Help, questions to ask during interview

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Aug 31, 2007

You could also ask:

What are the qualities you see in your CNAs that foster success in your ED?

How many patients would I be expected to care for?

What are the most common types of patients you see in your ED?

Also, research their website, and let them know that from what you have seen during your research, you would really like to work for them, as they espouse everything you're looking for in an organization. Works every time.

Good luck to you! I say if you can handle 800 patients in a NH, you could handle the fast pace of the ED.

YellowFinchFan · Aug 31, 2007

To those emergency department managers out there, what do you look for when hiring a CNA?
Some of the questions I came up with are;
What is the turn over rate?
Do you require on call?
How do you rotate weekends?
How do they schedule hoildays?
When do you expect to make a deision on filling the position?
May I call you in X number of days?
The length and type of my orientation?
Anything that I should ask that would be specific to the ED?
And something else that I am embaressed to ask and need help to ask without making myself sound stupid, but I applied for many positions for the ED, I am not sure which one I am being interviewd for. :smackingf Bassically any CNA position that was open in the hospital I have been applying at, because I knew that I wanted to work at this hospital. I know that it is a CNA position, however I am unsure of the hours that I am interviewing for, but I feel silly that I dont remeber, but the last time I applied was about two moths ago.

by 'turn over rate' do you mean "staff" or patient's in the ER? I would make sure you are clear and say "what is the turn over rate of patients on a typical day in the ER"? (don't ask about staff turn over)

I don't think I would ask "do you require on call" ....let them mention th at in the interview....it may make you sound negative,like you're anticipating they would make you 'work more'....

"the holidays" question is something I prob wouldn't ask because you are trying to get the job and most places have a policy in place and you're trying to get the job (not worry about holidays yet)

About when you should "call - in X number of days"...I would just ask "Do you know when you will be making your decision and when I can expect to hear something?"

All your other questions seem good to me - and to find out what position you are being considered for just ask - "the hours are ex: 3-11? or whatever it is"....she'll correct you if you're wrong and just be prepared for the diff hours she offers.....you could always say you knew they had advertized for diff shifts etc.....

Ask for the interviewers card if he/she has one and follow up with a thank you email.....with all your contact info in it ....that worked for me.

GOOD LUCK....!!!

TrudyRN · Aug 31, 2007

After almost a year of applying to the area hospitals, I finally have an interview for the emergency depaertment at one of the hospitals.:yelclap: I have worked for almost a year as a CNA in a nursing home.
I have searched on this site for questions that I might encounter during the interview, but I am wondering as to what I should ask the interviewer. Several months ago I interviewd at a different hospital and I didnt have any questions prepared to ask them during the interview and I never heard back from them.
So I would like to go in prepared for this one, becuase I would really like to work for this hospital.
To those emergency department managers out there, what do you look for when hiring a CNA?
Some of the questions I came up with are;
What is the turn over rate? How will it help you to know this?
Do you require on call? "Will I be taking call? How does that work?"
How do you rotate weekends? I'd be reluctant to bring up weekends and holidays so don't ask unless it really matters to you. If I were the one doing the hiring, I'd like to think you'd be available all the time. Stupid but there you go.
How do you schedule hoildays?
When do you expect to make a decision on filling the position?
May I call you in X number of days? These last 2 are great questions.
The length and type of my orientation? What will my orientation be like?
Anything that I should ask that would be specific to the ED? Do you see a lot of trauma? Peds? Whatever.
And something else that I am embarrassed to ask and need help to ask without making myself sound stupid, but I applied for many positions for the ED, I am not sure which one I am being interviewed for. :smackingf Bassically, any CNA position that was open in the hospital I have been applying at, because I knew that I wanted to work at this hospital. I know that it is a CNA position, however I am unsure of the hours that I am interviewing for, but I feel silly that I dont remeber, but the last time I applied was about two moths ago.

"Let's see, this is a night shift position?" "Uh, no, it's Days." "Oh, that's right, sorry." "Will you be able to work Days?" "Yes, Day shift is fine." Or, you could try asking the HR secretary or the Recruiter directly before you go for the interview. In fact, you probably should so you are certain you can work the required times.

Just let your enthusiasm for ER show and let it be known that you have excellent attendance records, reliable transportation plus a back-up vehicle, and you also have a regular babysitter and 3 back-up's. You aren't in school, you live to work, you love helping people and assisting the nurses and doing anything you can to help the over all smooth functioning of the department. And you're available after just 2 weeks' notice and you're not planning on going back to school in the foreseeable future. :devil: :lol2: :balloons:

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2007

what are your cna's required to do? prioritiies tend to be different in er.

is it a teaching hospital? will you be taking classes? if so, what types of classes?

we don't use cna's as used by floors, we have med techs that perform ekg, phlebotomy, and several lab functions(istat, urine dips, hcg, bg)-if this is part of your current skill set-when would you be trained.

if there is a mixed type of patient, how are they assigned? is there a team leader?

no one should be expected to come in as a tech to er knowing how to hold a kid, or be part of a code, or provide iv setups and help to er nurses if that hasn't been their job.

who do cna answer to? very important for you to know.

if i think of anything else i'll let you know.

maisy;)

alkaleidi · Aug 31, 2007

I'd just add on to the response above me by Maisy -- as a CNA going to the ED as an ED Tech, I'd want to know what additional skills I'd be expected to learn. For example, phlebotomy, foley insertion, ECGs, etc.

I'd ask how the teams are broken down (i.e. where I work nurse:pt is 1:4, and there are usually 3 nurses + 1 tech per team, so "technically" a tech could end up responsible for up to 12 pts at a time -- realistically that doesn't happen and we never expect more out of a tech than what they are actually capable of doing... like, I don't generally ask them to do much for me aside from transport to CT or an ECG now and then). I'd want to know what the tech:pt ratio is. Hmm... ask how you are trained -- do you get a preceptor?

The more questions you ask, however major or minor, shows your interest in the details of your job.

Good luck!

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Sep 20, 2007

Thank You all who responded with the great advice. I just got off the phone with the ED manager and she offered me a full time position!!!!!!!! Very excited to be moving from LTC to the ED.:yelclap:

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 20, 2007

Congrats- you did it!!!