Interview Question that has me stumped

"Diabetes management is a multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted disease process. Can you be clearer on what information you need to be able to educate your patient? Does the patient need a dietary consult, education regarding insulin administration or something else?" This will help narrow down best practice guidelines. Additionally, "our policies are located ______________. It will give you a care map to follow so that you can discuss with the patient what their needs are, and how you can help them to get the consults and services they need."

Weird question, but lots of stuff about EBP as part of a nursing plan for care is part of the interview process. Tie it into the hospital's mission statement on providing the bestest care ever......haha

In all seriousness, was the person interviewing you even a nurse? And did he have a correct answer? On a question that really didn't have a distinct answer?

"i answered- I would refresh myself as to what the current best practice guidelines, policies and procedures are."

Shot yourself in the foot. You gave away the fact you were not aware of the best practice guidelines. Answer was..." review the guidelines yourself.. take any unclear issues to nursing ed".

My thought if the new nurse was right, I would thank the new nurse for bringing it to my attention, explaining we all can learn from one another.

The answer to the "what if the new nurse is right" would be to consult policy writers for the facility and request clarification. Divulging too much extra information can be harmful here. I can see a lot of potential answers (even ones in this thread) which would depend on the person interviewing you. Some of them will love your answer, while some of them will think you are incompetent.

A short and sweet answer does the trick here.

The interview question was "You are working with a nurse who just graduated from university. She comes to you and says that the policy and best practice guidelines are incorrect. What do you do?".

I answered these points from what I remember:

- ask her why the policy was wrong

- I looked exactly at policy to see if the new nurse interpreted it wrong

- ask her where she got her information from

- I would ask the diabetes educator what their thoughts are on the nurses statement are.

- ask the endocrine specialist their view

- speak with the new nurses preceptor

- speak with the nurse manager

- speak with the research dept and also speak with a board member for policies to see if they think it warrants further review.

the interviewer was not impressed with my answer and told me that exactly, like there was something obvious I missed. I asked other nurses I have known for 20+ years and they are as perplexed as I am as to why The nurse manager thinks I answered it wrong.

Don't over think it. If a new employee disagrees with a policy, I would say "show me the evidence."

Following your facility and unit specific policies has always been the benchmark. Perhaps, if pursuing the other resources as you apparently would do did not include, 1st and foremost, directing her (new grad) to your manager, that's the real issue here? The interviewer may be "telling you" by their lukewarm response that they expect to be included early on in that response to the new grad's issues. Just saying...Best of luck

The interview question was "You are working with a nurse who just graduated from university. She comes to you and says that the policy and best practice guidelines are incorrect. What do you do?".

I answered these points from what I remember:

- ask her why the policy was wrong

- I looked exactly at policy to see if the new nurse interpreted it wrong

- ask her where she got her information from

- I would ask the diabetes educator what their thoughts are on the nurses statement are.

- ask the endocrine specialist their view

- speak with the new nurses preceptor

- speak with the nurse manager

- speak with the research dept and also speak with a board member for policies to see if they think it warrants further review.

the interviewer was not impressed with my answer and told me that exactly, like there was something obvious I missed. I asked other nurses I have known for 20+ years and they are as perplexed as I am as to why The nurse manager thinks I answered it wrong.

A brand new grad challenges your hospital's policy and guidelines and you're going to spend all that time entertaining him/her? As a new employee yourself? Picture that from an interviewer's perspective.

The first thing I would ask is what patient this is affecting and how, and then ensure patient is receiving proper care and physician contact if necessary. Then I might have her pull the policy and clarify/review with the new grad.

Patient care and safety focused, not new grad nurse calling the hospital committee wrong focused, not when you're trying to get a job.

I've never been asked a question even remotely similar to the OPs. I don't know if I'm lucky, or we're just backward here in the boonies.

No wonder the thought of an interview after 15 years makes my blood run cold.

Is that really a routine question for a med/surg nurse? Or just an ICU nurse.

I think it is a weird question. It sounds like something you would ask a person applying for a management role. What I would take away from that interview is the manager is rather rude and even clueless. My interviews consist of here is the hourly wage, straight nights, great, when can you start?

If a new grad has a thought or opinion about best practices, I am open to learning from her. .

Someone fresh out of school may well have the most current knowledge on a particular topic.

Which is why I would politely say "show me the evidence. "