Please help me... Nursing interview coming up.

[simply_tweetums]

Hello everyone, I am very desperate of seeking for help here who has experience in hospital setting. I am invited for a step 2 for admission for the nursing program. I was very lucky last year that I was invited for interview,despite the fact that I haven't completed my pre-requisite for nursing program. During the interview last year I really didn't anticipate the question they asked to me. It was a scenario questions that mostly happen in the hospital. Can anyone help me the best answer of these scenario? please please to all who nurse who experience this situation help me.

Here's the scenario:

A policeman came to the ER with a man whose very drunk and unconscious. Then, it so happen that I'm the only available person during time (whose still a nursing student doing some clinicals in the ER) So, the policeman decided to approach, and ask me to take care of the person. So, what are some steps do i need to do after the policeman give the information about the guy. I really don't know the answer to this scenario because I never been to a Hospital situation. please help me, thank you very much.

[Annaiya, NP]

They aren't expecting you to answer this as a nurse and there is no "right" answer. They are looking to see how you would handle that situation. I guarantee that you will find yourself in situations during clinicals where something needs to be done and you are the only person around to do it. They want to get a sense of how you would think through the problem. Just answer honestly, what would you do?

[pmshiftrn, BSN, RN]

Let the officer know you are only a student, that you will look in on the patient, and would need to get help from someone else (your clinical instructor or a staff nurse after checking the patient.

When checking on the "patient", get a few details ... is he breathing, is he arousable (in a strong voice say, "Sir, can you hear me?"), what is his general appearance (is he disheveled, does he look nourished). You can also get some info from the officer such as where was the man found, or is this a man with a history of being found by police?

While it's true that no one expects you to provide nursing care at this point, I think it's important to look at the patient first because the staff nurse or your clinical instructor might ask you a few questions. You want to demonstrate that you've taken the initiative and that you've gathered some info on your own before seeking help.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Interesting.

OK, well, you tell the officer you are a student and will get help from a staff nurse right away.

You could do a quick assessment so you can inform the staff nurse when you .

Is the patient breathing?

Yelling?

throwing up?

being combative?

Do a set of vital signs if he will let you. Vital signs include blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respirations (how many times per minute is he breathing?) If he is combative, possibly violent, don't force the issue of VS. Stay out of his reach in case he spits, punches, kicks, vomits.

If he is not breathing or is unconscious, definitely tell the nurse immediately. Start CPR, which I imagine you will be taught pretty early in your schooling.

Sometimes, the police want you to draw blood so the alcohol level in it can be measured. This is definitely something you should NOT do unless the nurse and/or doctor tell you to and you know how to draw blood. An uncooperative patient is NOT a good person for you to practice on - not at first.

Good luck with your interview and with school.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

They aren't expecting you to answer this as a nurse and there is no "right" answer. They are looking to see how you would handle that situation. I guarantee that you will find yourself in situations during clinicals where something needs to be done and you are the only person around to do it. They want to get a sense of how you would think through the problem. Just answer honestly, what would you do?

It's important for her to not do things for which she has not been trained, though. If she plunges in and does stuff wrong, she could be in serious trouble. Someone could be harmed.

She needs to be honest about her status as a student and not pretend to be something she is not or to know more than she does.

What types of situations were you thinking of in which she would be the only person around and should take action? I think that is what you are saying she should do - correct me, please, if that's not what you meant.

[Annaiya, NP]

What types of situations were you thinking of in which she would be the only person around and should take action? I think that is what you are saying she should do - correct me, please, if that's not what you meant.

I didn't advocate for her to do anything in particular. I didn't want to answer the question for her, that's her responsibility. I was trying to get her to think about what she would do in that given situation.

Situations where you don't feel competent are always coming up in clinical. Doesn't mean it's life or death, but when you are the only person around and a patient asks you for a drink of water, what do you do? If it's your first day in clinical you might not even feel confident to find out their diet and see if it's ok, so you will ask the nurse instead. That's all I meant. I think the question is meant to find out how she handles a situation where she doesn't feel competent. If she uses someone else's answer it completely defeats the purpose of the question.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I didn't advocate for her to do anything in particular. I didn't want to answer the question for her, that's her responsibility. I was trying to get her to think about what she would do in that given situation.

