First RN Med-Surg position interview tomorrow...

Nurses General Nursing

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Basically I'm wanting input on the types of clinical knowledge questions people have been asked. I'm essentially a new grad, got my license on 7/14, but no real hospital experience save for my nursing school clinicals. So I'm worried about what they may ask me in the case of knowledge. I don't want to freeze up, but if they ask me something like "What medications do you expect for the doctor to order for [insert disorder here]?" then I probably will freeze up.

Passing the NCLEX was supposed to be the hard part. Not getting the job, GR! lol :banghead:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Seriously, I doubt that your interview questions will be quite so specific. The interview is more of a global experience - where do your interests lie, how do you picture yourself as a nurse functioning on our unit....etc.

You passed your boards. That's a given. Most unit mgrs won't force you to go there again.

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Specializes in critical care.

I passed the NCLEX 7/16 and I just got a job and during the interview they didnt ask me any questions like that. They asked why I wanted to work in the unit, what are the things I could bring to the table, What I feel I need to work on, what are my strengths stuff like that. During my preceptorship I shadowed a nurse manager and she advised me to do research about the hospital, what awards they have won, specialties, etc..... and always have a question you want to ask... because most interviews end with "So, do you have any questions for me?" My question was in regards to the type of documentation used in the hospital, another good one would be what continueing education opportunities are available or the pt. nurse. Wear a suit, or nice slacks and a dress shirt, simple hair, minimal make up, small earrings, and no strong perfum. Good Luck!!!:yeah:

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

I wouldn't worry about them asking questions like that. They may focus the questions on what you've learned in school. If you displayed leadership in clinicals toot your horn. They may want to know how your med-surg clinicals played out. Mold yourself and focus on med-surg. Remind them that although you're a new grad that means you can be trained to do things their way. You have to remember that the bottom line for the job is the best fitting med-surg nurse...if you have plans to be an OB nurse later for example I wouldn't mention that. Just my 2 cents.

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You've come so far and done well...so the BEST of LUCK to you!! :) Positive thinking helps too!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

I do remember one of the questions I was asked is what would I do in a situation where the patient was going bad. Like even if I wasn't sure what was wrong but just had a gut feeling, what would I do? Along those lines, I used an example of when I found a patient unresponsive in nursing school and how I responded to the situation. I think I also got asked about what I would do in some situation involving dishonesty.... of course the best answer is to always be honest! That is the best choice every time.

Other than that, good luck!

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Do you have a pulse?

Can you work weekends?

Do you play well with others?

I'm just kidding. There are no sceario type questions. And even if there are in your own unique interview which is impossible to predict anyway, just answer everything to the best of your knowledge. It's just Med-Surg. (I don't mean that in such a way as to down play the importance of med-surg nurses out there, but you certainly won't have to know how to titrate a drip or critical things like that). Good luck to you and let us all know when your start date is!

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