Most Difficult Interview Ever!!

[MommyRN15]

I just had the most difficult interview this week and I am feeling very frustrated with myself. The recruiter told me that the hospital's philosophy is not to intimidate people, but that is NOT how I felt in the panel interview.

One woman was literally grilling me about my experiences and ability to think critically. She wanted me to educate her on CHF and what give examples of medications, side effects, etc. It was her approach that was really making me feel nervous, she had an attitude about her. I thought it wasn't their philosophy to intimidate??? She clearly was trying to. Then she asked me what nursing theory I subscribe to. I'm sorry I need to look that up and also get experience working before I really know what theory I believe in.

I told them that I was on a vent floor for one of my rotations, they wanted to know all about the vents and I honestly couldn't remember a lot because it was so long ago. They wanted to know about evidence based practice and what causes hospital acquired pneumonia. Don't they realize that most new grads forget a lot and that it is mostly on the job training?? I graduated summa cum laude, which means nothing bc I froze and couldn't remember a thing. They should look at work ethic and willingness to learn. I had prepped for the interview and had stories that I planned to tell, but they just didn't come to me because they kept asking so many questions and didn't give me time to think. I had other interviews prior to this one that were so much more laid back. This approach just seemed so unnecessary.

Any one else have experiences like this as a new grad?

[sweetdreame, BSN, RN]

I don't think it is appropriate to be intimidating in an interview, but it doesn't sound like the panel was extremely over the top. I have been in interviews before where I have asked a new grad something I don't expect them to know because it is important for a new grad to be able to say "I don't know". Perhaps they weren't trying to test your knowledge as much as test your response to a stressful situation where you aren't an expert. That isn't a bad thing. It isn't bad to say "I don't know", "I would need extra training before I felt comfortable", "I would have to look that up".

As far as the goofy nursing theory question, I would have said "My own."

Honestly, if you are offered this position, you should probably take it. You will probably feel uncomfortable a lot, maybe even stupid sometimes (I know I did), but if you find a place that places this much value on knowledge in the interview, it might just be an excellent learning environment.

I had a mentor once (in CVICU) who would ask me the most difficult questions, that I basically just had to guess the answer to. It made me think hard and when I heard his response, I didn't forget it. It was an excellent teaching strategy. My practice benefitted so much from those uncomfortable moments. Good luck with the Job Search! Keep your head up!

[MommyRN15]

Thank you for your response. I felt like I kept saying "I don't know that" or "I would have to look that up" a lot The panel was not over the top, but there was one woman who was very intimidating. I just couldn't remember a lot of critical thinking examples from my clinicals. What I should have said is that I feel that critical thinking is something that they stress in school, but I don't think that it can really be taught, it comes with experience and knowledge and having to make judgment calls in the moment- something which nursing students don't get to do much.

[Nonetheless]

This doesn't sound too good. If you don't get this job, it may be for the best. If they need to practice putting you under intimidation/ pressure, it's a sign that the staff or the environment is very much high pressure (as in the staff may grill you or intimidate you if you don't know something).

[MommyRN15]

Well, I did not get the job. If I am going to be honest with myself, there are other hospitals I would rather work for. They made me feel like crap in that interview and it just is not my cup of tea to make people feel like that. Now if only I can get some more interviews lined up So frustrating.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Don't take it personally. They didn't organize the interview with the aim to put you on the spot. Interviews are not ad hoc -- they are intended to obtain information about how each candidate rates on the factors that are important for that job. Since they don't have any clinical experience yet, new grad interviews are focused upon the knowledge and skills that are obtained in school. So - asking a series of questions designed to measure knowledge of common clinical problems like CHF - that are included in every educational program - is not unusual.

Rather than focusing on that feeling of rejection, think of each interview as a dress rehearsal.... all that experience will pay off and make you much more confident. It prepares you to be absolutely brilliant in that future interview for that great job that is in your future!!!

[mo16]

Also, this experience will make you stronger for the next! My first interview was a tough panel interview and I just kept getting more nervous as the interview went along to the point where I completely lost my confidence and my answers stopped making sense. I was bummed; however, when another interview came along to my top choice hospital I did a lot better because I figured it couldn't go worst! And I got the job :)