Help with interview at residential treatment

afterseason, ASN, RN · May 4, 2015

Hard to say what type of questions they will ask -- every facility is different. I was not asked psych-specific questions during my interview. Even with my PACU position, while I was asked clinical questions, they were rather broad and, quite frankly, simple to answer. Most places will recognize that you are a new grad and simply do not have certain knowledge and critical thinking abilities that come with experience, but they will expect you to be able to demonstrate basic nursing knowledge.

Also, my psych position only pays 50 cents less base rate than the major hospitals here for new grads. When my shift diff is added, plus $1/hr I get for shifts where I am charge nurse, it actually comes out being more than I would get paid in a hospital.

Davey Do · May 4, 2015

Any advice on the interview?

Study for your Interview like you were going into a Blind Testing Session. If you really want the Position, for the next week, Eat, Drink, and Sleep anorexia, bulemia, addictions, ptsd, etc. for women age 12 +.

Case in Point: Several years ago, I interviewed for a Position as the Nursing Supervisor over Medical Services and the Methadone Clinic in a Community Mental Health Facility. I felt comfortable with the Former, but had little experience with Methadone Treatment specifically. So, before the Interview I Digested everything I could on Methadone. (Except the Drug!)

I was interviewed by two Administrators and two MD's and got the job.

Good luck to you, melc, and let us know what Pans Out!

melc0305 · May 19, 2015

Just an update - I got offered the job! The group interview was weird. There were 5 applicants and 2 interviewers. Both interviewers were nurses, not HR. I felt like with that format, I didn't have enough time to really "sell myself" but apparently I did well. I'm excited to get a job so quickly as a new grad, and days at that.