school nurse interview

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 10, 2010

You sound like you would be a great school nurse, but you have to convince them that you want the job for the right reason. You have to make sure that your focus is on the kids and helping them be all that they can be. It's important to realize that while school nursing is certianly more "fun" than hospital nursing, it's a job just the same. Sell yourself on the basis that while you don't have a lot of experience, you have the heart to make it work.

spp2423 · Feb 10, 2010

thank you! i really hope i can land this job! oh and does anyone have a good objective for my resume? in nsg school they always told us to put "to obtain a position in the field of nursing" but I feel that it's so ... bland. I thought about putting "to obtain a challenging position as a school nurse" but i guess maybe thats not that spicy either! any ideas?

bergren · Feb 10, 2010

How about "to protect and promote the health and safety of school aged children so they can learn"

Look at the http://www.nasn.org website. Find out how to join your state association and tell the interviewers that you will spend the time to orient yourself and turn your novice into expert.

There is a great set of competencies from CT - that you could use as goals:

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/deps/student/health/Nursing_Competencies.pdf

CT has a great website overall for school nurses: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2678&q=320768

Good luck!!

mustlovepoodles, RN · Feb 10, 2010

The thing you have to understand about being a school nurse is that you must be very comfortable working alone. You will have no backup on-site other than EMS. You will have nothing with which to handle a true emergency except ice, bandaids, and tape. You must have excellent pediatric assessment skills and superb decision-making skills. You must have a thick skin because everyone there thinks they know your job. I would probably not go for a school nurse job with so little experience, but I'm not you. I imagine there will be quite a learning curve. Hopefully they will orient you with an experienced school nurse rather than flinging you right in the briar patch. And never let'em see you sweat. :cool:

As far as what to say I'd tell them "In my training I enjoyed working with children immensely. I believe I am capable and up to the challenge. My greatest assets are the ability to work under pressure, a teachable spirit, and enthusiasm for the work!" When I interviewed for my current position they had a list of questions such as "How would you handle a contentious parent?" "Explain how you plan to document" "WHat if a student had a seizure at school? " "How do you handle adult staff who come to the clinic?"and "What would you do if you suspect a student is being abused?" Since you have no experience to fall back on, you need to think about potential situations and come up with a reasonable plan. Good luck :nurse:

spp2423 · Feb 12, 2010

Thank you all so much for your replies. I can honestly say this was the worst interview I've ever experienced in my whole life. Not one health care related question, no situational "what would you do" type questions- which is what I was prepared for lol. I guess it's a blessing in disguise that it went as horribly as it did- as said someone said earlier- more experience would help!! I just cant believe those questions! In all the interviews I've ever been to, I've NEVER had questions like that.

here's some of what I can remember!

1. Describe a time that you were part of a team working to achieve a goal. Describe your role and how you as a team worked to achiever the ultimate goal.

2. Describe a system you came up with at work to help you achieve your ultimate daily goals. (what the heck??)

i just can't believe there were no health care related questions!!! how crazy is that??? i was so dumbfounded. i felt like i was interviewing for a true business job that would require no health care experience whatsoever

bergren · Feb 12, 2010

I take it there was not nurse included. on the interview team,.....telling....

You got the generic:

1. Is she a team player?

2. Is she self directed?

Telling..........................................

hmmmmmm.......

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 12, 2010

Wow, that's pretty shocking. I've interviewed for two school nurse jobs (within the same system, one HS one elementary...I ended up taking the elementary job, but anyways)...both interviews were full of health and school related questions, with at least 3 or 4 situational questions each time...my favorite of which was during the HS interview...15 year old comes to you and tells you she's pregnant but can't tell her parents- what do you do? (They said my answer was the best they ever heard! lol!)

bergren · Feb 12, 2010

I am holding my breath - Tell us your answer!!!

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 12, 2010

Oh! I just realized that I had typed that to sound like a big deal! It really wasn't much!

I told them "I would, first off, make sure that she understood that she could confide in me and that I was there to support her. I would also make sure that she understood that it was okay to be scared and anxious, but we would work through it however we could. Then, I would contact the guidance counselor and explain the situation to him and see what he thought the next step should be." I also told them that I didn't feel that was a situation I could handle on my own and that I wasn't afraid to ask for help from the guidance counselor or principal.

Sorry, it wasn't as interesting as I made it sound!

noreenl · Feb 12, 2010

Oh! I just realized that I had typed that to sound like a big deal! It really wasn't much!
I told them "I would, first off, make sure that she understood that she could confide in me and that I was there to support her. I would also make sure that she understood that it was okay to be scared and anxious, but we would work through it however we could. Then, I would contact the guidance counselor and explain the situation to him and see what he thought the next step should be." I also told them that I didn't feel that was a situation I could handle on my own and that I wasn't afraid to ask for help from the guidance counselor or principal.
Sorry, it wasn't as interesting as I made it sound!

I always make sure I teach the nurses that I send out to the High Schools in particular to never promise a student not to tell anyone just to get the student to confide in me. I say to the student who asks "Can I tell you something and you promise not to tell anyone?"

"I can't promise you that I won't tell anyone; but, if I feel you are being hurt in any way I do promise to go with you to speak to a counselor/parent or whomever so that you won't have to go alone. Now you can take a minute and decide what you want to do. I will be here when you need me".

I haven't had a problem yet that we couldn't handle together. I believe my honesty and trust are two mandatory qualities a school nurse must have.