need to interview a headnurse-a requirement in school

jsteine1 · Aug 29, 2005

Are you asking for additional questions that YOU will be asking a Head Nurse as part of your assignment? I'm unclear on what you need. The questions listed are pretty darn good! I would ask about her perception of the nursing shortage, how has it impacted the way she manages her responsibilities. Also, what retention techniques has she employed and which ones does she think works best. How have reimbursement changes altered the practice over the years in her opinion? Finally, if she had to state what her three major managerial challenges are: what are they?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Having been a head nurse there would be a bunch of things I would like you to ask me.

(1) How did becoming a head nurse change your opinion of nursing when you were a staff nurse?

(2) What's the most fun thing about being in a management position?

(3) What are some of the dreary tasks of being a head nurse that you wish you could get rid of?

(4) Did you ever have to fire anybody and what was it like?

(5) What are some of the staffing problems you have to face and what are some of the strategies you use to keep your unit staffed on a daily basis? Do you do a lot of dealing with your staff to fill open spots on a day to day basis or do you rely on prn nurses or the staffing office to fill the open spots?

(6) What's the most boring management meeting you ever went to?

(7) What kind of things do the other head nurses complain about when you guys go on a break?

(8) How important is it for you to stay within budget for your unit?

(9) What's the worst staff problem you've had to deal with?

(10) What's the worst patient problem you've had to deal with?

(11) How do you handle the enforcement of nursing rules and policies with your staff? Any memorable incidents you can share?

(12) How many employees are under your direct supervision?

(13) How do you handle complaints from employees about their paychecks? How do you handle complaints from employees about other employees? How do you handle complaints from patients or family?

(14) How important is attendance at this facility and what are you required to do in enforcing it?

(15) Who is your supervisor? What are your yearly evaluations like? How do they differ from the evaluations you do for your staff?

(16) Speaking of evaluations, how, in general, do the staff take them? Do you get arguments about what you've put on evaluations? How do you handle telling someone on an evaluation that they are performing below an acceptable level?

(17) What do you see as the hardest things new RNs and LPNs have to deal with as new grads? Do you have any advice for me?

(18) How many committees do you belong to? Is it mandatory to belong to committees?

(19) What goes on in the management meetings you have with the director of nursing? Have you ever disagreed with a management policy that you had to deliver to your own staff? Does any manager ever disagree with the director of nursing at management meetings?

(20) How do you keep track of dates and times of meetings you need to go to or deadlines for projects?

Whew! I could probably think of more. Hope that will get you started. Maybe some other head nurses could pipe in with some ideas. Don't ask the questions as they are on the guideline your instructor gave you. Ask creative questions so you can get the head nurse to talk. They have a lot of burdens and they have a limited number of people within their own peer group that they can confide in. We had one day a week that was "meeting day". We went from committee meeting to committee meeting as well as a mandatory management meeting for all the head nurses and supervisors. I thought it was the worst, most boring day of the week.

Jhanez_k2p · Aug 30, 2005

thanks for making a reply..but, our professor gave us an assignment to have an interview with a headnurse. But unfortunately, i wasn't able to do it.That's why, i just posted it here..so that any headnurse can answer the queastions that i had posted.Im not after with the questions but, rather with your answers as a headnurse. thanks.i need it very badly..were going to pass that today.thanks..