-based freelance writer specializing in career development topics.
Depending on where they work and their specialties, nurses can earn a range of salaries. Salaries continue to appear to vary by ethnic background as well, but overall, nurses reported in the second annual Minority Nurse salary survey making more this year than they did last year—and more than they did five years ago.
Although nurses reported making higher salaries this year than they reported last year, there are wage gaps by ethnicity that remain to be closed.
In 2013, nurses reported making a median salary of $67,000; this year, they reported earning a bit more, a median $68,000. Still, African American nurses earned a median $60,200 and Hispanic nurses received a median $60,000, while white nurses took home a median $72,000.
To gather all this data, Minority Nurse and Springer Publishing e-mailed a link to an online survey that asked respondents about their jobs, educational backgrounds, and more to better understand their roles as nurses and to determine their current and past salaries.
Some 4,850 nurses from all over the United States responded to the survey questions. The respondents also hailed from a number of specialties, including nurses working in critical care, as certified nurse educators, and in pediatrics, as well as nurses employed at public hospitals, private hospitals, and at colleges or universities.
Some stark differences, though, were noticeable when survey data were broken down by ethnicity. For instance, nurses belonging to different ethnic groups working at similar institutions reported earning different amounts of money. African American nurses working at a public hospital reported earning a median $65,000, as did Asian nurses. Hispanic nurses reported making less, taking home a median $60,000. White nurses, though, said they earned $79,500.
Additionally, nurses belonging to different ethnic groups with similar educational backgrounds also reported salary differences. African American nurses with a bachelor’s degree reported making a median $62,000—similar to the median $60,000 reported by Hispanic nurses—though higher than the median $50,000 received by Asian nurses, but lower than the median $70,000 that white nurses said they made.
At the master’s degree level, the picture is a little different. Asian nurses with master’s degrees commanded the highest salary, a median $80,000, followed by African American nurses, who received a median $76,000. Hispanic nurses, meanwhile, earned a median $74,940, and white nurses with a master’s degree reported making a median $73,000.
Overall, respondents reported earning a higher salary this year than they took home last year and a bit more than they reported earning five years ago. For example, nurses working primarily in patient care reported earning $60,000 this year, $55,000 last year, and $47,000 five years ago, and advanced practice nurses reported making $89,000 this year, $84,000 last year, and $78,000 five years ago.
Though there are still wage gaps to be bridged, nurses reported earning more now than they did just a few years ago.
Highlights
17.6% of respondents have a PhD or other doctoral-level degree
33.3% work at a college or university
56.2% have been at their current job for five years or longer
65.8% received a raise within the last year
53.5% left their prior job to pursue a better opportunity
41.1% do not expect a raise this year
48.9% are looking to leave their current job in coming years
Sanders is committed to going above and beyond the call of duty for her patients and their families. She has been known to go to get their lunch from the cafeteria, locate a recliner for a family member to sleep in, or share DVD’s and laptops for family members to play with while they wait for a loved one.
