SICU Interview Questions....

jspacegirl · Aug 20, 2008

I applied to a critical care new grad program and have an interview in an SICU floor. I wanted to know what type of clinical questions may be asked during the interview. Also is there anything I can say or do to make myself stick out from the rest of the applicants? As far as I know this interview will be with the nurse manager of the unit and maybe also a nurse from the unit. I just want to be prepared and ready for the interview. :)
TIA

I interviewed for two new grad positions in critical care at two different hospitals. The first one asked a few simple clinical questions that focused on prioritization (which patient would you assess first?), what to do in a certain situation (they described a patient who probably had a DVT), and some questions that had to do with developmentally appropriate approaches to patient care (even though this was an adult unit). None of it was stuff I didn't already know. They must know that you are still in school (or just now done with it) and don't know EVERYTHING :-)

The other interview consisted mainly of behavioral questions ("tell me about a time when you acted as a patient advocate"), as few as some random ones such as what my favorite hobby was, and if I was an animal what would I be. No joke! That interview style really enabled me to build a relationship with the manager, and that was the job I ended up taking.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

jspacegirl · Aug 20, 2008

Oh, and one more thing. If you want to stand out from the crowd, dress to impress! Definitely wear a suit (and if you can't afford it, put one on a credit card, leave on the tags, and then take it back after the interview). I'm shocked that some people don't even do this. With as good as my grades and recommendations were, when I was hired for my dream job, they told me that one of the things they were most impressed with was my appearance and that I looked like I was really serious about the job. Well, I was! And besides, I would never consider not wearing a suit to a job interview anyway (well, unless it was for retail or at a bar or restaurant, but you get what I mean).

NHGN · Aug 24, 2008

Hi!

I'm a new grad on a prestigous SICU floor. I was amazed when they only asked me three questions at my interview: why do you want to be a nurse? Why SICU? Where do you see yourself in five years? The interview was short; the shadow was longer and I heard that the real "interview" is done on the shadow and how you will fit in with the rest of the staff.

As a new grad (young-mid 20s), I don't think a suit is a necessity. Pants, jacket, dress shirt, and nice shoes yes, but not a full-on suit. I personally think a skirt is going a step beyond pants.

Be enthusiastic! The staff said that what got me the job was my desire to be on the unit. Like you, I had combed the internet for questions and what might happen in the interview prior to having it. I knew exactly what they wanted to hear and gave it to them.

Good luck! :up:

PS - the only person that saw my nice clothes was the secretary. As soon as I got there they told me to put on scrubs and tour the unit! Then I had my interview, on the floor, where they said not to bother re-changing!

glamgalRN · Aug 28, 2008

Oh, and one more thing. If you want to stand out from the crowd, dress to impress! Definitely wear a suit (and if you can't afford it, put one on a credit card, leave on the tags, and then take it back after the interview). I'm shocked that some people don't even do this.
A little off topic and I'm sorry if this sounds rude but I think it's wrong to wear something and keep the tags on it to return it afterwards. I can't believe anyone would even admit to doing that! If you can't afford to buy a suit for an interview wear nice pants and a button down shirt.

jspacegirl · Aug 28, 2008

Oh, and one more thing. If you want to stand out from the crowd, dress to impress! Definitely wear a suit (and if you can't afford it, put one on a credit card, leave on the tags, and then take it back after the interview). I'm shocked that some people don't even do this.
A little off topic and I'm sorry if this sounds rude but I think it's wrong to wear something and keep the tags on it to return it afterwards. I can't believe anyone would even admit to doing that! If you can't afford to buy a suit for an interview wear nice pants and a button down shirt.
Stylists for photo shoots do this all the time. They even put masking tape on the bottoms of shoes to protect the soles and then return them. I personally have never done the whole wearing something and then taking it back, but I don't see anything that horribly wrong with it if you need to wear a suit for only an hour and have a tight budget. There are even places like Nordstrom who will take back something for ANY reason, whether you have worn it or not. Trust me, there are worse things a person can do than taking back a suit they wore for one interview.

allnurses Guide · Sep 1, 2008

I think it's dishonest. Would you want to buy a "new" suit that someone else had worn to an interview, not washed, and returned? I wouldn't!

labcat01, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2008

I think it's dishonest. Would you want to buy a "new" suit that someone else had worn to an interview, not washed, and returned? I wouldn't!

Not to go off topic, but this is more common then you might think. One of my friends used to work in a department store and she had some disgusting stories about what is done with clothes they sold- the point is that you should WASH EVERYTHING before you wear it because you don't know what's been done to it or in it ICK!

Back to the original post- you have to dress as professionally as you can and NEVER EVER wear scrubs to an interview (or career fair for that matter) unless you've been told ahead of time that you should. For my ICU interview, they mostly asked behavioral type questions. They wanted to know that I was going to fit with the hospital's values and that I wasn't going to be afraid of calling/talking to physicians (for some reason, that was a common theme at all my interviews). Be honest in your interview but don't give too much away. My recruiter's asked if the ICU intimidated me- it did a little and I told them so (which they seemed to like). Try to emphasize what you DO know instead of letting them focus on what you don't know. You'll be fine! Really!

Good luck with your interview!

ICU_nurse · Sep 3, 2008

My interview for this ICU position im currently in took place after my 4th (out of 4!) night duty! So My memory has faded a little in regards to the questions.

I do remember I had 9, 3 from each interviewer. 3 were clinically based (a pt's ECG trace suddenly shows VT on the monitor, what do you do? Pt's vent is alarming high airway pressure, what do you do?) 3 were general/professional development (what education opportunities do you see yourself taking? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?) and 3 were OH&S related (define universal precautions, what quality assurance systems do we apply to the clinical environment?)

Research where you work, the interview begins as soon as you walk in the room, and ends the moment you close the door behind you on your way out- they don't just judge you on your response to the set questions, your answers/questions in general chit-chat will also make an impression!

good luck!

Parko