Situations where you don't feel competent are always coming up in clinical. Doesn't mean it's life or death, but when you are the only person around and a patient asks you for a drink of water, what do you do? If it's your first day in clinical you might not even feel confident to find out their diet and see if it's ok, so you will ask the nurse instead. That's all I meant. I think the question is meant to find out how she handles a situation where she doesn't feel competent. If she uses someone else's answer it completely defeats the purpose of the question.

If she looked up the diet but didn't check to see about NPO status or know that the person had just had Fosamax, just looking up the diet alone wouldn't be good, right? So someone who is not familiar with the patient SHOULD ask the nurse.

I think you had good intentions, but your answer fell hard on my ears. She is, after all, not even a student yet. Why SHOULD she know what to do in a given nursing/medical situation? I think it's a dumb interview question, actually.

[Annaiya, NP]

If she looked up the diet but didn't check to see about NPO status or know that the person had just had Fosamax, just looking up the diet alone wouldn't be good, right? So someone who is not familiar with the patient SHOULD ask the nurse.

I think you had good intentions, but your answer fell hard on my ears. She is, after all, not even a student yet. Why SHOULD she know what to do in a given nursing/medical situation? I think it's a dumb interview question, actually.

I give up, you are just not understanding what I am trying to say at all. I am not answering her question, I am trying to give her things to think about. I think it is a very valid question and asking for answers from other people is cheating, imo. That's why I won't give her how I would answer it.

[simply_tweetums]

They aren't expecting you to answer this as a nurse and there is no "right" answer. They are looking to see how you would handle that situation. I guarantee that you will find yourself in situations during clinicals where something needs to be done and you are the only person around to do it. They want to get a sense of how you would think through the problem. Just answer honestly, what would you do?

Hello Annaiya, thank you for the reply, it really helps me think what to do. I wish that time I knew the best answer. I came from the other country so I was not familiar with how it works here in the US.

[simply_tweetums]

I didn't advocate for her to do anything in particular. I didn't want to answer the question for her, that's her responsibility. I was trying to get her to think about what she would do in that given situation.

Situations where you don't feel competent are always coming up in clinical. Doesn't mean it's life or death, but when you are the only person around and a patient asks you for a drink of water, what do you do? If it's your first day in clinical you might not even feel confident to find out their diet and see if it's ok, so you will ask the nurse instead. That's all I meant. I think the question is meant to find out how she handles a situation where she doesn't feel competent. If she uses someone else's answer it completely defeats the purpose of the question.

That was last year's interview, and it came out I wasn't accepted due to the fact that my points wasn't enough. I was very honest with my self when I was trying to answer the question. I didn't realize that being a nursing student is the same as CNA when it comes handling a patient. I did not explain my answer further, so i guess the interviewer didn't like my answer, besides I don't have enough points because that time I haven't completed my pre-req. Now, I completed my pre-req. and given the chance to be interview again. I now know what to expect for the interview. This is going to my references/guide that whatever situation they are going to throw to me during the interview I have to keep in mind that I'm only a student nurse, and not even allowed to give care; unless it's been supervise by teacher or the nurses on duty.

[simply_tweetums]

I give up, you are just not understanding what I am trying to say at all. I am not answering her question, I am trying to give her things to think about. I think it is a very valid question and asking for answers from other people is cheating, imo. That's why I won't give her how I would answer it.

I'm sorry I didn't know that asking others opinion or ideas is considered to be cheating. I thought, its considered to be cheating when I asked while I'm having an interview. I repeat my self this was last year interview, and I have no idea what kind of questions they are going to asked to me again. My parents always remind me that if I don't understand or know what to do the patient, I should not hesitate to ask to the supervisor because it's all about patient's life not about me.

[Annaiya, NP]

I'm sorry I didn't know that asking others opinion or ideas is considered to be cheating. I thought, its considered to be cheating when I asked while I'm having an interview. I repeat my self this was last year interview, and I have no idea what kind of questions they are going to asked to me again. My parents always remind me that if I don't understand or know what to do the patient, I should not hesitate to ask to the supervisor because it's all about patient's life not about me.

That is it exactly. You don't want to try to do more than is safe for you to do. It is never wrong to ask for help. So much of nursing is critical thinking and judgement calls. Nursing school is very competitive, so you not having enough points to get in doesn't necessarily mean you had a low score. If everyone who got in had a perfect score and you missed 1 point, it would mean your score was too low to get in. Keep that in mind. You have to be about to outscore the other applicants, but not getting in doesn't mean that wouldn't be successful in school. Good luck with the interview, I'm sure it will go better this year, since you know more what to expect.