NP entrance

jmeng · May 16, 2009

Same question. I have interview coming up for ACNP school in the fall. Please advice on what to expect.

thanks

sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN · May 17, 2009

Here's a few standards:

1. Why nursing, why grad nursing, why A/F/G/AC/P NP nursing

2. What are your goals for the program, graduation, 1-5-10+ years

3. Why, what lead you to your current job, esp if it's in nursing

4. Who impacted your decisions, give some idea of your mentors, who/where/what/etc

5. Why/How did you chose us (institution)?

6. Give some idea of your perfect/dream job

7. How do you deal w/stress, what/who are your support systems

8. How do you plan to live during school, funding, work part-time etc.

9. Give us some idea of how you impacted a program/system/function/group, etc.

Be prepared for a "bahavioral" interview. Google those types of interviews and practice w/someone serious (not a friend) who has interviewed before. :twocents:

lifelong · May 17, 2009

The big interview eh? Well mine was pretty low key, but nonetheless I was nervous. The Director of the program and I sat in a tiny room and where she painstakingly went through my application and science grades. I don't recall her going through the references or the letter I sweated to write about why I wanted to come. In fact, she just turned it over (maybe she had read it already). She went through the curriculum ad nauseam and was emphatic about the difficulty. I asked a few questions, but overall, when I left I knew I was accepted because she wrote what I needed on a sheet of paper and circled the class numbers and signed it. She said I would need this to schedule. Weeks later, I received the official letter. So, I didn't have the behavioral interview, but I would be prepared for it...I was. Mine just turned out to be...odd is the best way I can think to describe. Good luck, try and stay calm, smile with your eyes, make the eye contact, and pause when you begin to answer (this helps you get your thoughts together and may give the illusion of self control). Try to enjoy it, ask about the clinical time, do you organize or do they, what's the program's success with certifications (pass rate), how is the communication between the clinical instructor and the program director relayed or is there clinical visits? Try to think of thoughtful questions that show your interest and the fact you have thought this through into the clinical environment. I hope this helps. Please let us know how it turns out.

Tracey

jmeng · May 23, 2009

thank you guys. I really do appreciate your very helpful replies. Thats why I am a nurse.