Interview at Duke

[Daisy90]

Hi all,

I am graduating this May, and I have just received word that I will have an interview at Duke University Hospital next week. I was wondering if anyone had any interview tips for me? This is my very first interview (besides a life guarding job) so I need all the help I can get!

Thanks so much to everyone who replies!

[mladolphin]

Congrats nursekii on your new job! Hospitals aren't hiring in CT either! When do you start your orientation?

[nurse PR]

Hello Nurses,

I have a interview at Duke University Hospital. If you have been interviewed there, please let me know how did it go? Anything tips to prepare ahead...

[Dafina]

Hi nurse PR!

I sent you a PM that I believe you are able to see even if you can't respond. If you can't let me know here and I'll give you my email address.

[CP2013]

I will be interviewing/shadowing this week with Duke as well. I'm excited for the opportunity.

I have brushed up on mission statement/values and my behavioral questions ("tell me about a time..." etc). Anything else I should be prepared for when I get there? Feel free to PM me if you prefer!

[mladolphin]

I would say it's also important to be friendly and outgoing. They want to see that you have a personality and aren't just telling them what they want to hear. Good luck!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

What area?

Good Luck!!!!!

[mh1229]

Hi Dafina,

I am a newly graduated nurse and just found out I have an interview at the end of the month for the neuro step down unit! I am from PA so this is a big trip for me just to interview. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

[FutureCruzanRN]

I will also be interviewing in October, and I am nervous.. Wondering if I should travel to NC or try for a phone/skype interview..

[pomla]

Congratulations on your interview FutureCruzanRN! I don't think they offer phone/skype interviews, but I could be wrong. If you're committed and really want the job, I would recommend traveling for it, especially if you have an interview that includes shadowing on your unit, because it's very exciting to experience where you might be working.

By the way, I was invited for a shadow interview in the PICU a couple of weeks ago. The nurse I shadowed was really nice, and then most of my interview was my interviewer telling me a lot about the hospital. She actually didn't ask me too many questions, but it's always good to be prepared with answers to potential behavioral questions centered around Duke's 5 core values. My interviewer seemed mostly worried that I wouldn't be happy / wouldn't commit to setting down roots at Duke (I'm from California, and it's a 2 year commitment -- and of course they would always like you to stick around). I assured her that I wouldn't have flown out to the interview if I wasn't serious about working at Duke. I received a call next day from the nurse recruiter offering me the job. I happily accepted! :)

Good luck!!

[mh1229]

FutureCruzanRN, I received your message but unfortunately cannot send direct messages? I don't have enough posts or something to allow that feature haha. But if you message me your email address, I will gladly give you some info about the interview!

[FutureCruzanRN]

El_pom, Is it possible to speak more about the interview? I guess I am worried about it..

[psulli2010]

El_pom, Is it possible to speak more about the interview? I guess I am worried about it..

Hi FutureCruzan,

I had an interview last Friday in the Medical ICU. I came down from Massachusetts, and I am really glad that I did. If you are serious about relocating, definitely take the time to go down there and see what it is all about. I had never been to NC, so I was able to explore a little while I was down there. My interview lasted about 2 hours. The first hour I spent with the nurse manager and director. They asked me a a few behavioral questions (tell me about a time when you gave excellent customer service, how do you cope with stressful situations, what frustrates you, what are your weaknesses, what would past managers say about you) nothing too difficult. I had a lot of time to ask them questions in return (definitely take advantage of this!). The next hour was spent with some nurses on the floor. I was able to ask them a lot of questions. There was also a new grad on orientation and I was able to chat with her a little bit. Everyone was super nice and willing to answer my questions. I am so glad that I went down to interview. Really, I felt like this was more about me interviewing them rather than them interviewing me. They wanted to see if I was serious about working at Duke, and this interview gave me the opportunity to see if Duke would be a good fit for ME. They called me today to offer me a position!