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Discussion

Possible interview for RN residency program,need advice!!

So to make the story short and simple I put in an application for RN residency program that starts on Feb,2009 (however I was told if I get selected I would start working starting december of 2008 as a nurse extern or something) Awsome hospital with not so bad residency program that will last approximately 14 weeks and some more..if you include the 2 months working as a extern.We would be thrown in to different units oncology for one,peds,med-surg (rest I cant remember) I called to followed up on my application status and the recruiter (btw she was so kind,I left her a voice mail today and she called me back like very shortly after,wow what a suprise in comparision to other recruiters,yay!) Anyway she told me that she send my application to the manager and the manager is reviewing all the resumes,cover letters of the potential candidates (I'm sure they have plenty of them!) and if the manager chooses to speak with me the recruiter will set up an interview and and they will do all the interviews this month and select candidates in November. They are even interested in hiring foreign nurses and nurses who were out if field for up to 5 years.I would love to get into into their program but I want to make sure I'm properly prepared in case I land an interview.What are your suggestions,should I get recommendation letters from my instructors,what kind of questions will they throw at me,does RN residency programs interview differs much from just an regular nursing interview? Thanks a bunch~!

Featured Replies

wow. sounds like winning the lottery. where are you located and which RN Residency Program is this?

i'm a new grad too and struggling for a freakin job. ANY RN job. :(

  • Experts

1. Have all of your recommendations, transcripts, etc. ready to go. Keep them current so that you can provide them quickly if asked for them.

2. Take several copies of your resume with you to the interview. It should present a positive picture of you in the best way possible (probably better than the application form) and you should present that positive picture of yourself to the people you meet at any interviews. Use the opportunity to "show yourself off" to your best advantage.

3. Don't present a big portfolio of your work or anything like that -- but you should have a portfolio of your best work, any certificates, etc. and puttin a few things in your briefcase is not a bad idea. You would have them to show if appropropriate -- but it is rarely appropriate to dump them on people during an interview situation. Have a few things 'just in case," but don't count on using them. The key items should be on your resume -- and that's what you count on.

4. Be prepared to answer all the basic questions that you see on the multiple threads asking the same question on this site. For example: be prepared to discuss your career plans, your likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses, etc.

5. Also be prepared to answer a few questions that might begin "What would you do if ..." For those questions, it's important to not be afraid to pause and think for a moment. Remember the nursing process -- assess before you plan and act, etc. Don't be afraid to say that you would seek help or look things up. Those are sometimes the right thing for a beginner to do, so don't feel you need to say that you know everything and would never seek help.

6. Similarly, you might get a question that begins, "Tell me about a time in which you ..." Here, they are looking for you to talk about your past experiences and how you handled some specific type of situation. So, don't be afraid to pause and think for a minute. If you really can't think of a vivid specific example from your past, talk about the basic principles you would use to address such a situation. "I can't think of a good specific example off the top of my head ... but if I found myself in such a situation, I believe I would ..."

7. Take a good list of questions for YOU to ask with you. Don't be afraid to check it before you close the interview. Ask about the patients, the types of resources available to help the patients, etc. Show an interest in their needs and the type of work you are interviewing for.

8. Finally, don't imply that this job is just a temporary stepping stone to the job you really want. Ask about the educational opportunites, details of the residency, etc. -- but remember that for the people selecting the residents, it shouldn't be all about "what's in it for me?" They are looking to fulfill THEIR needs, not yours. They are looking for someone who will be a good employee as well as for someone who will be a good nurse. Now is not the job market in which you can get away with being too demanding and needy.

Good luck!

You might want to check your dates. Surely it starts in Feb. 2010?????

Pay attention to the details, it's small stuff like that that really matters in nursing!

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