Graduate Nurse Mental Health Interview

Hi everyone

I'm in my final semester at uni have an interview with a mental health hospital (in WA) in 2 weeks. Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and can give me some pointers. None of my friends have applied for mental health grad programs so they are of no use

Thank you so much

Aug 23, 2006

Hi, I applied for a mental health grad year a few years ago here in Melbourne plus a couple of places in NZ. 5 different organisations in all. The interviews were all similar in that they wanted to know what you thought would make you a good psych nurse, strengths, basic MSE, why psych and safety, safety, safety! Some gave scenarios for the safety questions, others just asked a general safety question. All employers were looking for attitude, rather than a vast knowledge of psych, especially here in Aus with such a small psych component to undergrad.

Good luck, it's a great career choice!

lyallch · Aug 26, 2006

one of the questions asked during mental health grad nurse interview is "how would you talk to someone who is threatening suicide?"

If nothing else, this could exercise your mind a bit?

Good luck!

lavalin · Aug 26, 2006

one of the questions asked during mental health grad nurse interview is "how would you talk to someone who is threatening suicide?"
If nothing else, this could exercise your mind a bit?
Good luck!

Patient with a history of schizophrenia has been admitted for suicidal ideation. The client states "God is telling me to kill myself right now." The nurse's best response is:

a. I understand that god's voice are real to you, But I don't hear anything. I will stay with you.

b. The voices are part of your illness, it will stop if you take medication

c. The voices are all in your imagination, think of something else and itll go away

d. Don't think of anything right now, just go and relax.

a. I understand that god's voice are real to you, But I don't hear anything. I will stay with you. : The nurse should first ACKNOWLEDGE that the voices are real to the patient and then, PRESENT REALITY by telling the patient that you do not hear anything. The third part of the nursing intervention in hallucination is LESSENING THE STIMULI by either staying with the patient or removing the patient from a highly stimulating place.

Telling the client that the voices is part of his illness is not therapeutic. People with schizophrenia do not think that they are ILL. Letter C and D disregards the client's concern and therefore, not therapeutic.

poisoniv123 · Sep 8, 2006

Thanks guys, I had two different interviews. I thought i'd write them down before i forget in case someone is ever in the same boat in the future. One asked me 3 questions

1) Why i chose that hospital

2) How will i ensure my practice is of the best quality and

3) Was a scenario based question

The other one was a bit more intense. I was given 5 questions before the interview and 15mins to jot my thoughts down then the interview went for 45mins.

They asked - why i picked mental health as a specialty

2) Give an example of a time i had to plan, assess and implement nursing care in a mental health setting.

3) How do i plan to keep up to date with my practice

4) Was a safety type mental health based scenario question

And then they gave me a written exam type paper with 30mins to do it in. It was on major depressive disorder and the questions were worth like 5 marks each there were about five of them in total. And they were like 1) name 4 signs a patient with that disorder will exhibit. 2) what would a nurse caring for that pt do in an acute setting. 3) what signs will pt exhibit if he is relapsing. 4) what can you do to prevent a relapse.

Anyways i find out on Monday, wish me luck :wink2:

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2006

Thanks for posting this - we often get asked what sort of questions they ask in interviews and it is nice to have someone who is together enough after an interview to remember the questions and post them!!!

Given that I am sure you will do well!!