Looking to kick-start your career in nursing? Carry on reading to hear from Lucy Pitt, intensive care matron, as she shares behind the scenes insight into the hiring process. We also discuss what qualities make a successful nurse, as well as what you should avoid if you want to land the role…
For further advice on how to progress your nursing career, check out our initial interview with Lucy here.
What role do you play in the recruitment process?
“Within intensive care there’s a standard you have to meet,” Lucy starts, explaining at least half of intensive care staff have to be qualified.
“If they haven’t had any intensive care training then we support them with education.”
She tells us that band 5 nursing roles are constantly being advertised but the team “have to be careful” about how many people they hire.
“We still have to have more skilled ICU nurses than new nurses,” she explains.
From writing the job description, to shortlisting candidates and conducting 90% of the interviews, Lucy plays a significant role in the hiring process.
“The NHS does a lot of recruitment overseas, so we have a lot of nurses from India and Nigeria at the moment. One of our band 6 nurses has been taken off the shop floor to support these new hires because the processes differ quite a bit over here.
“It’s also our job to make them feel part of the team and integrated.”
What soft skills do you look for in candidates?
“Kindness, openness and good communication,” Lucy confirms.
“I don’t think it matters what previous skills you’ve got if you’re coming in as a band 5 - you just need to be open and willing to learn.”
When asked for her nursing ‘red flags’, Lucy emphasised her dislike for hostility, adding that the last thing she wants is “for anyone to feel unwelcome” in the hospital.
“If there’s a student here, you’ve got to look them in the eye, say hello, answer the phone if it’s ringing, and answer the door if someone is trying to get in. Those are the things that I really look for,” she adds.
Do you have what it takes to become a nurse? Here at MCM Medical we offer a variety of nursing roles and are dedicated to helping candidates find the perfect match.
Talk to one of our consultants on 0203 929 4010 today to get started.
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