How to prep for the phone interview?

NedRN · Mar 13, 2014

I believe there is a list of questions you can ask on PanTravelers. For the most part, that is the main purpose of managers interviewing travelers, allowing them the opportunity to ask questions. Generally the manager has already confirmed that you are qualified by reviewing your profile the agency sent you and already wants you.

Occasionally they may ask a clinical question, or an open ended question such as how you might deal with conflict with a peer or physician. Or they could go really big but that is rare. I've had only three big interviews in about 19 years of traveling, all the rest were just to get me to commit. One was a speakerphone interview with several managers at Stanford (just general really), one was a vendor manager interview for Kaiser (conflict questions), and one crazy lady at Washington Hospital Center spent an hour having me walk her through every detail of circulating an open heart case.

But the usual is really the reverse, you are interviewing them. Some places don't even want to waste time on an interview.

21strawberry · Mar 13, 2014

My interview with Kaiser out here in CA lasted about 30 minutes. It was very structured, she was reading the questions from her computer screen. First she asked me about my work experience. Next I had to identify 10 drugs that she gave me, their therapeutic category and whether I had administered it in the last few years. Then I believe there were about 6 clinical scenarios that I was given and had to answer how I would provide care for that particular patient. One of these included a child pulled from a pool of warm water. Another involved blood gas results and how I would expect the ventilator settings to be changed to correct it. And I believe there was a review of EKG strips where she described the wave and I had to identify it. That would've been easier had there been visuals but it worked out.

My interview with a hiring manager at another hospital was less structured but he did have a list of clinical questions as well as open-ended "tell me about the sickest patient you cared for" and questions regarding conflicts with patients/families/co-workers, etc, and the importance of teamwork.

I hope that helps, good luck!

Hlemon · Mar 29, 2014

My experience with travel interviews is that they are very different from other interviews as pointed out they are usually more of a "This is what we do, can you do all this stuff? ok great when can you start?"

More times than not it becomes more like a conversation that is loosely work related. They usually have said things like "ooh I have to ask these 3 questions, and they are something dumb like "what does customer service mean to you"

Good luck

scifispam · Mar 29, 2014

My last one was 10 minutes or less. She asked what drips I had done, what things I was able to do, etc then said "ok great your offer will be over in an hour"

ASHRN828 · Mar 30, 2014

"ok great your offer will be over in an hour"

As in, you have an hour to accept the position?

21Strawberry, I'm getting anxious as I'm reading your post! Oh my gosh!

KrichRN88, I'm only on my first assignment, but my phone interview was what was stated above, "We wear blue pants and white tops. Do you have any questions for me?"

Good luck!

scifispam · Mar 30, 2014

As in, you have an hour to accept the position?
21Strawberry, I'm getting anxious as I'm reading your post! Oh my gosh!
KrichRN88, I'm only on my first assignment, but my phone interview was what was stated above, "We wear blue pants and white tops. Do you have any questions for me?"
Good luck!

Oh no it took them an hour to make an official offer :)

spankssnowbunny · Mar 30, 2014

I have completed several travel assignments and have only been interviewed by a manager 3 times. Most asked about previous experience only. I'm sure you will do great!

21strawberry · Mar 31, 2014

ASHRN828, maybe it's because I was interviewing for my first travel position, or maybe because one was Kaiser, I'm not sure. It seems most of the others who responded had much less structured interviews.