ADVICE: New RN has first interview tomorrow!!!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 15, 2014

congrats! Even getting an interview in the current hiring climate is an achievement :)

Tips? Dress professionally, can't stress this ENOUGH. Slacks or skirt, doesn't matter, but whichever you choose should be well-fitted, clean and pressed. Professional lengths. Top: keep styles simple--clean, pressed. Jewelry is minimal, NOT "bling". Nothing swinging from your ears or wrists, you want your sparkling personality to be remembered, not your jewelry! If a skirt, wear hose and professional-height shoes.

Be prompt. Five minutes early is perfect. Twenty-five is too early; wait a bit before entering. You don't want the interviewer to feel she has to rush to meet YOUR schedule. Never be late. I don't care if there's a pack of wolves in front of the lobby doors, bust through them and be ON TIME.

Smile. Be bright and attentive, ask questions but do not babble. Questions should be thoughtful and relevant to the job and the facility, not "how much vacation time do I get?" KNOW SOMETHING about that facility: profit/non-profit, what is the community they serve, who is in charge and a bit about them (Google is an easy and free PI these days).

Why do you want to work THERE, as opposed to somewhere else? Yes you want the job, but why do they want YOU?

Firm handshake; no limp wrists or Terminator grips, please. Be sure to thank the interviewer for her time, and mention your appreciation at her working you into what must be a very tight schedule.

And keep that positive glow about you :)

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 15, 2014

What the PP said...

You need to emphasize your strengths and be honest about your (workable and modifiable) weaknesses. Bad weaknesses include being late sometimes, being too hard headed, being quick to speak, not listening enough, being unorganized, being bad at math, not working well under pressure. "Good" weaknesses are being a new grad and new to the RN role, transitioning from student nurse/CNA to RN, needing time to become proficient with skills, having a lot to learn, learning how to delegate more effectively and knowing when to delegate.

I will stress...dress professionally, even if it means buying a suit. No strong perfume, actually no perfume is better. Shower clean smell is good. And yes, do shower before. Short, clean nails.

You also want to emphasize why you would want to work on the short stay unit (which I figure is observation) and at that particular hospital. Say things like getting to see a variety of patients, getting telemetry experience, learning how to prioritize care well. If the hospital is Magnet, has great customer service scores, quality awards, regionally known for their *fill in the blank* Center bring that up. You can say, you've heard great things about the hospital. When I've told my friends that I have an interview there they said "that's a good hospital" etc. Of course this all has to be actually true.

Don't ask anything about salary, vacation/benefits, the shift, or anything else that they give you. Most of this is nonnegotiable anyhow. They will give you this info. You can ask how long orientation will be and about the skill mix (new RNs vs experienced RNs), how is staffing, nurse to patient ratio, and how many patients per CNAs.

If they ask where you want to see yourself in 5 years..don't say NP school...say things like getting your BSN (if you have your associates), moving up the clinical ladder (if the hospital has one), being an instructor for nursing students on the floor, being a competent nurse and a resource to the staff, orienting new nurses, being charge nurse, being involved in committees...things like that.

If you have any more questions, PM me.

I've have lots of bad and good interviews so this advice is from personal and recent experience.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 15, 2014

LOL, I think between the two of us, this new grad should be SET!

OldDude · Dec 15, 2014

You two ought to start up your own nurse employment service.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 15, 2014

LOL, I think between the two of us, this new grad should be SET!

Yes! Let's see if she gets the job :)

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 15, 2014

One more thing...If you can't think of a particular example, just say so. Don't make up a story. Think how you would react if faced with a dissatisfied family member, working in a group and one member is not pulling their weight, and seeing someone doing something clinically incorrect that can harm the patient (such as catheterizing the lady parts and then removing foley and putting it into the urethra - I was asked that question once). Remember - follow the chain of command. If you know someone is doing something illegal..you first save the patient from harm and then notify your nurse manager. If it's a doctor doing something wrong...notify your nurse manager not their boss. The nurse manager can contact their boss. It's important to use your resources.

mickeyrose912 · Dec 15, 2014

Thanks so much! I am very confident that I will be offered the position. When I went to hand deliver my resume to HR I was wearing an express suit and had a portfolio with all my paperwork and a notepad with notes on the facility, unit and administration personal. The HR nurse recruiter took me into her office and told me that my resume is on file, but she would be unable to help me because the director of the unit would need to contact me for an interview. I thanked her for her time and left. Ten minutes later she called me and asked “are you still at the hospital?" I told her I was not, but I would be glad to return. She then told me that she setup an interview with the director and me tomorrow. I am not sure what changed, but she must have saw something on my resume/ I must have changed her mind somehow.

