School nurse interview! PLEASE HELP!!!

Wave Watcher · Oct 28, 2012

I work full time as a school nurse but before that I worked 2yrs as a temp school nurse prn.

My interview for my position now was a lot of "What if's and what would you do in "xyz" type of situations...for example:

You walk into your clinic and a child comes in having an asthma attack at the same time another comes in with a major nose bleed, a parent is at your door and faints at the sight of blood in the hallway, the child that was already waiting for you starts throwing up......what order and how do you take care of each situation happening?

Diabetic questions concering children/carb counting/pumps/insulin administration/hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia and how to handle these situations

What is your role in a major emergency such as fire, tornado, intruder in school?

How do you handle angry parents/upset teachers?

Questions about working with tube feedings/colostomy/urostomy/stomas/caths/special needs children/general medication administration.

These are just a few questions I was asked.....and trust me....every day I deal with every single one of these situations....the only one I have yet to deal with is a fainting parent....but I do see several fainting kids a month. lol

Also, they might ask "what do you think the role of a school nurse is?"

Good luck!

elprup, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2012

https://allnurses.com/school-nursing/common-interview-questions-516666.html

Has some great examples. You can also good school nurse interview questions, or something to that effect. That is how I found almost all of the questions I was asked in my interview.

Be sure to say that education is very important, so your goal is to keep a child in class to learn. Also, make sure they can tell you will connect the children.

You can also review IEP, IHP, EAP, 504's and your districts goals and regulations. And make sure you get all of the interviewers names and send a thank you note to all of them (I found out I was the only one who did this!)

Good luck

elprup, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

I found my list..here you go. It hasbeen compiled from allnurses and the web. My apologies for not keeping where I got them from.

SCHOOL RNstrengthsBelieve every child has something to teach usLove organization and doing things right the first time, or learn how to make it better..more streamlined? My passion for research? My love of organization! Probably type A in this regard. If something is not finished it bothers me, so I get it done.

*how to handle parent who cannot get a hold of/ doesnt complyAnother thing I just thought of--he asked me how I would handle "frequent fliers"--kids who visit the clinic repeatedly. I told him that I would do my best to address any physical ailments they may have, I would look for signs of emotional, mental, or psychological stresses and if they didn't have any other reason to be coming to me other than getting out of class, I would direct them back to class and discuss their frequent visits with their parents and their teacher. I told him that it was my job to keep them in the classroom as much as possible, and making the best use of their educational time. Their job is to learn, my job is to make sure they are healthy and well and in the classroom doing their best. He REALLY liked that answer.

* What work experiences or professional courses over the past three years have prepared you for this position?

* Are you currently CPR/AED/FA certified?

* What is confidential health information in a school environment and how would you handle requests for this information from parents, teachers, and the general public?

* A teacher calls you down to a classroom where a student who is diabetic has put his head down and is falling asleep. What would you do? i said as I run to assess him i grab juice and his glucagon. After administering i would measure his blood surgar to see what he needs. If child cannot take juice, give glucagon while somebody is calling 911.

* Give one example of a collaborative or team approach used to meet the health needs of a client or family.

* What do you see as the most important health issue facing students today and how would you as the school nurse make a difference? i said the number one killer of adolescents is car wrecks, so educationd children about that fact and safety. Also, i discussed obesity.

* What do you see as your role in the school setting?9. Why are you the best candidate for this position?If you get a chance say something like "a school nurse plays an important role in education because we help keep kids healthy and in school. We know when students need to be excluded and when they can stay. We can go into classrooms and teach good habits that can help keep kids in school like good handwashing and cold hygiene" They love to hear that you want to be part of the educational team.

*Also, if they ask you what would you do if...and you don't know the answer, rather than say just you don't know, say you would defer to the principal or a nurse in the district with more experience to determine what the districts specific policies and procedures are.

