Nurse Practitioner Interview

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Specializes in ER.

I'm a new grad Family Nurse Practitioner in the middle of my job search, and I'm wondering what to expect from interviews! I'm assuming some of the typical questions will be there - tell me about your strengths and weaknesses, a challenging situation, where you see yourself in 5 years . . . etc. However, I'm wondering if there will be any very specific to being a nurse practitioner. Should I expect any clinical questions? What kind of questions should I ask if it's just a small private practice instead of a "company"?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

We moved your thread to the NP forum for the best response.

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Great ideas

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

I really think your interview is a supply v. demand thing. Unfortunately, the FNP folks I graduated with were talking, at graduation, about not being entertained with interviews until they were certified. For the psych people -a whopping six of us- we all had jobs waiting. That being said, I have no help for you as pertains to your opening question. My only interview question followed the line of "How do you want to run your schedule?"

What I can and will suggest is that you question your work hours and schedule, call coverage, bonuses, CME, staff support, and reimbursement for licensure/certifications. If there are any big concerns you have about how FP clinics work, or standard practices (generally) this would be the time to ask. Research all of those answers. For you, American Family Physician would be a great journal to review not only clinical practices but business practices, and I'm a fan of medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com. Additionally, what I would suggest you inquire about reimbursement. Are you primarily Medicare and/or Medicaid, or is it primarily private insurance. Do cash payers pay less? What codes do they like to bill under? As an employee, you'll want a salary. Don't work hourly. Ask for productivity bonuses. This is my big intra-professional passion. If you would normally see 20 people in a day, but they get rained out and you get five you can't take a hit, and don't even think about getting cut pay because you're sent home from a light day at the clinic. There's where salary helps. If you finish early and want a two hour lunch, there's where salary helps. If you work your tail off one day and see 30+ then you want to make sure you're the one pocketing most of that excess revenue. I can't think of any white collar job where hourly is the best bet. I only raise the points because too many NPs are working for peanuts, taking all the call, and doing all the scut while a physicians pockets your revenue and drives to the green in his G-class and you speed to open up shop for the weekend in your Corolla.

(To qualify, no I don't condone the trivial spending of money on giant, fancy cars.)

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I have been to 4 interviews. I am a new grad FNP and they all had common questions:

1) when could you start?

2) tell me something about you.

3) are you looking for full or part time?

4) where did you do your last rotation?

5) when will you have your NPI number?

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER.

Thanks WKShadowRN! I've read a few of those and look forward to reading the rest!

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Specializes in ER.

Perfect! I hope my questions are that easy, lol!

I have been to 4 interviews. I am a new grad FNP and they all had common questions:

1) when could you start?

2) tell me something about you.

3) are you looking for full or part time?

4) where did you do your last rotation?

5) when will you have your NPI number?

Good luck!

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