New RN Grad Interview

[nurse4211]

I recently just graduated from a RN adn program. I had an interview for a CCU program through a hospital. Went through 3 interviews. The last one it was with the manager of the unit I'd be hired on. Well she started off the phone interview like I already had the job. For months I've already had 2 vacations planned after graduation and knew I would have to bring it up to the employer sometime and figured it was a good time to mention it at that time on the phone interview. I explained to her I had one in July but I am able to reschedule it for next yr. I also had one for a wk in sept and would like to know if I can get that honored with no pay. She redirected me to the nursing recruiter then proceeded to ask me

Her: "You are one of two nurses on nights and a call bell is going off. You enter the room and the patient is actively having a seizure. What would you do?"

Me: "I would protect their airway, head, and any limbs of injury, stay with the patient the whole time until it is over with, turn them on their side and call for help.

Her: "How would you call for help."

Me: "I would yell help, or push the code button.

Her: "It is not a code."

Me: Well then I would use my spectra link to call the other nurse. I also would be monitoring the patient during the seizure for what movements are happening and their eyes. After it is over I would call the MD.

Her: "You would use the call bell"

Me: "Oh. ok"

After the interview I immediately emailed the nurse recruiter about my vacation time that needed to be honored. 3hrs later I get an email stating they would be looking into other candidates that better fit their requirements.

Now mind you I have 5yrs of experience as a LPN 2 yrs as a GNA and I did clinicals for 1.5yrs in that hospital.

Do you think my answer to the seizure incident was wrong? Do you think I didn't get the job because of my answer or the vacation request?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Moved to the Interview Advice forum.

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

I think the primary problem is the multiple requests for time off. Keep in mind that there are plenty of other qualified candidates and as the lowest person on the totem pole, holidays and vacation - especially during the summer - are tough to get even for the tenured staff and are often requested many, many months prior.

I think that they weren't in love with you and you made it easy to not pick you. Had they been wowed by you, they *might* have been willing to consider it or at least discuss it but the manager didn't take a liking to you.

Regarding your answer, I wouldn't get hung up on how you called for help but I would point out that you didn't provide any specifics of *how* you would protect the airway, etc.

[Volley88]

Not sure why era/age/generation has to do with anything. But I think OP should have withheld that vacation information until after signing. I would guess New Grad RN programs have time commitment for a few months without absence.

Also, I would say that senior nursing student's would be more preoccupied with graduating and passing NCLEX prior to applying for jobs. New grads just graduated, they indeed deserve a week vacation. They can't predict whether or not interviews are coming their way.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I find the "code" answer peculiar and think your experience may have actually worked against you.

I concur. Continually activating the code button/alarm for non-code situations causes nursing staff to eventually become desensitized to the sound of the code alarm because they come to expect that they won't be responding to codes anymore.

Then, when a real code is being called, quickly mobilizing staff becomes challenging because some people ignore the code alarm with the notion that it wasn't a real code. After all, nurses have gotten into the habit of pressing it for non-codes.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

New grads just graduated, they indeed deserve a week vacation. They can't predict whether or not interviews are coming their way.

Also a very millennial way of thinking. If you're not one, you were born at the wrong time.

[Amgolfchick]

JMO, but thats a bit harsh in regards to the vacations. Life still happens when you're looking for a job, and vacations usually require planning and commitment (hotels, flights, rental cars etc). I'm looking for a nursing job currently but will request 2 weeks off in September (unpaid if necessary) because I have paid for and committed to a trip to Italy. I want to enjoy my life too!!! I'm a good and experienced employee and most respectable employers would find the value in hiring a good employee for the long haul despite a blip in time for a pre planned vacation. I am not a millennial. Again, JMO...

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

They can't predict whether or not interviews are coming their way.

Right... which is why they shouldn't plan any vacation which can't be changed or canceled.

That's just me, though... whenever I've been seeking employment, that's the highest priority and everything else plays second fiddle.

[Labmom1118]

Could you have put your available start date for after you returned from vacation? It's in poor taste to start making demands before you're even offered the job. The employer wants to know that you put your career first. And what good is orienting someone for a couple of weeks to have them go on vacation and forget half of what they learned?