Good luck-keep us posted as to how it goes!In your situation you can definitely ask what the expectations are for continuing education. In my district, anyone with RN can be a First Aid Officer. In Pa, you have to have a school nurse certification to make the big buck, even if you do the same job.*I would ask how many children are in the school you will be working in. I agree there will be a number of interviewers present. The nurse in the group may be able to tell how many kids come routinely (diabetics, oral meds and inhalers, kids with spina bifida) and how many visits you have in a typical day. Do you have an aide/other nurse or are you alone? What is the compliment of certified nurse to non certified if that is a distinction they make.What is expected outside of the school day you will be working? Meetings after school, field trips that extend beyond the work day?If the principle of the school is there I ask what he/she considers the role of the school nurse to be and how the nurse communicates with the staff in that school? Meetings, email, phone into the room?If you get a nurse or nurses alone, as what is most challenging and rewarding about working in this particular school district. What one thing would they change if they could.Whenever I have gone for an interview I am really thinking, "I don't care how bad it is, the worst day here has got to be better than the best day in the hospital, all things considered!" but at least you have something to ask when they say, "do you have any questions!"Apr 10, '09 by bergrenWhy school nursing? (you would not believe what people say - very interesting first question which will reveal how long the interview will be!!!)Tell me about any healthcare / public health experiences you have had outside the acute setting.Why do you think your background in XXX will translate into school nursing?What experience do you have with children / child health / parents?*How will you get up to speed in this new specialty? in this new school?How do you feel about working in a non health care setting? How do you feel about working alone?What is your experience working with schools and school personnel?*I'd have them do a quick quiz asking to determine safe dose ranges. Have a couple of orders that are not safe or not pediatric meds or alternative meds and ask how they would handle it.Tell me what you know about this community? The health care needs of this community?What is your experience doing home visits? leading community meetings, teaching in a classroom, organizing programs / events? teaching adults?*Describe a situation in your career where you were able to bring about a change through persuasion and influence?Can you describe how you would conduct a needs assessment in a school community? How would you determine which population interventions to implement?Scenarios:*Describe a clinical situation where you had to respond in an emergency?How would you handle angry mom, angry teacher, principal, child with frequent visits, emergency situations, team issues, MD issues, determining clinical and administrative priorities , delegation, the 911 that mom student does not want you to call, have a procedure to do you never did in acute or nurisng school ....A child is starting Monday with (trach, incessant seizures, name a syndrome). That is all you have been told, how will you prepare?*i would find out all i can from parent health history, look at her cumulative file and get parent to sign form so I could talk with dr to get care plan together and emergency plan so that she will be safe at school. I told them i had nly read about these plans, but logically this is what I would start with - make student safe and able to be in school. If experienced, are you nationally certified? A member of NASN, state affiliate?Good luck. Sorry, it was long. How do you keep current? What is the last nursing conference or continuing education offering you attended, last book you bought for your personal professional library, what journals do you read, what professional organizations do you belong to? Community health organizations?What strengths do you bring? What are three areas you will need to shore up?If you accept this position, will you be working in another position also? Are you available for before and after school IEP meetings? home visits? Are you available for summer session?I would not expect positive answers for a lot of these, but how she or he answers them will reveal a lot.#1Like Reply Quote

Nurse ABC · Oct 31, 2012

I think the PP covered the interview info very well and it's all stuff I've been asked. I've subbed a lot as well and it can be feast or famine. The slowest times of the year for subbing for me was usually Sept and Jan. The holiday months you can't work as much because there just isn't as much school and it seems like nurses don't call off as much right around holidays. I was always surprised how much I was called the last couple months of school but with all the field trips, extra coverage was always needed. Subbing is nice because you are only responsible for taking care of the kids that need you that day-not all the immunization records, screenings, paperwork, etc and if you have a tough day you know the regular nurse is coming back soon. The hard thing is not knowing the kids (esp the frequent flyers who love to see the sub!), where everything is at, having to quickly learn the procedures and schedule for the school, etc. Good luck!