Interviewing for surgical NP position - what to read?

KyFNP13 · May 18, 2014

I am also a new graduate and am interested in working with surgeons (more colorectal/oncology patients). I was curious to know are you a first assist?! I know you stated that you have worked with the area for some years. I work have been in the operating room for 5 years and have also worked in a clinic setting. I am not currently a certified first assist but I do know how to scrub and do some minor assisting.

I am not sure who will interview you but I interviewed with a physician recently and he did not ask me any clinical case scenerios he came up with, but he did ask me about most challenging clinical situation and how I handled it. If your initial interview is with the practice manager they probably will not ask you clinical questions either.

If you are not a first assist but are interested in becoming I think that doing some research on becoming a first assist would be good when they ask what you can bring to the table, your willingness to expand your knowledge base.

I found a powerpoint and it addressed what a APRN could do for surgical services. Remember your importance for the NP in pre-op, intra-op and post-op phases for the surgical patient. Such as freeing up the surgeon from non-billable activities such as post-op follow-up in clinic.

Good luck and let us know how your interview goes.

KyFNP13 · May 26, 2014

Hi, I was curious to know how your interview went. What kind of questions did they end up asking you? What are they looking for in a surgical NP?

sasini01 · May 26, 2014

Hi, interview went alright I guess, still waiting to hear back... I am not a first assist, and this position is all post-op care, so the biggest procedures involved are wound repacking/taking stitches out. They asked me about my RN experience, how my medicine experience enhanced my caring for surgical patients, about my clinicals... No scenarios or anything like that

KyFNP13 · May 26, 2014

That's good I hope you get it #teamnewgrad. I am hoping I get an interview for a surgical np in one of my local hospital. It requires office, hospital rounding and or time. My app is waiting to be reviewed by hiring manager. Do you have to take call with that position? You apply anywhere else? I have been doing reading and employers like if you are interviewing other places with similar role. They feel you are marketable.

sasini01 · May 28, 2014

That sounds like a great position, hope you get it. I'm still waiting to hear back... I have only applied at my own hospital so far - waiting to get my license and certification until applying widely

KyFNP13 · May 28, 2014

I had a lot of people like CRNAs tell me to apply before I got my license but I too was like what's the point. If they want someone now they want a licensed person. I have had my license for a week now. I really did not think it would be this tough to get a job everyone wants experience.

sasini01 · May 28, 2014

Yeah I think we need to adjust our expectation and goals to something like "get the job that is good for me within 6 months to a year". I have a good job as an RN now so I have no financial pressure to look for an NP position quickly, but I really want to put my advanced degree to use... I have decided to wait until I get my license and certification (will probably take 2-3 months in my state) and then apply aggressively everywhere I can and use my network. We need to give ourselves a pat on the back for getting the degree, sit back and relax a little.