New grad L&D interview this Thursday...

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Specializes in Operating room, Pediatrics.

Hello all! I graduated in May '12 and got my license in July, but I was pregnant at the time so I waited to look for jobs until after I had my baby. I applied for an L&D position 6 weeks ago and I'm so excited to have been called for an interview as this is my dream job! I've got a list of common nurse interview questions that a fellow classmate gave me (she works in another hospital, but still within UPMC) plus I found more under the new grad interview forum here on AN. What I'm wondering is, if they also ask questions related to patient care will they be general questions or would they be specific to L&D? Obviously they'd know based on my resume and application that I'm new so they wouldn't expect me to be an expert by any means. I also have two more interviews for other hospitals/units (one being an OR fellowship) in the next week, and I'd be happy to receive an offer for any of them, but I'm hoping to do the best that I can on my L&D interview. It's hard enough for ADN grads to get jobs in the Pittsburgh area let alone getting into a specialty so I'm trying hard to prepare in order to make a good impression. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Psych, OB-GYN.

Do a Google search for John Hopkins Interview - should point you to a 13-ish page .pdf with great interview information! Scroll down a bit to get some ideas for questions for you to ask - some people just gave me great advice.

I interviewed today :) I wasn't asked any specific questions for pt care, but was asked about how I handled stress, how I would handle a Dr. who wasn't intervening when I felt they should, what kind of people I find difficult to work with, and how I would react if scolded in front of a pt by a physician - more personality stuff. However, some of my classmates who interviewed for a CVICU position were asked direct pt care questions Ie - pt presents with this, what do you suspect/do. Ick!

Good luck, wish I had great advice. Just be honest and be yourself! Have an awesome answer prepared for strengths/weaknesses and why you want to be an L&D nurse - those are staples!

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I interviewed for an L&D job 2 months before I graduated RN school. My interview was WONDERFUL. I wasn't asked anything OB specific. I was asked more about my previous work experience, how I handled conflict (BIG deal these days), and my strengths/weaknesses. My interviewer (now my supervisor) said she hired me because she could tell I had the passion for OB nursing, which I certainly do! Let your passion show first, THEN your nursing experience. Also, ask the interviewer questions when your part is over. Research the mission statement of the hospital and make sure you let them know that you looked at it and ask them a question related to it. Ask questions that show how dedicated you are to the hospital. And if you're asked where you see yourself in 5 (10, 15, 20) years, be honest, but let them know you're committed to the job... you don't want them thinking you're taking the job as a stepping stone for some other area (higher acuity OB, NICU, PICU, or higher education, etc.). Good luck!! :) Stay calm and be yourself!

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Specializes in Operating room, Pediatrics.

Thanks ladies, that's great advice! @ punkeydoodles- I did see your post about what to ask the interview and I wrote some of those questions down already :) I interviewed yesterday for the OR nurse fellowship (different hospital as l&d interview but still within UPMC, I'm in Pittsburgh) and it went very well, in part because I researched interview questions here on AN and surprisingly many of the questions they asked me were the ones I prepared for! It was my very first panel interview consisting of 5 individuals (I was NOT expecting that many!) but I wasn't intimidated at all. They said they'll be making a decision next week. I'm really hoping that my l&d interview goes just as well, it'd be a dream come true.

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Specializes in Perinatal.

How did your l&d interview go? I have one next Tuesday...any tips or advice would be great!

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K10RN*2012 I had my interview last week and got a call yesterday that I got the job!! Some of the questions I remember were, Tell me about yourself, Why do you want to work here, What is your proudest moment as a nurse, tell me about a time you had a conflict with another person and how you dealt with it, What does patient centered care men to you, tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you would do different,

Then I had some situation questions, the ones I remember are, Your on the unit and there is an emergency and 5 nurses go to help leaving you and another new grad to care for 5 patients what would you do?, You are trying to find the fetal heart rate on a women and you cannot find it what would you do? and the one that I think got me the job was A patient s being admitted for induction and wants to stay in their own clothing and you need to start an IV what would you do.

Hope these help, I would say just practice lots of questions out loud and during the interview be yourself and let them see how much you want the job and your passion for labour and delivery and you'll be awesome :)

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Specializes in Perinatal.
K10RN*2012 I had my interview last week and got a call yesterday that I got the job!! Some of the questions I remember were, Tell me about yourself, Why do you want to work here, What is your proudest moment as a nurse, tell me about a time you had a conflict with another person and how you dealt with it, What does patient centered care men to you, tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you would do different,

Then I had some situation questions, the ones I remember are, Your on the unit and there is an emergency and 5 nurses go to help leaving you and another new grad to care for 5 patients what would you do?, You are trying to find the fetal heart rate on a women and you cannot find it what would you do? and the one that I think got me the job was A patient s being admitted for induction and wants to stay in their own clothing and you need to start an IV what would you do.

Hope these help, I would say just practice lots of questions out loud and during the interview be yourself and let them see how much you want the job and your passion for labour and delivery and you'll be awesome :)

That is so awesome, Congratulations!! I am so very nervous, I want this job so much. I hope to soon be saying the same as you ;) Thanks for the tips!

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