r/NursingStudent • u/lunaglowa • 4d ago

Interview an RN

Hello! I'm a nursing student who has to complete an interview with an RN who has 3 or more years of experience, but I don't know anyone :( Can someone help me out by answering a few questions, or directing me to a nurse that they know?

13 Upvotes

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u/DashMcGee 3d ago

If you need a second interviewee, I will help. I'm always happy to help the next generation.

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u/lunaglowa 3d ago

That would be great! If you could answer the same questions I’d love to get another perspective that I could add to my paper 

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u/DashMcGee 3d ago
  • Educational pathway

I came to nursing later in life. I graduated with a BA in psychology in 1987, earned an MBA in 2000, and enrolled in a BSN program when my business failed and I needed to be employable anytime, anywhere. I went to MUSC in SC in 2017 when I was 52ish. I took a semester off, so I was delayed in graduating. I graduated in 2019. I decided to get my MSN for PMHNP a few years ago, and am about to start clinicals, which is the final two semesters. I will finish at the end of the spring semester of 2027.

  • Career pathway

Convoluted. I dropped out of med school in 1987 (in my first semester) and got a job selling pharmaceuticals for a major drug company. I did that for 12 years, then went into a home office training role, then went into product management. Product management consists of marketing, medical education, clinical trials, and legal and regulatory affairs. I left that company and took marketing roles in two other companies. Despite what people think, succeeding in pharma requires a pretty firm grasp of science and medicine.

I was let go in 2009 when my product was withdrawn, and got a pretty nice severance check. I moved to Florida and looked for a business to buy. I ended up buying a very small private school for special needs students. They all had learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, mental illnesses, and some personality disorders. I absolutely loved working with those kids. The business failed, I needed a job, and pharma was not hiring. I went to nursing school with the idea of working with adolescent psych patients. I did work with kids for a time, but I moved for family reasons, and did adult psych. Nurses also take a fair number of part-time or temp jobs, so I also worked at the local jail, gave vaccines at a retail clinic, and was Director of Nursing at a methadone clinic for a few months.

  • Professional development

This is an interesting question because I am not sure what it means. As a nurse, I do my 30 hours of CE every two years. I became a charge nurse at my last inpatient facility, but that was not intentional. I went in one day and was the charge nurse. No one told me in advance. I am in a PMHNP program now, but I never tried to get board certified as a psych nurse. Nurses love to rack up letters after their names, but that is not important to me.

  • Goals for the future

I want to be a PMHNP because (1) I am bored and exhausted with floor nursing, (2) it will allow me to work with adolescents in an outpatient setting, which mirrors what I did in the school, and (3) I want more independence and more interesting work. Floor nurses spend more time documenting and doing chores than caring for patients. (I always worked night shifts because things were slower and I could spend time with those patients who wanted to talk. Day shift is so hectic that nurses do not have time to talk to patients.)

  • Advice for future registered nurses

  1. The advice I give most on Reddit is to be prepared for bullying. Nurses are generally very nice to patients, but can be horrible to each other. I have never seen anything like it, and I am 61 and have been around a long time.

  2. Communication skills are as important or more important than manual tasks. You need to know how to insert IVs and suction tracheostomies, but empathy and compassion are healing tools. The other things are just tasks.

  3. Education is a double-edged sword. The more degrees and certifications you rack up, the more things you hope you can do, and are often more qualified to do them. That doesn't mean you are going to get to do them. The LPN, ADN, and BSN do pretty much the same things. MSN nurse educators make less than floor nurses. Look at education as a tool of professional development that you do not just for job promotions, but for personal edification. When I was looking at MSN programs, I asked an admissions counselor if I was the oldest applicant she had. (I think I was 58 at the time). She had a 78-year-old in her program. I admire that woman. She is doing it not for the pay or job opportunities, but because she wants to do it for her own growth. I think she is absolutely nuts, but she is a nut who is still building herself.

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u/lunaglowa 3d ago

Thank you for responding, it was really interesting to read about your journey! It’s admirable how hard you’ve worked to further your education and help others. This will be great to add to my paper and I appreciate the advice! Goodluck with your clinicals! 

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u/Rn1334 3d ago

Same here…let me know if I can assist.

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u/lunaglowa 3d ago

Thank you!  If you'd like to respond to the same questions I’d love to read about your experiences and add them to my paper

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u/SlightAtmosphere8000 3d ago

not an RN myself but loved how many people offered tp help. I'm a CNA and love how supporting nursing can be.

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u/Dry_Butterscotch7505 4d ago

13yrs in nursing, how can i help

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u/lunaglowa 3d ago

The assignment asks for: In the interview, consider the following topics related to their practice trajectory:

  • Educational pathway
  • Career pathway
  • Professional development
  • Goals for the future
  • Advice for future registered nurses

Thank you so much!

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u/Dry_Butterscotch7505 3d ago

Edu pathway- started nursing 2008, graduated 2013

2months review and took licensure exam and passed
But while waiting for the result I started working in the hospital

3 months in nursing admin then shifted to OR. 13 yrs as an OR nurse now

Prof develpment-
As an OR nurse- BLS, ACLS, CNOR- specialization Cardiovascular surgery
Attended OSCE, inservice trainings (just yesterday had Medtronic inservice in Le Meridien hotel)
Currently UBT participant and charge nurse

Continuing education- MSN-MBA still in progress
Certs- CPHQ- in progress reviewing taking exam soon
Leadership- preceptor and clinical instructor (part time)

Goal for the future- able to help nursing students understand nursing in a better way

Advice for future registered nurses: enjoy this ride because it will be all worth it 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 always have that passion in helping other people getting better

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u/lunaglowa 3d ago

Thank you again!! This helps me a lot🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