Advice for new grad nurses

[amiceli]

I'm a student nurse just a few months off from graduating my ADN program and I was looking for a few answers and pieces of advice for all of us student nurses out there that are about to become RNs. I'm hoping some experienced nurses will be able to help me out!

1. What are some common questions I can expect in a job interview for an RN position, especially as a new grad nurse (or close to new grad nurse)? Also, does anyone have any advice for interviewing for RN positions such as good techniques for answering questions (especially when you're drawing a blank and don't know what to say)? I have several years experience as a CNA and know, in general, what to expect from those interviews but I'm a bit more nervous for future RN interviews.

2. What are some good ways or tools to prepare for the NCLEX? What advice do you have for studying and what review programs are out there and what about them is beneficial?

3. What advice do you have for new grad nurses transitioning from student nurse/ CNA to registered nurse (prioritization, time management, organization or anything that's handy for a new nurse to know really)?

Thanks!!!

[Elevense]

For NCLEX, I thought uworld was awesome. I heard good things in my last semester of nursing school. I subscribed for 1 month, even though I took my NCLEX 2 weeks after I signed up and only used half my subscription, I still don't regret it. I was pretty broke, and the money for the subscription was a Christmas gift from my family. The rationales are amazing. Charts, pictures, detailed explanations. Look on google images for 'uworld rationales' and you will get a vague idea.

Some questions I had during interviews as a new grad... You should also google things like interview questions or behavioral interview questions and get some good ideas.

Why do you want to work here?

Talk about a time you went above and beyond for a customer or patient.

Tell me about a time something you learned clicked in the clinical setting.

Critical thinking scenarios involving patient situations, such as "who would you see first and why" with a list of patient statuses.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

What were your best and worst work environments and why?

Tell me about a time you had an issue with another coworker and how you handled it.

What would your coworkers say about you?

What is your biggest weakness?

What do you anticipate being your biggest struggle as a new grad?

What have you done if one of your coworkers was being unsafe?

Give me an example of a time you had a difficult patient/family member/customer.

Also have some questions ready when you walk in. I brought paper and took notes (in a folder with things like extra resume copies, copies of certs like CPR, ACLS if you have it, and when I had it, NCLEX pass results). Don't get so wrapped up in it that you aren't connecting with your audience, but with nerves I knew I wasn't going to remember every name on a panel interview, or answers to certain questions. Personally it never hindered a job offer, and helped me remember important information later.

I'm a new grad myself in my first job, so the rest I'm still figuring out. Best of luck!!

[amiceli]

Thank you so much for your advice! It really helps! Good luck to you as well!