ED Interview Questions?

mwboswell · Mar 6, 2009

I would ask THEM:

A) What is the maximum number of pt's you'd have to care for at one time?

B) What if you got more than that? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc)

C) Will they guarantee you lunch/bathroom breaks?

D) What processes/mechanisms are in place to protect YOU from injury from your patients? (metal detectors, security at bedside, law enforcement in the department)

E) Ask them what their "call in" ('call out') rate is?

F) What do they do when they are short staffed? Are you expected to pick up extra patients?

G) What do they do when your relief isn't there to relieve you? (IE someone called in) ... will they REQUIRE you to work over?

H) Ask what the average years of experience their ED has?

I) Ask how many current vacancies are open and when was the last time that all their FTE's were filled?

J) Ask what training (besides just watching someone) they will give you before allowing you to do triage?

K) Ask if they will provide funding for: TNCC, ACLS, PALS, and to become certfied as an Emergency Nurse

L) Ask how long the new grad orientation/mentoring is? Ideally it should be at least 3 months long with the option to extend.

M) Ask if you'd ever be put in an area by yourself (like fastrack) and how much experience you'd get before that.

N) Ask about being "on call" - are you mandated to take call? And typically, how often are the "on call" people called in?

O) Ask if you'd be expected to do sexual assault evidence collections

These are just the first ones that come to mind!

Good luck!

star77, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

Great questions!

Thank you so much- that's a fantastic list of questions and I will be definitely asking some of those on interview day (not far away!).

mwboswell · Mar 7, 2009

I would recommend you ask them all!

More ED nurses (especially the ones who complain a lot) should have asked these questions....

Most people are disillusioned by ED nursing - it's a lot different than what they imagined it would be.

Also most of those questions are ones which may have liability issues for you, your patient or your employer -

I'd ask them all.

star77, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

Hey you guys, thank you so much.

I got the job! I'm starting as an ED nurse in July. SO excited. Now to focus on finishing classes here... :yeah:

Thank you for your advice. I asked these questions, and I am very sure it helped me out (not just in doing well in the interview, but it gave me a great picture of where I'm working).

Super supportive environment I'm going into. Very cool.

Buckeye RN/EMT-P · Apr 2, 2009

boswell:

really good questions from your earlier post- i am interviewing next tuesday for an contingent er position, after being out for 5 yrs. for the birth and first years of our first-born. looking forward to getting back in the saddle. i had come up with my own questions, and thought i'd look on here to see if there were any i missed - and of course, there were. appreciate the post. also, if you have any other advice or questions pertaining to someone in my situation, i'd appreciate hearing from you, (or anyone else that may have info and would like to respond!) thanks. :cool:

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 7, 2009

Congrats to Star, and good luck to Buckeye!! :)

Just one thought -- I would also ask how often people are called off/sent home due to low census rate -- i.e., does the ED flex staffing? We've had some issues with this lately where I work, as well as in other parts of our hospital system -- the overall census has been a little low lately, and some people have had to use their PTO hours to get their full 72 hours/pay period.

Buckeye RN/EMT-P · Apr 7, 2009

lunahrn:

thanks - interview went well and should hear something soon.

we actually discussed this issue in the interview - she stated that they have occassionally let rns off early due to low census, but usually only for the last couple hours of the shift. she said that the environment is too unpredictable , and to let someone go home "on-call" only to have them come back in costs the department more, as the hospital policy is to pay time and a half if called in. she said they are still looking at the process, but do not foresee any major changes right now.

the er i worked at about 5 years ago used to do that frequently, but i worked night shift, so things were usually a little more calm and predictable then. not to say we didn't get caught short a few times, but usually it worked out well.

hope that helps. :cool:

ElwoodEMT · May 9, 2009

Star - I'm in the same boat as you, new Grad RN, EMT for 9 years and I'm up for a ED fellowship program at a level 1 trauma center. It really sounds like my dream job. I rocked the first interview but I have the second follow-up interview in a few weeks. At that point they are going to cut the number of candidates down from 25 to 12. I'd love to know what questions they asked you. Any insight you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

star77, MSN, RN · Jun 3, 2009

Hey Elwood- sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner. You know, there were no specific questions about patient care. General "how do you handle stress" and "what experience do you have" and "why nursing"? That kind of stuff.

Best of luck to you!

-Star