new grad bad interview

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

Here's a clinical question I was asked in my new grad interview:
You are at the nurse's station and these 4 things are happening:
1. The phone is ringing
2. You have a new admit from the ED coming.
3. You have a patient who has a STAT order for a neb.
4. There is a doctor who wants to talk to you and he doesn't look happy.
What do you do?
What they are really looking for isn't that you give the *right* answer, they are trying to see HOW you answer and what your thoughts are behind your actions.

I had a similar scenario. In my scenario I also hadn't eaten lunch yet, there was an irate family member walking in my direction, and a doctor about to start a procedure who needed pain meds for it. I was also the only nurse in site as the other nurses were all away from the floor or something.

As a new grad, I made the ED wait til last. Now that I work in the ED, I'd probably make the resident who is likely doing the procedure wait until I had a chance to get the set up ready and suggest that they answer the phone because that's probably someone answering their page and they can be their own secretary just as easily as I can.

victory12 · Nov 11, 2011

Hey rn_yogi! Now, realize you are indeed a new grad! One of the reasons for asking these clinical scenario questions is also to assess whether or not you know the limits of your own knowledge and have the nuts (or ovaries, as the case may be) to go and get help! I was asked pathophysiology clinical scenarios (e.g. pt 2 hrs after am assessment w/ "X" condition on admit, they are now complaining of "X," what do you do?) as well as prioritization (I agree w/ the statement of ABCs). Just keep in the back of your mind, "Perhaps as a new RN I also need to consider when to get help with my pt. load so that all my pts are safe and cared for."

it's the new grad dilemma. you can't find work and get experience and the longer you are out of school the further removed you are from nursing and all of the knowledge you acquired. I have to work in a non-nursing/healthcare field right now just to pay my bills. I'm not in an environment that's keeping me fresh and updated so I'm forgetting so much. How can I overcome this? I feel like an idiot going into interviews (I've only had 3) where I can't answer clinical questions.

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