interview questions CNA help?

[IHeartPeds87]

Hi everyone,

I have an interview as a nursing assistant at a hospital. I hope it works out!

I was trying to think of questions I'd get asked and have some questions regarding prioritizing.

Let's say I get asked what would you do if you have three patients. One needs to use the bathroom, one you have to take vitals on, and one the nurse asked you to walk. Which one comes first?

Also, what if you are helping someone use the bathroom and someone else screams for help. What would you do?

Any help regarding these priority type questions would be great, thanks!

[Weezy24]

Hii,

Congratulations on getting that interview call ! Getting that call is half the battle won I think. I recently got hired by a hospital too and I start Monday. My interviewer was a great guy and he asked me the same hypothetical questions ,like what would you do in this situation? Who would you help first? He gave me a scenario about 5 patients in different situations and asked how would I prioritize? I cannot tell you for sure I answered correctly but I did make sure I kept patient safety in mind. That is the most important. I am sure if you were really in that situation you would use your logic just fine and there is not right or wrong order as long as you are not forgetting the basic principles : patient safety! Always, always! You might also get asked questions like how did you deal with a difficult situation at work? Why you? Whom would you hire and why?

Good luck :)

[toxic.waste]

Congrats on the interview. I am sure you will do fine!

As for the questions you have asked they really depend on the situation at hand. And you have to take all factors into perspective. Patient safety is the most important thing to remember and if there is one thing you can do is stress patient safety during your interview.

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

Well, to the first question...

I would help the patient to the bathroom (he may decide to go himself and fall or go on himself and that is not an appropriate thing to make a patient do just because "you don't have time"), Next, I would get the v/s. I assume this is not an admission, as the nurse should be getting the admission v/s. Also, if the patient has meds due, let's say blood pressure meds, then the nurse really should take the bp before giving it anyway. I know many don't. They rely on whatever the cna says it is, but for my license, I would check the bp myself. The last patient I would do is the walk. It is VERY important, but only after a patient has been toileted and v/s have been checked. Besides, taking v/s really doesn't take long at all; whereas, you may be awhile walking that patient.

As for the second question, it depends on the situation. If the patient is already in the bathroom, I'd let them know to stay there and hit their call light when they are finished and that I will be back as soon as I check on this other patient. If I am in the middle of walking this patient to the restroom, I would not leave them until they were in the bathroom. You have to worry about the safety of the current patient. Don't forget you are not alone. Can you put on a call light and let the clerk know that you heard someone yell out but you can not leave your patient at this time?

Immediate safety issues need to be addressed first!!

Good luck on your interview. I hope it all works out.

[IHeartPeds87]

Thanks everyone! I'm waiting to hear back :)