WakeYourMindUp

I've been exposed to both interviewer styles, and although I enjoy the conversational style better, I have gotten more immediate feedback from the interviewers who chose to grill me. Although I do come armed with heavy questions, hoping they have prepared as well as I have.

agreed. I actually enjoy interviewing...but I do not like the lengthy nightmare of each proprietary application. In an ideal world, what do you think a new process would be?

The questions relate to the information in the modules, but still require thought. The questions ARE NOT taken from the review questions at the end of each module. (you might see a few sprinkled in there, but the majority are not.)

Thats the ticket...gotta prepare, especially with the fierce competition anymore. I think I saw a poll posted somewhere online that said upwards of 70% of nurses "wing it" for interviews! Not sure how valid the data was, but it wouldn't surprise me a bit. I think the complex online application process alone is designed to weed out those who are applying en masse to jobs. If nurses spent more time actively applying for only a select few jobs they REALLY want, shadowing, and finding ways to get referrals, I think their success rate would be higher.

What do you think was the worst open-ended question? I agree, those are awful, but if you prepare well enough, really good answers to those questions can be super useful in helping get the job. I had a panel of 5 in my recent surgical interview...pressure is definitely on in those situations.

For those who love nursing, but hate all the hoops we typically have to jump through just to make ourselves stand out among all those looking for the best nursing jobs... What do you think is the most frustrating part about the application process? What do you think is the most painful part of the interview itself?

I think it's important to talk about the challenges the facility/unit is facing, as it gives you a glimpse of how to sell yourself at that moment or in a 2nd interview or peer interview. If I was given specific information regarding the units challenges, I would use that in my follow up letter to the hospital to better position myself as a candidate.

Thanks for your reply. I think the creativity questions like "what kind of animal are you", are a waste of time for our industry. If I was hiring web designers, I think that may be a valid question. However, there are some benefits to personality analysis questions that fit our industry, simply because many people read the forums here, and generally speaking, tend to give answers that are similar and vague. I see value in using personality profile questions to open up my interviewee, so I can get hopefully get better answers afterward for other questions. I wish nurses in general would prepare better for interviews. I have noticed a trend in attempting to "wing it" more often than I'd like to see.

how long have you been working in surgery?

For other people graduating soon...how are you planning to prep for your interviews? Do you have a plan of preparation, or just wing it?

What made you want to become an operating room nurse? Was it the pay? 1:1 patient ratio? Love blood and gore? The technical aspects of the position?

Here's the deal...I want the good, the bad and the ugly of your recent interviews. Quick comments, long posts, whatever you got. I'll be assisting with a large amount of nursing interviews at our hospital soon, and had some questions for those of you who have interviewed recently. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...we are always looking to improve our interview sessions. 1.) What did you like about the interview. 2. ) What did you hate or struggle with? 3.) What do you think was the hardest question? 4.) How did you prepare? Do you think you prepared enough?

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I've heard great things about Ketterings LPN to RN program, you should check it out. http://www.kcma.edu

depends on the hospital and the unit...I'm not sure what the scope of practice is for PCT's in florida, you could check with the board of nursing. I'm a PCT house float in ohio (I work in all units of 2 hospitals in our network)- on med surg floors- PCT's can do vitals, bladder scans, draw blood, remove catheters, and any other STNA type duties. On our cardiac/step down units PCT's can do EKGs as well as all of the above. In ER we can technically do more, because a PCT can also be an ER tech in some hospitals (again depends on hospital policy). I mainly work in ER because I like being able to do Catheters, Blood draws, ekg's, assisting the resident physician with procedures (as an extra pair of hands for sewing up lacerations, I&D's, helping with vascular ultrasounds, fetal heart tones), splints, and other stuff. We usually have a tech on the code blue team as well...its never a good situation, but an excellent learning experience. You're there mainly for chest compressions and as a supply runner. Good luck, being a PCT will humble you quickly, and makes nursing school so much easier (you'll be way better prepared for clinicals and labs) :) Josh