Good Advice for interview

I can't give you specifics as I don't know what the current issues are in ICU in the US, but as someone who interviews reguarly I would say it is important to make a good impression early on. Be enthusiastic and honest and make sure you read up before the interview.

If you don't know the answer to a question don't be afraid to say I don't know but could it be ..................................... as long as you can recognise what you don't know and are preapred to learn then I see this as a positive sign. (Unless it is something that you really should know)

Get someone to throw interview questions at you and practice the answers, I like to ask what have you done to prepare, I like to know that who ever I employ has made the effort to read up and do some research before they come.

Why do you want the job, and what can you offer

I would usually give a scenario type question for clinical posts, a what if type questions.

My favouites would be,

patient self extubates / tube blocks / bleeds post op / has anaphylaxix following administration of drugs - what would you do

unhappy relatives with the care - how you deal with it

you notice a drug error from the shift before

If there are any relevent policy or procedures it may be worth having a read.

I would also like you to have an idea of what type of development or preceptorship you will need, this indicates an awareness of your own development needs.

Without knowing your background this is going to be a guess so bear with me and change as appropriate.

If you've not done ICU before then there are going to be knowledge and skills deficiet so acknowledge these, things like respiratory managment and caring for a ventilated patient, there will be lots of medications that are only used within ICU so you will need some time to become familiar with those. It may be that you want to the the critical care nursing course (I am not sure of the US equivelant) so mention that.

Ask what development program they have for new members of staff as well

Having worked in ICU then I would expect you to be familiar with aspects of ICU nursing, you may well be asked about your experience so far and how you think it may differ in this new unit. They may also ask specific stuff about any specialist areas or areas of practice they are leaders in.

Again they may as what if questions, what if a dr does something you know to be wrong, what if you patient becomes aggitated and tries to self extubate, what if you patient becomes suddenly hypotensive.

If you have ICU expereince I would want to know what you could offerr new nurses to the area, if you were interested in teaching, how you would deal with a nurse who was struggling to deal with the pace of ICU

I hope this helps