anxiety attack during an interview

[sammer]

I have been working in CSICU icu at a level one trauma center as a charge nurse for 5 years now. We see the sickest patients imaginable, on every drip in the book. I have taken care of patients with open chests, IABP, CVVHD, ECMO, total article hearts, LVADS..... I have a great resume with wonderful references. I felt I was well prepared for the interview and the questions that I knew I was going to get. As soon as I walked into the room with the 10 interviewers sitting behind computers and was asked the first question I froze up. I heard the questions but could not comprehend or make any since of what I was saying. Did I have a CVA? No. I had a massive panic attack. It's funny how I can take care of sick and bleeding patients and tend to excel in stressful work environments but doing an interview is a bust. Perhaps I need to talk to my doctor about taking a low dose anti-anxiety beforehand. It's difficult to balance the fine line of being awake and stimulated to answer questions sharply but not to over stimulated that I freak out. So I don't know if an anti-anxiety is a good idea before an interview. Just disappointed and frustrated because I know I am ready but I have never been a good public speaker. Well, I have one month to do something before my next interview.

[Zaphod, BSN, RN]

Well, I guess I can join the club of panic attack interviews. Mine was just a little case of self-sabotage:)Didnt sleep all night before, then got worried when I started passing out 2 hours before the interview and in my wisdom decided to have a Red Bull(never had one before). Those things should be banned. I knew clinical stuff well but regular questions I could not put two sentences together and began to hyperventilate. Dont think I have a chance:( Sometimes we truly are our own worst enemy.

[ssrhythm]

My two cents. If you were alone and had twelve people watching you initiate care of a patient with an open chest on your first day as a nurse, you would probably be just as nervous and panicky as you were in the interview. Interviewing is a completely different beast! If you interviewed 40 hours a week for two years, you'd be a pro!

Deleted by traumarus: Please don't give medical advice - this against our terms of service to which you agreed when you joined.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Don't sweat it. I once burst into tears during a panel interview. I did not get offered the job, but every interveiw since has been easier, b/c the worst humiliation is behind me!