Question about Interview

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 9, 2004

Wanted some advice from nurse educators. I am seeking a job as a nurse educator and have an interview next week. I have a great deal of ideas for what I would like to do for the department. My question is would it be proper for me to put together a folder to present to the interviewers showing them my ideas? I want to put my best foot forward and show them my enthusiasm in pursuing this job. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Jamie

This sounds like a wonderful idea :)

Here's a nice link about putting together a nursing portfolio:

http://www.nursingworld.org/tan/99marapr/portfolo.htm

imjamie · Sep 9, 2004

Thank you so much for the link.

This sounds like a wonderful idea :)
Here's a nice link about putting together a nursing portfolio:
http://www.nursingworld.org/tan/99marapr/portfolo.htm

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 9, 2004

Having interviewed many candidates for staff development positions, I think it would be a great idea and that you should go ahead with it.

However ... I would add this tip: Make it clear that you are open to modify your ideas based on further assessment. During your interview process and during the orientation to your new job as an educator, you should expect to learn things about your unit and about the educational process, etc. that might cause you to change your plans. For example, if you are now a staff nurse, there may be a lot of things going on "behind the scenes" in your unit that you are not aware of. Once you "see behind the curtain," you may discover that some of your ideas are unrealistic or not as great as you had previously thought.

The process of acquiring a new job should be an educational one. It should give you some new insights and open up some new perspectives to you. That's a good thing and you should be sure to allow room for that in your planning.

Also, be careful not to present yourself too much like a "know-it-all" who thinks it would be easy to solve all the unit's problems. If it were easy, it probably would have been done before -- and if you suggest that it wasn't done before because there was something wrong with the previous educator, that might be offensive to the person interviewing you.

So yes, present your ideas and show enthusiasm ... but also show a willingess to learn and be open to alternative ideas and perspectives.

Good luck,

llg