Interview help - (long, sorry)

[MJB2010]

Hi everyone! I have a job interview tomorrow and could use some advice! Let me give you a little background- I worked in acute care, hospital job for 6 months. It was not a great experience, poor orientation and ridiculous short staffing which lead to nurse/patient ratios being too high ( a nurse would have a minimum of 8 patients, and could be as high as 10 in a med surg). I feel like I learned a TON and did gain some good experience and was able to learn some good skills. But it was draining and I really felt like I was just running around all night putting out fires. With that many patients you never really have time to spend with all of them. As you know there is always one or two that are more needy or more sick and then some that do not call you and you do not see as much. I feel with a better patient ratio I would be able to do a good job.

I left that job for an outpatient clinic setting. Love the patients, and learnd some wonderful skills. My assessment skills have really improved, I am in a charge nurse position so I have a lot more responsibilty and make a lot more decisions. I work with renal patients who have a lot of comorbid conditions. I learned a lot about diabetes, CHF, managing high blood pressure, fluid and electrolytes, and labs etc. Good experience, but have not used all of the hospital skills in the last year.

I am interviewing for a position in a hospital setting. How do I convey at the interview that I am capable and qualified for the job, but may need a longer orientation due to being out of the hospital setting for over a year? How should I explain leaving the first job without saying anything bad about the place? I feel like if I am being honest, I left because staffing just was not up to snuff.

Any advice would be appreciated, I am really interested in this job. I am hoping all the hospital stuff will come back to me but afraid I will feel like a new grad again and we all know how stressful that is.

[BrooklynRN11201]

I'm not a working RN yet, but I think you should be honest with the interviewer and say the reason you left the hospital setting was because of staffing issues and approach the subject from the perspective of you wanting to know more about their own nurse:patient ratios and orientation process so that you can ensure this is a good fit for you. I think it's perfectly acceptable to say you left the hospital setting for the outpatient clinic and learned a lot in the process, including fine tuning your skills, but you miss the excitement of the hospital environment and would like to return.

[Becster]

I found that my best interviews were when I went in with the attitude of interviewing the employer rather than them interviewing me. It sounds llke you have some solid skills and are aware of your capabilities. I would ask them questions about staffing ratios, staff turnover, reasons for employees leaving, etc. I think it is very appropriate to say that you left your previous employer because you felt as if you were not able to provide the care that the patients needed due to the nurse/patient ratio and that it was not a good learning environment for a new nurse.

I went into my first nursing job with this attitude. I made it very clear that I was building the foundation of my career and that the first job I took would be a very important part of that. I was looking for a place that supported its new grads and had a commitment to continuing education. I think when you go in confident in your ability to learn and use the interview time as an opportunity to ensure that this employer is a good fit for you, it comes across to the employer that you are capable and prepared. This method worked well for me - I was offered every job that I interviewed for and all but one even came back and offered me a day shift position as a new grad even though they originally said that only nights were available.

Good luck. You sound like you have plenty of skills. Too many nurses in the hospital get too focused on tasking when the assessment of the patient is the part that really saves lives.

[linfieldrn2bsn]

I know your interview already happened, but there are several things to consider in the future (assuming you will have to interview again eventually). One way to become a master interviewer is by standing in front of the mirror. Your posture (or sitting) greatly determines how the interviewer views your interest. It may seem silly but it's good practice. Look engaged, lean forward, smile, and always ask questions. Remember, you're interviewing them at the same time. You want this to be a good fit. Hope this helps.

[MJB2010]

It is tomorrow! I am SO nervous! Thank you everyone for the input and held, I really do appreciate it!

[MJB2010]

That was the worst interview I have ever had in my life! I was scheduled for 930 am, and arrived at 920am. The interviewer came out and snapped at me "your early, go SIT in the WAITING ROOM" she was mean! She came out to get me at 947. She then read me interview questions off of some interview question book and jotted down answers. Then she told me the orientation is 3 weeks and if you do not catch on you are terminated.

3 weeks orientation = not enough

this lady as my boss = no freaking way!

For the record I thought it was better to be a few minutes early. And I think I answered all of her questions appropirately, but even if offered the job I would not want to work there. Too bad, this place has such a good repuatation.

[Migs-RN]

Personally I would not work there....

1. Being early for an interview IS good. I am baffled that she yelld at you and then had the nerve to keep you waiting without an apology.

2. Three weeks is not enough time for any employer to ascertain the competence of a new employee. I would worry about the people working there. I would only take the job if I felt that I was already 100% confident in my skills. Either way.. three weeks is not enough time to get up to speed with what is going on with the facility.. company policies.. etc. I have found that the most amazing jobs I have ever had are at facilities that start with you from scratch, show you the nuts and bolts of the entire operation and encourage you to spend as much time on orientation as you need to feel comfortable in your job.

Good luck!:)