I messed up on my interview, feeling terrible :(

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I have been preparing myself for a upcoming night shift at the hospital, as I had 15 hours of sleep prior to receiving a phone call from the NUM at a facility I had applied for. However as I am a relief LPN for another place I was asked to go in for an interview 5 hours later, which made it a 20 hours without sleep. But I am a new LPN as I just graduated and worked a total of 11 shifts which was my orientation, and really can use another relief position. So i go and take a taxi in for this interview. I met up with the NUM of that unit. As I was warned earlier that we were having another NUM from the same facility sit in the interview. I thought ohhhh boy, I was nervous. I was asked questions and almost felt interrogated at this interview.Not to mention the other NUM came 20 minutes late. Also since there were two NUMs interviewing me I felt stress with a lack of sleep. My answers to their questions were unclear. There was one particular question i was asked and I did not know how to answer it. I felt so terrible. I was asked what I would do if I had approached a resident that was diaphoretic and unresponsive. I said i would have checked air, breathing and circulation. And left it at that. I really was in a pickle at that point. I felt so idiotic. I was so bothered by it that when i left and returned home I emailed them and thanked them for the interview, and i also included that I had no sleep for 20 hours prior to my interview and I had to justify the one NUM question...I had explained to them I was tired and nervous which i felt had a big impact on my answers and why i was not so clear. I told them that i would like to justify my answer about the diaphoretic unresponsive resident. I said if I had approached such as resident I should know at the start of shift which of my residents were diabetic, as i would suspect that this resident may be hypoglycemic, if this resident were hypoglycemic I would want to check his blood glucose level. and once getting a reading I would want to proceed with appropriate action. And if the reading were within normal range I would then proceed with checking air, breathing and circulation, and include a set of vitals. Once getting the readings i would contact ambulance to transport patient to hospital and i would also want to know what the code is for this resident as it is vital to what they would do at the hospital for this patient. Regardless I feel it is vital to check air, breathing and circulation and do a set of vitals to any resident or patient that is diaphoretic or unresponsive. did I do the right thing by emailing them back and explaining and clarifying my answer to his question?

I would also like to add, that before the interview was finished one of the NUM said that they were going to go to the NUM and ask see what she says about me, what happens if he tells her about my answer I gave him when he asked me about the diaphoretic unresponsive resident, and tells her how poor my answer was...and makes me out to look incompetent and now I will feel as though i am under the radar making me very nervous and possibly affecting my nursing service I provide. I did mention in the letter had i been more alert and not sleep deprived my answers would have been more clear. I feel so aweful

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Do not believe you improved your chances by emailing them back. If anything, that just solidified any negative impression. Next time, take the night or day off just prior to an interview to help you be at your best.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Emailing them with a clearer answer cannot hurt you at this point. However, I know by now that you have heard the old saying: "You never have a second chance to make a good first impression."

You made a lackluster first impression, which is what matters the most. Keep your chin up, dust yourself off and keep looking. Good luck to you!

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Actually, I did explain that I was sleep deprived as I was preparing for my night shift at another facility. I am terrible.... :(

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am terrible.... :(
Don't beat up on yourself. Keep trying and maintain the faith in your abilities. With perseverance, preparation and a positive attitude, a great opportunity will knock in the near future. Good luck to you!
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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Actually, I did explain that I was sleep deprived as I was preparing for my night shift at another facility. I am terrible.... :(

Don't beat yourself too much, but learn from this experience and move on.

For me, telling them that you were sleep-deprived would not help you if I were the interviewer. It might even make things worse. I would wonder whether or not you were the type of person to come to work sleep-deprived (and therefore a danger to your patients and a burden for your colleagues). I would also think that the interview must not have been very important to you as you would have been sure to be at your best if you really wanted the job.

As I said ... Learn and move on.

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I would NEVER tell an interviewer that I was tired. Especially if I was so tired I couldn't answer a basic question. That makes you seem dangerous as an employee.

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Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

Practice in front of mirror. Read some articles that can enhance you interview skills. Try to study the background of the place you wanna work. Be confident. dress for success. Make it short answers but very meaningful for the employers. Trust me. I've been to a lot interviews before i landed to my job. Practice makes perfect and there's always room for improvement. Stand up and face you fear! Be positive and ask for guidance to some pro nurses out there :)

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It turns out I did indeed get the position. I just finished signing my letter of offer agreement. Happy and kind of scared at the same time as in the pod there is 48 residents and one LPN per pod, and 1 RN throughout

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
It turns out I did indeed get the position. I just finished signing my letter of offer agreement. Happy and kind of scared at the same time as in the pod there is 48 residents and one LPN per pod, and 1 RN throughout
Congratulations on the job offer! Thank you for returning to provide us with an update regarding your wonderful news!
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I agree, employers don't want to hear excuses. Especially the "tired" excuse...

To the OP, Congrats!

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