New grad or inexperienced nurse interview question

LightMyFire · Apr 29, 2015

I wasn't asked anything like this. I guess it was assumed that because I passed boards that I knew that stuff. My interview was more of a getting-to-know-you type thing. Strengths, weaknesses, etc. Typical interview stuff. They didn't even care about my grades because once you have RN after your name that doesn't really matter anymore.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 29, 2015

There are some situational questions that may come off as NCLEX-style questions; however, they're more like what the PP stated.

They may ask prioritization questions, how to handle a pt/family member/peer when they are upset, etc, how to handle an emergency; they're worded in a way where there's not that much to "prepare" for, but to answer with clarity and thought.

Kittenlove · Apr 30, 2015

I usually ask a couple of triage questions (basic) during the interview process. For anyone applying for my open positions, there is a math/pharmacology exam and a safety exam which is very basic and standard. If I am interviewing a new grad, I tend to focus my attention on their strengths and weakness and leadership potential. Just a FYI: the nurses I hire are trained as case managers who after orientation, have very little oversight from me (I don't like to hover) but am always available, so I look for leadership and base the interview around "working alone".

TIB217 · May 18, 2015

I was asked several priority and assessment questions while interviewing, but some questions were about how I handled conflict or how I would approach a coworker who was being rude. A few friends of mine had electronic interviews online - with no one on the other end - they were just reading the questions on the screen and looking into the webcam to answer them. The majority of these questions were clinical - very few involved how you worked with other or death with conflict. I think its pretty common practice to get some of any of these questions.

Gooselady, BSN, RN · May 22, 2015

Yes, expect questions to be more of 'what would you do if . . .' than NCLEX style multiple choice That said, there may be a pre-employment exam that tests your basic grasp of common sense and basic knowledge as a nurse, but in no interview I've ever been in has there been questions about med side effects, what is the Kreb's cycle, or the 'right' antibiotic for a UTI.

Your licensure is evidence enough of your knowledge base, so the fact you have a license deals with establishing that bit.

What the manager wants to know is how intelligently and appropriately you utilize your knowledge and skill set, and the way to get an idea for that is to ask you questions about how you'd prioritize.

It's actually quite simple. Always choose to take action on someone who's ABC's are in jeopardy. Period. Patient having trouble breathing or screaming family member? The patient in a poopy bed or the one who's IV is beeping? It's very common sense. You prioritize the person who's circulation, airway or breathing is at risk, always.

If this is how you approach prioritizing your job as a nurse, all the rest will fall into place eventually.

I have worked with a very few new nurses who genuinely lacked basic prioritization skills. Generally people that make it through nursing school and the NCLEX have these basic capabilities, so you are going to be fine, I doubt you are one of the former.

Another very important thing I looked for when I hired nurses was how realistic they were about their strengths and weaknesses. By the way, this is a COMMON question to be asked in an interview for a nursing position -- to give a few words about what you see as your strengths and weaknesses. Have some answers ready; good strengths to share are "If I am not sure, I always ask questions or look stuff up rather than plow ahead and make mistakes" and "I am organized, don't miss a lot of details". A good strength to mention is that you are fascinated by all the things nurses do and can't wait to learn how to do them yourself. Also, that you get along well with others and seek to be a team player.

As for weaknesses, don't deny you have any, but don't tell them you keep a fifth of Jack Daniel's in your glovebox for the drive home after work . "Good" weaknesses to mention always include how you work around your weakness. Mine has always been ticking every checkbox-type things. I don't get hung up on details and see the big picture easily -- however, this causes me to have to be extra careful with paperwork. So there is a weakness, and a work around for it.