interview questions for a family health center

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Hi everyone, I just need some advise. I recently had a interview for a position for a nurse in a health center. The hr lady interview me first and then the nurse manager. The hr questions were ok. But the nurse manager ask me clinicals questions. She ask me that a patient came in with chest pain, she wants to know from beginning to end what would u do. The she ask me OB question about a patient that came in the clinic pregnant and she didn't know she was pregnant. She wants u to tell the patient what happens in each trimester. I answered them but she told me that I miss the fact of giving the patient nitroglycerin. For the ob question she told me that I miss the fact about telling the patient that she has to take folic acid, and her hygiene and about the patient taking an ultrasound. I believe this lady was very hard on me. She told me that they can't educate me and train me so that interview didn't go well. She told me to take this interview as a learning process.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you have a question or are you just venting? If you were going to be primary nurse in a community health setting you need a strong clinical background in skills, knowledge and patient education. Though in my experience most nurses in larger community clinics tend to specialize in adult/geriatric medical, pediatrics or obstetrics/women's health.

Perhaps if you were 100% in answering the acute medical OR 100% in the obstetrics/woman's health questions you would have had a better chance. I know in the large family health center I was offered a pediatrics position as that is where my primary knowledge. & experience lies with the opportunity to float to adult medical with supervision (I have a strong acute & chronic medical knowledge but not as strong as pediatrics ) and they were willing to train in obstetrics.

For pediatrics I reviewed the company website as far as services & patient education, I was expected to know immunization schedule and when to hold vaccines as well as common adverse reactions/side effects, pediatric drug calculations (I had to take a test as part of the interview!) growth & development milestones, standards of EPSDT screenings, early intervention, common pediatric acute & chronic conditions. Also I was asked where to look for resources such as county health department or cdc

This was probably the most pre-interview prep I've ever done!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Oh and congrats on the interview I remember you were struggling to get an interview for quite a while!

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Oh and congrats on the interview I remember you were struggling to get an interview for quite a while!

Yea but I didn't get the job.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yea but I didn't get the job.

I saw that.

Do your research and review the clinical information that you might be asked in the various settings that you apply for. It seems you were unprepared for this interview based on what you posted.

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Hi, I currently work in a family health center and the questions I was asked were also clinical, but they ask you in also to gauge whether or not you are trainable and you are a right fit for them. True, they do ask clinical skills, but I find that whenever they correct you, it isn't to be mean, but to also see how you handle pressure and criticism. Nursing is a learning process and you won't believe how many nurses I know personally who take offense to everything they are told to them when all managers and educators want to do is improve their nursing practice. I interviewed for a NYC hospital and I forgot some details in a clinical question and when she corrected me, I listened carefully so that way I can learn. For next time. And still, I was offered the position. And I just got hired in a major NYC hospital, in an area totally different to the area I am currently in- she had some doubts because of my background but she gave me a chance because I was a good fit for her. It is also important to understand these managers are people too and sometimes they are willing to teach you if you are the personality you are looking for and you know beforehand what you are getting yourself into.I want to agree with the above post too. It is important to prepare as much as possible for your interview. Learn about mission statements and what the hospital/ facility practices are, as well as what they are known for. Go over questions they may ask you and make sure you incorporate these statements into your answers. It took me about 2-3 interviews to really figure out what I was doing wrong. Be professional, smile and be kind and humble, don't be overenthusiastic and listen carefully. Hope all of this helps! I am just giving you how it has been like for me!

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Hi I currently work in a family health center and the questions I was asked were also clinical, but they ask you in also to gauge whether or not you are trainable and you are a right fit for them. True, they do ask clinical skills, but I find that whenever they correct you, it isn't to be mean, but to also see how you handle pressure and criticism. Nursing is a learning process and you won't believe how many nurses I know personally who take offense to everything they are told to them when all managers and educators want to do is improve their nursing practice. I interviewed for a NYC hospital and I forgot some details in a clinical question and when she corrected me, I listened carefully so that way I can learn. For next time. And still, I was offered the position. And I just got hired in a major NYC hospital, in an area totally different to the area I am currently in- she had some doubts because of my background but she gave me a chance because I was a good fit for her. It is also important to understand these managers are people too and sometimes they are willing to teach you if you are the personality you are looking for and you know beforehand what you are getting yourself into.I want to agree with the above post too. It is important to prepare as much as possible for your interview. Learn about mission statements and what the hospital/ facility practices are, as well as what they are known for. Go over questions they may ask you and make sure you incorporate these statements into your answers. It took me about 2-3 interviews to really figure out what I was doing wrong. Be professional, smile and be kind and humble, don't be overenthusiastic and listen carefully. Hope all of this helps! I am just giving you how it has been like for me![/quote']

Thanks penny for those encouraging words. I have been looking for a job almost a year now. I am praying that I get on this year and soon.

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You're very welcome! If you can, have your resume revised and keep on trying. Don't give up! Just learn what you can from your interview experiences and research and prepare for next time! Good luck!

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