ICU interview--what do they really ask?

situational questions were a big one for my first ICU interview. that was one of the toughest, as they bombarded me with questions. (however, having this one after 3 others the same day-i had my answers and examples to the T, and fired them off.) After working a year and a half in this unit, I'm relocating and got my first choice job in the SICU/ Trauma/ CVICU. That interview was the most laid back I've ever had- it was basically a conversation.

They may have you think about patients you took care of during clinicals, and apply them to examples of questions. Also, questions pertaining to work you have done, whether job, school, project, etc.

Questions:
Give an example of a really sick patient you took care of, what the problems were, how you handled them/prioritized, and how it turned out.

What would you do if a doctor ordered you to give 80mEq KCl IV over an hour? (you need to know this is too fast/too much over an hour.) Or, just give an example of time you did not follow an order. (They want to see that you critically think and don't just follow orders that don't make sense or could be dangerous, as many times the doctor is tired or miswrites the order-they could have mean PO instead of IV.)

Give an example of a time you had a difficult interaction with a co-worker, or a disagreement, and how you handled it, how it turned out.

How are you going to deal with dying patients and their families?

What do you do when your patient's blood pressure drops really low, they start having difficult breathing, and their heart rate shoots up to 155? (think about your abc's, get some help, call the doctor, etc.)

How do you view your role as a nurse?

Why did you want to be a nurse?

What was your favorite/ least favorite/ hardest/ easiest clinical and why?

What kind of people do you have a hard time working with?

How do you handle stress/pressure?


HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!

look at the info on here! it's a great resource.

Where were you interviewed? Because I got the exact same questions in my interview here in ATL. All except the five years from the now, and the fish in the pond question.

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did you make the switch to ICU?

I'm a new grad and I had my interview with ICU today. This site really helped I got the Why you want to work here? , Tell me more about you? and Tell me went above and beyond and how you made a difference in a patient’s outcome? All questions that I was expecting and had researched my answers. Not word for word but the general idea. I was surprisingly calm and confident. Don’t know if I got the job but you guys and my grandmother's prayers helped me give a good interview. Thanks

I got the job. I'm going to be a ICU nurse at a top trauma hospital. Yeah I'm so excited. Though I was a psych LPN for a year and psych RN for a few months. I feel as green as a new grad. I've never put in an IV and my patients were for the most part physically well. I'm terrified about failing and I think they have all these expectations of me and I'm going to fall flat on my face and end up jobless.

I'm less nervous than I was initially because I'm getting soooo excited of all the things I'm going to learn and all the intresting cases I'm going to see. To work at one of the top trauma hospitals in the county is such a blessing and I am so GRATEFUL for the opportunity. Though I'm going to miss my present job and all the great people I work with. I'm looking foward to my exciting future.