internship interview

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 4, 2004

As someone who interviews students for such positions, here is what I look for:

1. Reliability and dependability. I want someone who I can count on to do the things they are supposed to do. That takes a certain maturity -- or at least a certain amount of serious committment to do a job well.

2. Interest in the patient population and in possibly working there as an RN after graduation. Because I care about the patients, I want everyone on the staff to care about the patients. I look to hire people who will put the needs of the patients above their personal convenience. I also look for people who will be at least considering working there as a nurse after graduation. Student positions are often good training positions and I don't want to waste my resources training someone who has no intention of staying. I realize that they may choose to work elsewhere and I won't think badly of them if they do, but I would prefer to invest my resources training someone who is at least considering staying and working for me long term.

3. I have a bias towards intelligent people. I admit it. I like people with a "good head on their shoulders" ... good problem solvers ... good at figuring things out ... etc. I think contemporary healthcare requires critical thinking. I don't want to hire people whose judgment I cannot trust.

4. Pleasant to be around, personable, articulate, helpful, etc. I prefer to hire people who will help make the work environment a pleasant one. We don't need any more stress added to the environment because the new member of the team is unpleasant to work with.

I am being a little blunt with my answer, but that's what I look for. I hope this helps.

Good luck,

llg

Tony35NYC · Nov 6, 2004

Hi,

I recently interviewed for an internship position and my experience proved a lot of what llg said. They ask a lot of non-nursing questions to test your work ethics, to get a feel for what type of person you really are, and to find out what motivates you. Then there's also the inevitable 'tell me about yourself' question where they ask you to talk about your best and worst qualities, so you have to be prepared to "sell" yourself without going too much over-the-top.

Nurse recruiters are sometimes nurses themselves, so they may throw in a critical thinking scenario-type nursing question and ask what you would do if you were to find yourself in that situation. (I got one of those, too.) They know you're a student so I doubt they'll be very interested in your nursing experience. They'll probably be more interested to hear you talk about why you want to be a nurse and what your plans are after you finish with nursing school. The rest of it is all about presentation so dress professionally, and tote a copy of your transcript and a letter of recommendation from your clinical instructor.

Honeybun1206 · Nov 6, 2004

thanks both of you for the tips, they really helped boost my confidence now that i have a better idea of what kinds of things those employers ask for. :)

right now my application is on the employer's desk, i'm still waiting to find out whether or not i'll be interviewed. i hope i will, this intern position seems like fun and i think it lasts until my graduation date (2 years from now). hopefully ill get an interview, if not, there are always other opportunities... but other than that, im trying not to keep my hopes up just in case....

thanks again, i appreciate it a lot!

Honeybun1206 · Nov 21, 2004

oh my goodness... i have an interview for a student nurse internship on monday! eeks i am sooo nervous.. i do not really have high hopes of myself getting the position, but we'll just see on monday. wish me luck guys (and girls)! i'll be back to report how it went. :uhoh3:

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2004

Good luck to you!! You'll do just fine! Let us know :)

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2004

Hi,

I just read your note now.

I just wanted to wish you the Best Of Luck in that Interview. Be calm,be yourself . You;ll do good

Let us know how it goes.

MaryAnn

Honeybun1206 · Nov 23, 2004

Lol. To my surprise it wasn't really an interview, more of a pre-screening type of thing. He asked me why I wanted to become a student nurse intern at the medical center I was appplying to, and asked me when I would be graduating (which is in 2 years) and if I had any questions regarding the position. And that's pretty much it. There weren't any of the basic Qs, such as "What are your strengths and weaknesses, How can you contribute to the organization?" etc.

Then he told me about the intern position and what I would be doing as an intern. Since there are only 7 or 8 spots available and they're only interviewing 8 people or so, the interviewer said I'm most likely to get in and that they will be probably be able to accomodate all of those that applied. And they will call me next Monday to see if I can come in for an orientation to talk about work scheduling, etc. (if there is a spot for me, which there most likely will be, the guy said).

Lol, I cannot believe it, I'm excited but I'm trying not to keep my hopes up just in case. Hehe.

By the way, thanks to all of you who wished me luck, it helped!

Honeybun1206 · Nov 30, 2004

you guys probably dont care.. but just to update on my impending internship...

since the internship program starts on Dec. 13th, and my classes go JUST 4 DAYS past December 13th (ending on the 17th), i wont be able to start the internship this year! they said they'll have to put me in next spring's intern program (which starts in april/may).

i knew it was too good to be true. it seems like i have a reserved spot for me already next spring, but i feel discouraged. i was hoping i'd start the internship in january or december, just to put in some more experience before my 2nd Nursing semester clinical (in which i'll take care of adults). i feel sooo inexperienced even with all the 1st semester clinical experience i've had.

should i be disappointed or happy? i dont know, but i feel both.. i just wish it didn't have to be like this. oh well. i'm the first person i know in my Nursing class who already has an internship lined up for them, lol....

should i call the hospital tomorrow and ask them if I can be an exception? i've been thinking that maybe i should....

anyway, thanks to everyone who wished me luck!!

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2004

Hi

I know you are very disappointed. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to call and ask--the worst they can say is no; and you are all ready lined up for spring.

So, if they say no, at least you have the spring to look forward to.

You should be proud that you were accepted for that.

Don';t worry so much about the experience, it will come.

You know, when I first started nursing school, I had never even been in a hospital! I had NEVER even set one foot in any hospital.

So, believe me, when we first started clinicals it was quite an awakening!!

To say the least. Then, the only time I worked in the hospital was for clinicals, until I was a senior & worked weekends as a CNA at another hospital.

Well, all that was 38 years ago, and believe me, you will pick it all up quickly if you are really into it.

So, anyway, GOOD LUCK.

Congratulations on the Sping position!!:balloons:

Mary Ann

Honeybun1206 · Dec 1, 2004

hi
i know you are very disappointed. i suppose it wouldn't hurt to call and ask--the worst they can say is no; and you are all ready lined up for spring.
so, if they say no, at least you have the spring to look forward to.
you should be proud that you were accepted for that.
don';t worry so much about the experience, it will come.
you know, when i first started nursing school, i had never even been in a hospital! i had never even set one foot in any hospital.
so, believe me, when we first started clinicals it was quite an awakening!!
to say the least. then, the only time i worked in the hospital was for clinicals, until i was a senior & worked weekends as a cna at another hospital.
well, all that was 38 years ago, and believe me, you will pick it all up quickly if you are really into it.
so, anyway, good luck.
congratulations on the sping position!!:balloons:
mary ann

hehe. they called back again and offered me the position again. many of the people chosen for the internship positions said they had conflicting schedules with classes also, and could not start the internship at the exact date it's supposed to start.

which means they moved the start date back towards the end of december, which means i start the internship late december or in january!! yay!!

thanks nursemary9 for your encouragement and your congratulations. people like you who respond to my problems make me feel like i'm not alone. thanks, i appreciate it a lot... :nurse:

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2004

i am so happy for you!!

congratulations!!

:balloons: :balloons:

if there is ever anything i can do for you, let me know.

let me know how you like the internship--if it is what you expected, how they treat you etc.

keep up the positive attitude even when it is hard.

you can pm me if you want.

i'm just really happy for you!!

mary ann