Periop 101 Interview

Do a search for interview tips for OR and you will get some great advice from previous threads on the subject.

With that being said I will give you my advice from my recent experience...

1. Be confident, be ready to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. (confident, assertive, maticulous, goal oriented, orginizational skills...too maticulous so it slows me down sometimes...)

2. Know what the position entails as a circulator and as scrub (have an idea of what each does to show your interest is more than just applying for a job posting and hoping for a break).

3. Have some examples of patient advocacy ready to share if they ask any behavioral interview questions about it (especially pt safety).

4. Have an answer to why you are interested in the OR other than "it looks cool" (they are spending a lot of time and money to train you and you need to assure their feelings that you truely are interested in the OR and are committed to stay with them for several years after training).

5. Be ready to discuss how you handle conflict and/or difficult people.

Be honest, dress professionally, make eye contact, and be yourself.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

I couldn't have said it better. I think I was asked all of these things in my interview for the OR as well. The nurse manager flat out asked me to tell her about the roles of the circulator and scrub nurse. Make sure you know the basics.

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome advice....

i will indeed take both of your advice... Thank you

Good luck!!! I had my interview about a year ago and now I beat the odds (6:80 - consider that majority of the applicants were in same union with seniority) and work in the OR.

I had hard time answering my questions since they wanted me to give them "if you were a nurse in the operating room" answers. I was a brand-spanking NEW GRAD!!! I had no RN experience to share to begin with!!!

I really like jjnRN's advise.