Here is a little bit about me that I plan on using to help me out tomorrow:

-BSN, RN

-ACLS/BLS

-Bilingual (Spanish)

-Graduated Magna cum Laude from Boston

-Awarded merit based scholarships and a member of several honor societies

-5+ years experience as a live in caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease AKA ADLS, provided daily support and advocacy, family education, developed and implemented strategies to ensure safety and enhance quality of life.

-2+ years experience in home care for a paraplegic

-5+ years experience waitressing AKA caring for diverse people and personalities, prioritizing needs in a fast paced environment, time management, problem solving

-3+ years as a recruitment and training manager for a non-profit AKA leading public business presentations, recruitment, training new personal, leading activities, managing delegation of tasks

-Talk about clinical experience

-Volunteer experience at the VA Hospital, Flu clinics, On a Rehab unit

Strengths:

-My passion for knowledge: demonstrated through my academic achievement, certifications and volunteer experience. I took the initiative to sign up for an ACLs course while i was in school( i even paid for it). I was the only one in the room not a seasoned RN or MD.

-Being aware of when i have the knowledge to ensure safe care and when i dont

- knowing my resources and how to use them

Weaknesses:

-I like to ask a lot of questions and learn things thoroughly.

-Gaining more confidence a new RN

anything i am missing that is key? :)

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Dec 15, 2014

You two ought to start up your own nurse employment service.

An interview practice session with either nursing instructors or the school's career center should be mandatory before graduation. I think that is one thing that can prevent quality new grads from getting jobs, poor interview performance.

been there,done it · Dec 15, 2014

Thanks so much! I am very confident that I will be offered the position. When I went to hand deliver my resume to HR I was wearing an express suit and had a portfolio with all my paperwork and a notepad with notes on the facility, unit and administration personal. The HR nurse recruiter took me into her office and told me that my resume is on file, but she would be unable to help me because the director of the unit would need to contact me for an interview. I thanked her for her time and left. Ten minutes later she called me and asked "are you still at the hospital?" I told her I was not, but I would be glad to return. She then told me that she setup an interview with the director and me tomorrow. I am not sure what changed, but she must have saw something on my resume/ I must have changed her mind somehow.
Here is a little bit about me that I plan on using to help me out tomorrow:
-BSN, RN
-ACLS/BLS
-Bilingual (Spanish)
-Graduated Magna cum Laude from Boston
-Awarded merit based scholarships and a member of several honor societies
-5+ years experience as a live in caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer's disease AKA ADLS, provided daily support and advocacy, family education, developed and implemented strategies to ensure safety and enhance quality of life.
-2+ years experience in home care for a paraplegic
-5+ years experience waitressing AKA caring for diverse people and personalities, prioritizing needs in a fast paced environment, time management, problem solving
-3+ years as a recruitment and training manager for a non-profit AKA leading public business presentations, recruitment, training new personal, leading activities, managing delegation of tasks
-Talk about clinical experience
-Volunteer experience at the VA Hospital, Flu clinics, On a Rehab unit
Strengths:
-My passion for knowledge: demonstrated through my academic achievement, certifications and volunteer experience. I took the initiative to sign up for an ACLs course while i was in school( i even paid for it). I was the only one in the room not a seasoned RN or MD.
-Being aware of when i have the knowledge to ensure safe care and when i dont
- knowing my resources and how to use them
Weaknesses:
-I like to ask a lot of questions and learn things thoroughly.
-Gaining more confidence a new RN
anything i am missing that is key? :)

Be prepared for behavioral questions.

Tell me about a time you... encountered xxx and how you handled it.

Have several scenarios in mind that will prove you will excel in a Short Stay Unit.

I have worked in several .. the nurse needs to excel in assessment, communication, and flexibility.

You may start the shift with a patient ready for discharge... then they crash and burn on their way out the door.

Resume' , express suit, and portfolio ... no longer apply.

mickeyrose912 · Dec 15, 2014

Be prepared for behavioral questions.
Tell me about a time you... encountered xxx and how you handled it.
Have several scenarios in mind that will prove you will excel in a Short Stay Unit.
I have worked in several .. the nurse needs to excel in assessment, communication, and flexibility.
You may start the shift with a patient ready for discharge... then they crash and burn on their way out the door.
Resume' , express suit, and portfolio ... no longer apply.

Thank you VERY much!

mickeyrose912 · Dec 16, 2014

I got it, I just know I did. I will hear back from them within a week :) my interview was 2 1/2 hours long. The first 30 minutes was them talking to me about the unit and then they gave me a two hour tour. I explored throughout the operating room, pacu and the short stay unit. I met about 40 people. The two nurses that interviewed me were very impressed with my preparation. They said that they have never seen a new graduate nurse so prepared and eager to learn. If they were not really interested in me I do not think that I would've been there that long. Hell, the older nurses kept touching my red hair ( one even sniffed it and said I smelt like fresh coconuts) and there was a cheek pincher too. Interesting, yet very positive experience.