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Discussion

Interview Qns need advice :)

Hello fellow nurses! I am a nursing student and would like to have your real life experience when answering these interview questions. I googled these questions but I felt it's still missing something. Hope you can provide me with some insights! It'll be perfect if you could list down the steps for each scenario with some rationale behind. Much appreciated!

1) Family came to you at the nursing station and informed you that the pt is having SOB. The pt was fine this morning. What are you going to do? (also, I was not sure when do you start calling the doctor about this?)

2) A confused pt is becoming more agitated and started to pull out IV. What are you going to do?

3) Why is it beneficial for the nursing float team (med/surg) to hire new graduate nurses instead of using agency staff/overtime? *NOT asking why it's beneficial for the new grad nurses

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    Why don't you give us what you think first, and then we can discuss with you? They're homework questions, they're not meant to be googled or answered by other people.

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    aaahhh homework...

    My answer for number 2 is "Call the IV team to restart the IV and fail to tell them prior to entry into the room that the patient is combative and confused."

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    For question 1, my initial response would be to go assess the patient. Get a set of vitals. Then determine, based on your re-assessment what needs to be done. What do you think would be respiratory findings you should call a doctor for?

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    • Author

    For sure, would love to share my thinking process and please point out if it doesn't make sense!

    1) Family came to you at the nursing station and informed you that the pt is having SOB. The pt was fine this morning. What are you going to do? (also, I was not sure when do you start calling the doctor about this?)

    I'll ask the family what other symptoms is the pt displaying. I'll grab the VS machine and once I'm inside the room, I'll put the pt at high Fowler's position, check oxygen, ask PQRSTU for the SOB/chest pain. I'll reposition the pt and after All these interventions don't work. With the assessment, I'll report to the doctor. But I think I'll double assess the pt before reporting but within half an hour. I'll report to the doctor right away if there's chest pain and anticipate orders for ECG and blood work or O2 sat is below 92%. I'll also provide 2L of Oxygen right away if it's around 92%.

    Anything else am I missing?

    2) A confused pt is becoming more agitated and started to pull out IV. What are you going to do?

    Determine the root causes of agitation such as sundowning/pain/soiled brief/thirsty/hungry etc. put the bed at lowest height, 3 side rails up, bed alarm on. If bed alarm activated more than three times, I'll tell the charge nurse to request for a sitter to sit with the pt. The last resort is restrains.

    3) Why is it beneficial for the nursing float team (med/surg) to hire new graduate nurses instead of using agency staff/overtime? *NOT asking why it's beneficial for the new grad nurses

    no idea at all lol

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    • Expert
    For sure, would love to share my thinking process and please point out if it doesn't make sense!

    1) Family came to you at the nursing station and informed you that the pt is having SOB. The pt was fine this morning. What are you going to do? (also, I was not sure when do you start calling the doctor about this?)

    I'll ask the family what other symptoms is the pt displaying. I'll grab the VS machine and once I'm inside the room, I'll put the pt at high Fowler's position, check oxygen, ask PQRSTU for the SOB/chest pain. I'll reposition the pt and after All these interventions don't work. With the assessment, I'll report to the doctor. But I think I'll double assess the pt before reporting but within half an hour. I'll report to the doctor right away if there's chest pain and anticipate orders for ECG and blood work or O2 sat is below 92%. I'll also provide 2L of Oxygen right away if it's around 92%.

    Anything else am I missing?

    2) A confused pt is becoming more agitated and started to pull out IV. What are you going to do?

    Determine the root causes of agitation such as sundowning/pain/soiled brief/thirsty/hungry etc. put the bed at lowest height, 3 side rails up, bed alarm on. If bed alarm activated more than three times, I'll tell the charge nurse to request for a sitter to sit with the pt. The last resort is restrains.

    3) Why is it beneficial for the nursing float team (med/surg) to hire new graduate nurses instead of using agency staff/overtime? *NOT asking why it's beneficial for the new grad nurses

    no idea at all lol

    1. I wouldn't ask the family additional questions. I would head straight to the room and assess the patient for myself. If the family is anxious enough to come and find you, questioning them might be seen as an attempt to blow off their concerns. The act of heading straight to the patient's room to assess will allay their anxiety and they'll be less of a PIA if the SOB turns out to be nothing.

    2. The patient is starting to pull out his IV. You've addressed fall risk. How are you going to protect the IV?

    3. Do not think expertise. Think money. Does that help?

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