Discussion

New Grad---Needs Interviewing Tips

Dec 27, 200718 yr

hi! i have my first interview next friday and am terrified! lol.

i sent my resume to a hospital that i had heard was one i shouldn't even attempt to go to as a new grad just to see if my resume would get a nibble. i sent it xmas eve and they called today asking if i could interview tomorrow! gulp! i am totally surprised and unprepared!! i told them that i had prior committments to my current employer (not in health field) but that i could interview next friday.

i am a new grad (w/b rn after nclex). i have no previous experience except caring for my mother who was diabetic and everything that went along with it, including amputations.

my biggest problem---->confidence! i feel like i've forgotten everything i've learned---i can't even remember when to apply heat or when to apply cold to anything. i am so afraid that they are going to ask me a simple "what would you do if...." question and my mind will go blank.

i know what to wear, i know how to act, shake hands, ask questions, all the things that you would do at any interview. what concerns me is what questions will they ask regarding nursing, med-surg? what do they look for in a good candidate? what were you asked when you went for your first nursing interview? i feel like i know nothing---how much do they really expect a new nurse to know? i know i am smart, i love to learn, i want to be the best nurse i can be, how do i convince them?

a person said to me once that if your cover letter and your resume got you the interview, then you've got the job-----the interview is to see if you can talk them out of offering it to you. lol. well, how do i avoid that?

any advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Dec 27, 200718 yr

Expert

i interviewed plenty of new grads as a nursing manager. they most likely won't ask you any specific nursing questions. what they might ask is what procedures you have done and how many of them. they know (or should know) that new grads have very little experience with most procedures. they will want a recommendation from at least one of your nursing instructors. what they should be interested in is your character and that you have these qualities:

positive attitude
motivation
initiative
dynamic energy
responsibility
ability to give good customer service
capacity to learn
productivity
flexibility
leadership
team work
ability to tolerate pressure
analytical ability
desire to develop professionally

if you get a hint that they are only interested in your body and not you as a person, be wary. make sure you ask about how they orient new grads and if there is any special program they have for new grads and what it specifically is.

http://www.hospitalsoup.com/interview-questions.asp - questions you're likely to be asked
http://www.hospitalsoup.com/employerquestions.asp - questions for nurses to ask employers during interviews
http://www.hospitalsoup.com/inappropriate-interview-questions.asp - inappropriate or unacceptable interview questions and what you should do if you are asked one of these

there is also interview information in one of the stickys on the nursing career advice forum of allnurses (https://allnurses.com/forums/f87/)

Dec 28, 200718 yr

Author

Thank you so much, Daytonite! You don't know how much your post has eased my mind.

I have another problem---recommendations and references. My school wants you to fill out a recommendation form and the particular instructor will send the recommendation directly to the HR representative. This interview was rather sudden and I'm not able to contact anyone at the school. I also have the bad luck of having had 2 clinical instructors who have left the school, another is an adjunct (which I'm told is not as good as having a full fledged professor write a recommendation) and the last semester was in the specialties: OB, Psych, and Peds, which was a different professor for each and mostly observation. So I feel like I really have no one who has been with me in clinical to give me a recommendation, just professors that I've had for lectures. How do I deal with this? Any suggestions?

Dec 28, 200718 yr

Expert

Most schools keep a file of evaluations of students by the individual instructors as each student proceeds through their program so they can put together a summary type of recommendation. So, I don't think you have anything to worry about. The dean of the program or any other instructor can sign one of these recommendations. Just wait until the school opens after the holidays and call the nursing office and tell them what you need. You will find out what this potential employer will want as a reference/recommendation at your interview. The employer will wait for the recommendation. They are used to this. They should also understand how the nursing school recommendations are done.

An offer to hire is often given with a stipulation that it is conditional on all paperwork being in place and acceptable as well as the employee passing drug testing, criminal check and a physical exam. These things take time to be completed. It is very rare to go from interview to the job orientation in one or two days. It will be more like a couple of weeks. Welcome to the wonderful world of red tape.

Dec 28, 200718 yr

I am a GN and have been on several interviews. One consistent thing which I find difficult, is that they want YOU to ask THEM questions.

So read up in advance about the hospital, be aware of their missions statement - what kind of public image they're going for, etc.

In retrospect, I wish I'd asked about some things regarding they're "usually/sometimes we..." statements. Like, "sometimes we float nurses to xyz..." I wish I'd asked, "how often does that happen?" Or, "we try to have a x:x ratio" - I should have asked how often it is that ratio, etc.

I was not asked any clinical questions, but some of my friends have. They were mostly priority-type questions.

Dec 29, 200718 yr

Author

Daytonite---again--thank you so much! I've seen your name on the site quite a bit and I wonder if you know how much your wisdom really helps others. I feel like I've learned as much from you and this website as I have from school. I'm so glad you are here and please know how much you are appreciated!

*ac*---"thank you " to you also!

I feel soooo much better about the upcoming interview and will do so much better because of the advice from you guys and the rest of site.

Have a Happy New Year!!!!

Dec 29, 200718 yr

Expert

Daytonite---again--thank you so much! I've seen your name on the site quite a bit and I wonder if you know how much your wisdom really helps others. I feel like I've learned as much from you and this website as I have from school. I'm so glad you are here and please know how much you are appreciated!

You are welcome. Yes, I am aware of my impact on others. It has been pointed out to me by a number of the moderators.

Aug 11, 201015 yr

daytonite,

I check the website you offered on the interview questions that are asked and the ones that I should ask but I wasn't sure how to navigate the website. Could you offer any further assistance. I am a new grad who als has an interview in the or for a large teaching hospital (university) and I have no clue the types of questions they are gonna ask but your tips were good.

If anyone has any more insight I would greatly appreciate it.

Aug 11, 201015 yr

Admin

daytonite,
I check the website you offered on the interview questions that are asked and the ones that I should ask but I wasn't sure how to navigate the website. Could you offer any further assistance. I am a new grad who als has an interview in the or for a large teaching hospital (university) and I have no clue the types of questions they are gonna ask but your tips were good.
If anyone has any more insight I would greatly appreciate it.

I'm sorry to say, but our beloved Daytonite passed away earlier this year: Daytonite has passed away... - Nursing for Nurses

Aug 12, 201015 yr

First, google the institution. Know something about them.................mission statements, specialities, Magnet status, awards, etc. Then consider some of these questions:

1. Discuss your most difficult patient. What made them difficult and what did you do about.

2. Discuss your most memorable patients.

3. Did you ever go above and beyond for a patient.

4. Be able to discuss delegation and the importance of effective communication.

5. Where do you see yourself in five years.

6. What makes someone a caring person?

Be prepared to ask the interviewer questions as well.

Good Luck!

Aug 15, 201015 yr

OMG, Thank you for the update. I am sorry to hear that about daytonite.

Aug 22, 201015 yr

After finding that the original links that Daytonite posted are now dead, I did some googling and found that Hospitalsoup has moved them to a different part of the site.

So, for anyone that comes to this thread looking for those references, here they are:

Practice Interview Questions

Interview Questions You Should Ask the Interviewer

Inappropriate Interview Questions

How to Respond to Inappropriate Interview Questions

Sample Inappropriate Interview Questions Part 2