ED Interview

Hi Kitty! Finding your message is pretty neat - because I also have an ER interview tomorrow! I actually applied to transfer from my current unit to our ER.

Our hospital uses an interview style that is a format of questions about previous clinical experiences. (It's a pain) But, it forces you to draw on your experiences and toot your own horn. It asks things like - what are your strengths and weaknesses? Explain a time you corrected someone else for doing something incorrectly and how did you handle it? Explain a time that you brought a situation up and corrected it in a way that saved the patient time or inappropriate care? Explain how you usually deal with difficult co-workers. Things like that. If you know you've done some great things or helped make some positive changes on your current unit - then make sure you bring it up! Basically - anything that focuses on the use of those "critical thinking skills!" And if you don't "like" interviews - it might help to think about some examples you can use tonight so you feel more prepared.

Stop back here tomorrow and let me know how you do! Maybe we can support each other through orientation the next few months! I already have my Emergency Principals textbook ready to crack!

Dawn in PA

Too funny...I came here specifically to ask the same question! However, I'm a new grad (as of this summer), so this will be my first nurse job interview. (It's a busy, suburban emergency room outside of DC.)

The last time I had a major round of interviews (for nursing school), it really helped me to compile as many potential questions as I could think of and write out answers to them. Having to compose answers made me think hard about each of them and allowed me to figure out how I could put myself in the best light. Once I got into the interview, I found that I didn't have many (if any) "hmm...good question" kinds of pauses...I could just jump in and answer the question without giving it much thought.

Of course, you could go overboard here and end up sound totally plastic, but I think that, in moderation, it can be a good strategy.

Good luck!

Kelly

P.S. I'd love to hear any more ED-specific interview questions...especially for a new grad!

You need to really think about why you want to work ER. I'm sure you will be asked. The ER environment is a very strange and different subculture of nursing. ER nurses are "different". How do you see yourself fitting in? Teamwork is ESSENTIAL. Very different than the ICU's that are very detaile oriented and therefore slower pacing is necessary not to miss important details. In the ER you must multi-task and prioritize, QUICKLY. Keep the masses moving. You need to be able to delegate to techs and NA's in a respectful manner. If you are asked what qualities you posess that would make you a good ER nurse...remember: TEAM WORKER, PRIORITIZATION SKILLS, MULTI-TASKING SKILLS. Be ready to give examples. If you truley do not feel you have the potential to posess these qualities, steer clear of the ER. Good Luck

If you REALLY want in, just tell them that you're a regular viewer of NBC's "ER" and other such shows... and the real life 'reality in the ER', or 'Trauma 911' (are these shows?). Tell them the shows excite you and you're sure you can handle all the excitement, drama, and sexy co-stars. You'll be a shoe-in.

(jealous ICU nurse waiting for ABC's fisrt installment of "ICU"...maybe then OUR recruitment numbers'd go up....sheesh..)

Expect a question regarding triage and who should be seen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and why....

DESIRE TO LEARN, NEW CHALLENGES, If you want it bad let them know how hard you are willing to work in order to succeed.

What questions are you going to ask? ....what type of patient population, flow in the ed, nurse/pt ratio, is it a cohesive environment as far as the staff interactions, physicians expectations, how much atonomy, standing orders, etc.

Good Luck!

Well - I did my interview today....went well I thought. This is actually for a transfer-in-house but they do the interviews the same whether you're a current employee there or not. (Also LVL I trauma center - they said they avg. 125 pt's a day)

Went well I think. After I summed up some of my traits and we mutually talked about ER nursing, I finally came to the conclusion......I've wanted to do this for years.......and I know what I know......and what I don't know I'm willing to learn.......so I might as well jump in. I said to the interviewer "it's not like there's a school down the street to be an expert ER nurse in 6 weeks, so I've gotta give ya what I know and promise you to work hard at what I don't." I've been on a big roll with job changes before school, then school and all that jazz and I feel like I should make this change while I got the momentum going.

I should find out in about a week........but egads! change is always scary!

