I'm in need of interview tips...

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Hey guys, I've been to one interview already the other day and I failed miserably. I thought I was prepared but it turns out I wasn't. I didn't practice enough as I was asked critical thinking questions, and I pretty much froze in most of them. I was wondering if you guys can help me out by giving me a few pointers and how to answer some of these questions that I got:

1. You find a patient on the floor, what do you do?

2. 3 patients: One with chest pain, one with shortness of breath, and one that fell. In which order would you attend to these patients and what would you do?

3. How would you care for a patient with dementia?

4. You are doing admissions, what would you put on the admissions sheet?

5. You are in charge of 2 CNAs, one leaves after a fight with the other CNA, what do you do?

6. A patient's family is arguing with you about the patient in the patient's room, what should you do?

7. How do you care for a diabetic patient and what do you watch out for?

Thank you very much in advance. I can't believe I'm getting a second chance to interview but I will make sure that next time I will be very well prepared. Also, please feel free to put in extra critical thinking scenarios that I might be asked in a nursing home facility. Thanks in advance :)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

1. You find a patient on the floor, what do you do?

2. 3 patients: One with chest pain, one with shortness of breath, and one that fell. In which order would you attend to these patients and what would you do?

3. How would you care for a patient with dementia?

4. You are doing admissions, what would you put on the admissions sheet?

5. You are in charge of 2 CNAs, one leaves after a fight with the other CNA, what do you do?

6. A patient's family is arguing with you about the patient in the patient's room, what should you do?

7. How do you care for a diabetic patient and what do you watch out for?

Off the top of my head.....

1. Remain calm. Quickly assess for any serious injuries and level/loss of consciousness. Call for help without making a scene (I only emphasize this because yelling can get all the other residents nervous). Take vitals. Ask the resident what happened. If no apparent serious injuries, help them up. Vitals/neuros/assessments per facility protocol. Plus all the necessary paperwork, phone calls, etc, etc, etc. IF there is a suspicion of broken bones or head injury, call supervisor, get vitals, and call for transfer to ER.

2. For crying out loud, if they anticipate this situation I wouldn't be working there. First, see if you can get help. I would have to take into account their medical history in order to really answer that question other than hypothetically, but I guess I'd very quickly assess the fall, tell the aids to get them up, then go to the chest pain, then shortness of breath. But really, it would depend on what I already knew about them and their condition.

3. The same as any other plus use a calm and friendly voice (as I would also with anyone), ensure resident safety (watch for wandering, fall risk, etc), reorient and/or re-approach when the resident is confused/agitated. Probably not the MOST correct answer to that question, but put on the spot I guess that's what I would come up with...

4. Whatever is indicated on the sheet, usually date, time and mode of arrival. Vitals, physical assessment, ht., wt.,etc

5. Call the unit manager or supervisor or DON.

6. Listen to and acknowledge their concerns. Do whatever I can to accommodate them without jeopardizing the dignity of the other individual. If I couldn't appease them I would call the supervisor or manager.

7. THIS you should know. :)

Don't worry, I have had some bad interviews too. I will admit, those are challenging questions to be asked on the spot!

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Thank you very much for your comment. I said little bits and pieces of your answers to the interviewer but they weren't complete like yours lol. I will definitely review from your comment. I agree! And being nervous doesn't help when trying to answer either lol. I did say watch for s/s of hypoglycemia and hyperlycemia but I didn't answer the way he wanted me to (give glucagon). Thank you again

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Yeah, it's a lot easier to say if you're not nervous! My mind usually draws a blank when I'm nervous, even if I know exactly what to say. I think going into an interview with confidence helps to relieve anxiety. You got this. :) Good luck on your second interview!

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Thank you very much :)

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