New Grad 1st Interview as a Psych Nurse!

MrNuRs · Apr 21, 2012

Let the interviewer know that you are caring and will provide excellent customer service.

ddunnrn · Apr 21, 2012

Let them know that you are a team player, and as flexible as you can be about scheduling and assignments to different units, if that pertains to your facility. Good luck, and let us know how it works out. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me as I have 25 years psych experience, in a variety of settings in a large metro area.

keebz00 · Apr 22, 2012

When I interviewed for my position they sprung a psychiatric medication test on me during the interview. It may be beneficial to review some of the most common psychiatric medications and their side effects just in case they ambush you too. Good luck...

I am a new grad going on my first interview next week. It is at a psych hospital, which is just what I've been looking for! Since I am new to this I would really appreciate any advice that current psych nurses have about interviewing for a psych nurse position! Thank you all so much!

iamgabrielle · Apr 23, 2012

they might ask you some questions about medications.. in our hops, common meds that we use are seroquel, risperdal, lithium, temazepam, haldol, and abilify.. there's more but i don't want to overload you..

also they might ask you like what you would you do if you encountered a violent patient or a patient who's been threatening to harm him or herself before he or she leaves the hospital.. or how would you handle yourself in an environment that is not only physically but also emotionally draining.. (psych patients can get to you at times, but don't ever forget that they are there for a reason..) good luck! i hope you get it..

Abbles · Apr 25, 2012

Got the job! So I imagine I'm going to be asking you all for a lot of advice in the near future! Thanks for your support!

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 2, 2012

Congratulations and keep us posted!

alice_DNPxPMHNP, DNP, APN, NP · Jan 6, 2016

Got the job! So I imagine I'm going to be asking you all for a lot of advice in the near future! Thanks for your support!

can you tell me about you interview if you remember. I have an interview friday. i haven't taken psych nursing since 2011 and I've been working as a PHN for a year. any tips would be great

nickfitz1969 · Jan 12, 2016

I believe that most of the poster's on this discussion have missed the whole point of mental health nursing care; this being the unique ability to build therapeutic interpersonal relationships. It's very easy to remember the names, effects and side-effects of medication or to be flexible, but the true skills are the ability to gain someone's trust and provide the support that they identify as being required, rather than believing that you know best! These skills are often overlooked, especially in medical-model based care environments in countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I am originally from the UK, where the nursing education was based on mental health care, rather than other countries where the focus of pre-registration nursing education is based on general nursing. Unfortunately, in these countries nursing students often only receive the minimum of mental health nursing training hours, which in my opinion, is poor!

Congratulations with your successful interview, but be aware that you need to continually reflect on your practice in order to promote safe care delivery, whilst encouraging feedback from others so that you can grow both professionally and personally. Good luck!