Pre-Operative Assessment Nurses?

[Nicnoo]

Hiya everyone,

I'm hoping you can help me! I've landed a job interview for a pre-op assessment clinic. This position would change my life as at the moment I am working on an orthopaedic ward doing 4/5 long days a week as we are so short staffed! This new position would be Mon-Fri 8-5, and would mean I get my life with my family back. Does anyone have any advice for my interview? Any sparklers I can pull out of the bag and really impress with? I am not good at interviews at the best of times, never mind when I want this position so much!! I much prefer clinic nursing to ward nursing anyway so I can be passionate about that at least but any advice at all?

Thanks

xx

[TriciaJ, RN]

Tell them that while working on a surgical floor you saw first hand the difference between a patient being well-prepared for their procedure and someone not as prepared. Emphasize that you see yourself as one of the first contact people in the whole chain of a patient's surgical experience, and that you are committed to doing everything you can to help a patient have a positive outcome.

Let them know you understand the importance of taking a thorough history with accurate med reconciliation. Tell them that a patient's discharge plan actually begins with you. Emphasize that a properly prepared patient and family will have a much better perioperative experience with fewer complications, better compliance and lower likelihood of readmission. Hint broadly that someone who does a proper job at the beginning of the whole process can pave the way for everyone else, save money and hopefully avoid lawsuits. (They always want to know why your paycheque would be justified.) Hope this helps. Good luck!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Moved to our Nursing in the United Kingdom forum.

TriciaJ advice is spot on about position - make it all about the patient --education focus with accurate medication reconciliation to prevent anesthesia/surgical complications important.

In PA our preop assessment nurses draw lab work and obtain EKG's so discuss those skills. If facility using electronic medical record, I'd toss in a line about your computer skills too.