Hey Kitty - how did ur interview go?

Dawn

Thanks to everyone who responded to my desparate post! Took all your suggestions into consideration and was well prepared. The NM did most of the talking (fine by me!) but I was able to tell her why I'd be a good match for her department. I will shadow an ED RN next week and I'll sure he/she will give the NM some feedback. Overall, very laidback interview. Very unlike the ones I've had in the business world ( )-thankfully.

To the Grad RN - piece of cake, follow all the suggestions that everyone wrote about, especially about why you want to be an ED nurse. Ask if you shadow an RN on a busy night for a couple of hours to see what it's like. My ED allows non-employees to shadow after an interview. Good Luck!

DVarmit-Glad your interview went well:) When I asked about the orientation period, the NM stated that it takes about 8 months to feel really comfortable in our ED (level 1 trauma center also) and the orientation time varies per person. Now that it's over it's time for some beers Let me know when you start your new job!

Thanks for the help and the encouragement! I just scheduled a second interview this morning, so I'll be doing two ED interviews this Thursday. I'll be sure to post any questions that seem out of the ordinary. (We've been hearing that a lot of grads are being asked technical/scenario-type questions, which have us all nervous because they're definitely the types of questions where there are right and wrong answers. Eek!)

Okay - I'm just watching the calendar here.......the ER manager I interviewed with said they'd let me know in about a week...........(acting casual- eek - what day is it now!) I'll let you all know. Meanwhile, I've been reviewing Sheehy's Emergency Principals and Practice - textbood recommended to me. It's actually very good review for any area of nursing!

np2b - I think the biggest thing to keep in mind with questions about specific skills is - if you don't know, communicate that you would ask a superior/peer, and consult any unit specific protocols or procedures. I find most managers just want to know that you're willing to find the right answer, not make up the skill as you go (bluffing it). We have a lot of new GN's we've hired that think they know it all and are very reluctant to confess that they didn't cover something in school. The ones who say "Hey, show me that thing again from the other day........." always seem to do better adjusting to our floor.

Good luck - I'll keep ya'll posted

Dawn in PA

Thanks for the help and the encouragement! I just scheduled a second interview this morning, so I'll be doing two ED interviews this Thursday. I'll be sure to post any questions that seem out of the ordinary. (We've been hearing that a lot of grads are being asked technical/scenario-type questions, which have us all nervous because they're definitely the types of questions where there are right and wrong answers. Eek!)

So what types of clinicals did you do in nursing school? Where did you do your practicum? I think you'll do great in your interviews - they know you're a new grad and they don't expect you to throw out ACLS factoids. Good luck today in your interviews, let us know how they went:p

Okay - I'm just watching the calendar here.......the ER manager I interviewed with said they'd let me know in about a week...........(acting casual- eek - what day is it now!) I'll let you all know. Meanwhile, I've been reviewing Sheehy's Emergency Principals and Practice - textbood recommended to me. It's actually very good review for any area of nursing!

Dawn - ok what's the holdup the the HR recruiter already? It's been 7 days for heavens sake! Hopefully by the time you get this you'll know when your first day is! I shadowed tonite in the ED, were there any traumas? No, of course not. But I found it to be so much different than being a floor nurse (in a good way) and I really liked the other RNs and seems like very good teamwork (not always the rule on my floor). I just need to call the NM and thank her for the opportunity to shadow, etc. Let us know when you find out:)

Hello everyone! Well, I had my interviews yesterday (sort-of). The first went very well, it seems...it sounds like they will be offering me a position! The interview turned out to be surprisingly low-key...they asked the "what's your strength" quuestion and the "how do you deal with conflict with a coworker/difficult patient" questions, and that was about it. The second interview didn't really end up happening, but I was told that I would be called back for an interview "soon." I'm very excited about that hospital (it's a good fit for my interests), so needless to say, if they don't call be back soon, I'll be pestering them again.

Thanks so much for everyone's support. I can't believe that in just a couple more months I'm going to be doing this stuff for real! :)