Child/Adolescent Psych Interview!!!

Specialties Psychiatric

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Hello all, I have an interview with a child/adolescent psychiatric unit and I am SO excited!!!

I have reviewed my psych textbooks in detail, reviewed medications, therapeutic techniques, etc., and have practiced some common interview questions (why psych nursing/tell me about yourself). My question is, what else can I do to REALLY stand out? I want to give the impression that I have a strong interest in this field and I WANT this career (without, you know, appearing over-the-top:) ). Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I want this one!!!

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Congrats! That is very exciting! I would love to get a child/adolescent psych job!

In the psych interviews I've had they have asked me a variety of questions such as;

What would you do if a patient became physically aggressive?

What would you do if a patient stated that they wanted to hurt themselves?

They also have wanted to know about my leadership and delegation skills as well as customer service and times I have went "above and beyond" what was expected of me.

I think the most important thing is to start out strong. It is fairly likely that the first quetsion will be "tell me about yourself..." I'd be sure to start strong and finish up with how you became interested in psych nursing and why you think you would be perfect for the job. Don't save this information for your grand finale- sell them from the start!

Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Know the side effects of medications. Particularly know the warning signs of severe complications such as EPS, NMS, serotonin syndrome, etc., and how you would deal with them (actions you would take, medications you may have to give, etc.).

Good luck!

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Thank you for all of the advice!

Just out of curiosity, in your psychiatric facility which drug reactions are typically treated "in house" and which are transferred to the ER or other emergency management facility? I would imagine it tends to depend on the severity of the symptoms.

Also, as far as the patient's right to refuse treatment: I understand that adults have the right to refuse treatment, but with teenagers it can sometimes be a gray area as to whether or not they have the right to manage their healthcare. In general, in an adolescent psychiatric unit does the teenager have the right to refuse treatment (medication, attendance of therapy, inpatient stay) or are the legal guardians of the teen in charge of those decisions until the patient's 18th birthday?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Thank you for all of the advice!

Just out of curiosity, in your psychiatric facility which drug reactions are typically treated "in house" and which are transferred to the ER or other emergency management facility? I would imagine it tends to depend on the severity of the symptoms.

Pretty much depends on what it is and how severe it is. Benadryl or Cogentin is used for treating EPS symptoms; in fact it's often automatically ordered with some antipsychotics such as Haldol as a preventive measure.

For more severe ones like NMS and SS, you stop the med and then consult with the doc to see how they want to manage it...these cases are more likely to be shipped out for emergency care.

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Thank you so much everyone!!! I had the interview today and I think it went great! :up:

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Congrats on the interview!! Have you gotten any word abck yet? I recently accepted a psych position and can't wait to start! I hope you get it!

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Good luck :)

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I just got a callback asking for more info, so I am hopeful :)

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That's a good sign! Yay! :w00t:

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Fingers crossed :)

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All right, I should be hearing word any day now :heartbeat I am very excited!!!

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