Cardia step down unit interview

[ChiTania]

So I'm going to a Cardiac Step Down unit interview next week, what kind of questions should I be prepared for? Also what vital questions should I be asking aside from the basics?

Its my first big interview of since I've graduated nursing school so I'm just a bit nervous. What tossed me for a loop is I applied at this hospital for an OR position which I'm guessing they filled w/ someone else but they also had a Cardiac opening they also submitted my resume too. I'm still up and down when it comes to being excited/overwhelmed just thinking about the position but I feel once I get rolling in the position I can get the hang of anything.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks! :redpinkhe

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

1. If your patient is diaphoretic, complaining of chest pain that juts down his or her arm, and is looking a little pale what orders do you anticipate getting from the Doc?

2. If the above patient is complaining of these symptoms and you just left a room of another patient who would like her sleeping pill NOW, which patient's concern do you address first?

3. If a MD writes an order for a patient that is going to keep this patient alive, but you feel that this patient is at death's door. Do you question his orders or blindly follow them. What will you do? What is your plan when faced with life saving orders from an MD pertaining to a end of life issue patient?

4. If you receive an order for Digoxin, what labs will you assess, what will you do to assess your Pt before you give the med? What would you see with a Digoxin toxicity reaction?

I will be praying all goes well with your interview. Please send me a private message to let me know what questions they threw your way! I know you will be surely a great addition to the Step Down Cardiac staff!!!

WELCOME ABOARD TO THE ALL NURSE'S WEBSPACE NURSING STATION!!!:jester: WARNING, THERE ARE NO CORNERS IN WEB SPACE!!!!

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

i'm pretty sure you said interview.....not test. i'm thinking the questions will be more on your experience, your attitude to learning and where you stand on arrythmia identification. your long term goal for your position there at the hospital (ie. ccrn, bsn, msn). are you acls certified, bls certified. how flexable you are as far as shift goes and what other life worries you have going on.....family, children, elderly parents you are caring for. i'd point out that being a new grad in some respects might be a deficit however, you are also a blank canvas that can be molded and shaped by seasoned nurses. you carry no bad habits with you. point out that you are excited and nervous about the position and you look forward to becoming a calm, informed, able nurse at the bedside willing and able to handle the emergencies that will come along.

[medicrnohio, RN]

I think both of the above posters gave you good advice. When I interviewed for my first nursing postion, they did ask me scenario type questions, such as those posed by telerner. They also asked me other questions, such as my availability, plans for future education, shift preference, strengths/weaknesses, my education, work experience, etc. Questions about children, family, parents, etc are off limits. The law does limit the questions that can be asked by potential employers. Good luck. I loved tele nursing. I learned SOOO much.

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

i'm pretty sure you said interview.....not test.

you know what's interesting here, i had these questions thrown my way at an interview recently. no, an interview may not be a test entirely. but by all means be prepared for a questions involving cardiac care that may resemble the nclex. please let me know if this is truly the case, there being no test like questions!

[MB37]

I was recenly hired into critical care as a new grad, and I didn't get asked any knowledge-type questions. It was all "where do you see yourself in 5 years?" and the like. I had two phone interviews with other hospitals, and they didn't ask any of that type either. One of those, however, asked some more general scenario questions, i. e. "tell me about a difficult situation you had to deal with in school or at work." However, you should be prepared for everything. There are several threads on AN where people have posted potential questions, and I did a lot of prepping both on this site and elsewhere online. There are tons of websites out there with sample interview questions and advice. Do a little cardiac review in case they ask you anything specific, know why you want to work at that hospital and in that unit, have a 5 year plan in case they ask, and think of a few "difficult" situations from both work and school since they may ask how you handled something. Good luck!