Interviewing an R.N.

nutella, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Is this for nursing school???

1.What do you do most of the time at work?

I have an unusual job. My work is in the hospital with a palliative care team. I assess patients for their palliative care needs, educate about advanced care planning, make nursing recommendations, act as a resource for primary nurses for patients who are actively dying in the hospital, I coordinate efforts of the palliative care team as well, I collaborate with other professionals like social work, chaplains, physicians...

2.What are the job opportunities going to be like in your field in the near future?

Palliative care is increasingly important. It is not the same as hospice care - although hospice care is a specialized kind of palliative care for patient for the last 6 months of their life. There are much more opportunities in palliative care for nurse practitioner in the community and some in hospitals. I am just a regular RN.

3. What special personality traits and/ or technical skills does someone really need if they want a job like yours?

Very collaborative, excellent communication skills, assertive, broad clinical experience including hospice experience, mature, good listener, able to deal with conflict in a constructive way, curious and open, not judgmental. There is some hands on work but mostly it is talking and researching information.

4. What are some things I should be doing in college to prepare for this career?

The basis for palliative (and hospice) care are solid nursing skills and critical thinking. Knowledge about ethics, end-of-life care, advanced care planning and laws are essential. This is not a position for somebody who is a new graduate.

5. Did you go to college or get any training after high school? If so, please describe it.

Yes, nursing school.

6. How hard was college or training for you? What were the biggest challenges? Did you get any help?

It was not easy. Biggest challenge was the first year - I was about to quit several times. No formal help - we helped each other in nursing school and stuck together in the dorm.

7. Did your family want you to choose the career you are in?

It was my decision.

8. What are your career and personal goals now? How do you plan to achieve them?

I am in graduate school and hopefully will be done with my MSN next spring. I like my job very much and would like to keep it. Perhaps I will pick up something on the side after I am done with graduate school.

9. What is one thing that you wish you would have known about this career before you entered it?

Nothing - I do not think any knowledge would have changed anything.

10. If you could choose one word to describe your career, what would it be? Gratifying

Nonyvole, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

OP, the point of projects like this is to have an in-person meeting, not post on an anonymous message board. You don't know if the people responding are truly nurses, or just play one on TV.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Those are essay questions. You really should find an RN to interview in person (or even by phone) so that you can jot down the answers. Plus, interviewing is a skill you'll need practice at to get comfortable; and that's hopefully what your instructor had in mind.

mrsboots87 · Jun 22, 2016

1.What do you do most of the time at work?

chart

2.What are the job opportunities going to be like in your field in the near future?

I am an RN, not a psychic

3. What special personality traits and/ or technical skills does someone really need if they want a job like yours?

special skills of the snowflake variety seem to be common these days.

A brain also helps.

4. What are some things I should be doing in college to prepare for this career?

Graduate

5. Did you go to college or get any training after high school? If so, please describe it.

No. I bought my license. Because college and training is not required to become a nurse.

6. How hard was college or training for you? What were the biggest challenges? Did you get any help?

Very easy if you just post all your homework questions here for others to do.

7. Did your family want you to choose the career you are in?

Why does that matter?

8. What are your career and personal goals now? How do you plan to achieve them?

not kill anyone by using that brain from question 3.

9. What is one thing that you wish you would have known about this career before you entered it?

So much charting.

10. If you could choose one word to describe your career, what would it be?

Charting

For reals OP, you were lucky to find one person to do your homework for you. The point of these assignments is to get out that in there world and talk to someone. These are essay type questions. You essentially posted an interview where you could just copy and paste answers from. Thereby negating your job of actually doing the work. Even if that wasn't your intent. Call around and find someone to interview in person.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 22, 2016

1.What do you do most of the time at work?

Fluff pillows & save lives. Drink coffee

2.What are the job opportunities going to be like in your field in the near future?

Plenty

3. What special personality traits and/ or technical skills does someone really need if they want a job like yours?

Sense of humor, mad crazy assessment skills, drinks coffee.

4. What are some things I should be doing in college to prepare for this career?

Interviewing nurses in person.

5. Did you go to college or get any training after high school? If so, please describe it.

Yes, college. I would but my attorney says it's none of your business.

6. How hard was college or training for you? What were the biggest challenges? Did you get any help?

Easy. Stupid people. Didn't need help.

7. Did your family want you to choose the career you are in?

Yes.

8. What are your career and personal goals now? How do you plan to achieve them?

Way too personal. A carefully constructed plan based on my skill set & professional network.

9. What is one thing that you wish you would have known about this career before you entered it?

Mmmmm, can't think of a thing, i knew what i was getting into with nursing.

10. If you could choose one word to describe your career, what would it be?

Dilaudid

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Very surprised that someone answered this.

Hope that *someone* really is a nurse.

wowohwow · Jun 22, 2016

Seriously, this is homework-you all shouldn't be answering these questions. The OP needs to actually find a nurse to ask instead of asking on an internet forum where anyone can pretend to be a nurse.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Seriously, this is homework-you all shouldn't be answering these questions. The OP needs to actually find a nurse to ask instead of asking on an internet forum where anyone can pretend to be a nurse.

Only one person answered the OP. Well, at least seriously answered the OP. Did you read the comments?

mrsboots87 · Jun 22, 2016

Seriously, this is homework-you all shouldn't be answering these questions. The OP needs to actually find a nurse to ask instead of asking on an internet forum where anyone can pretend to be a nurse.

Reread my answers. Does it really look like I answered OP? Lol

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Others are going to cover the usual (this is NOT how you do an assignment), but I'll bite on #5. How many nurses do you think are out there that landed an RN position right out of HS with NO college or training? If these are the questions you're being directed to ask by your educational institution, I'd ask for a tuition refund!!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

You realize only ONE of those posters answered "honestly", right?

Seriously, this is homework-you all shouldn't be answering these questions. The OP needs to actually find a nurse to ask instead of asking on an internet forum where anyone can pretend to be a nurse.