Practice interview question

ebierly · Dec 12, 2016

I am a new nurse as well! I would think ABC, airway breathing circulation. So, breathing is high, how is the O2 sat, what has the patient been running for BP, maybe sepsis or dehydrated because of low BP and high HR. What are current labs and urine output. Maybe they need fluids, I would let doctor know of changes. I had a situation where this happened and I am currently a nurse aide, and the patient became a rapid response! However his BP was in the 80's, from previous 120's and he had fluctuating temp and chance of LOC...

rnbelle915 · Dec 12, 2016

Hi! In my experience interviewing as a new grad, the interview questions were mainly about you as a person. So how you handle conflict, strengths/weaknesses, and why you want to work there. I know this doesn't answer your question but I hope it helps! Good luck!!

farnoosht · Dec 12, 2016

Hi, I am going for a second interview for UCLA medical ICU. Does anyone have an idea what type of quesitons they ask? any recommendations for me?

Loracs72 · Dec 12, 2016

I have never had an interview where I had to do a case study. But I have had Interviewers ask me questions about how I would handle a certain situation having to do with making decisions on the nursing unit. They want to know your thinking process and how you would handle it.

jessicaparks2511 · Dec 12, 2016

Thank you so much. That's what I've heard but a classmate of mine just got asked a case study type question so I'm preparing just in case one gets thrown at me.

If only it was a multiple choice question í ½í¸‚

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Dec 19, 2016

Resp of 24 is concerning, as is the 160 diastolic (that's a high number)! I would repeat vitals with a manual to make sure that really is the BP while watching the respirations. Are they restless? Upset? Anxiety? Remember that RESTLESSNESS is often the first signal of hypoxia. I saw this once when the pt was actually in SVT. They kept saying over and over again they didn't feel right and couldn't catch their breath. This question doesn't tell you the 02 sat. I would want to know that. Good luck!

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2016

I recently graduated and am preparing for interviews by doing practice interview questions. I came across a scenario question and I was just interested in knowing how you all would answer it so that I can practice further questions more confidently.
A patient comes in with BP 100/160, high HR, blood glucose 180, respiration 24. What you focus on first and how would you help this patient?
thank you guys!

Are you sure those were the vital signs given? A diastolic BP greater than systolic BP is not physiologically possible.

Nothing here is significantly concerning in and of itself. RR is a bit high which could be a result of anxiety, pain or physical activity. Blood glucose is a bit high, which could be due to stress response or having just eaten something sugary. An elevated BP (depending on the real value) could also be from stress, physical activity, or anxiety.

The first thing you would want to do is get a full set of vital signs. Assess the patency of the airway and breathing- he's breathing quickly, but is it labored, shallow, regular? Is there stridor or wheezing or any other adventitious breath sounds? Then move on to assessing heart rate and rhythm, EKG tracing, central and peripheral pulses and capillary refill. Those assessment finding should give you some more clues.