Student nurse interview next week....any tips?

MKIVSupraRN · Jun 26, 2015

Does anyone have any tips on what I should expect? Will they ask me any clinically based questions? They said to wear scrubs but should I just pack them or wear them to the the interview?

They told you to wear scrubs to a interview? That just doesn't seem to be logical in any shape or form lol. You should dress businesses casual and bring along scrubs in case that is actually factual wanting students to interview in scrubs. I'm just baffled by this lol.

Or actually, why don't you call them and verify this information first because wearing scrubs to any interview, student based or not, is unprofessional.

Also, when my friend did an interview for her student nurse position they just asked her who she is, why she's interested in nursing, what her experience is from nursing school, what level she's in in nursing school and what makes her a great candidate for the student position etc. I wouldn't expect them to ask you clinically based questions such as "if you have a patient in v-tach what do you do first?" That's what nursing school is for and what the student nurse potions are for; to gain experience and to learn.

You will be working with a preceptor more than likely and won't ever do things on your own so I highly doubt their going to ask you clinically based question but then again, everyone is different and they just might. Plus as a student, they can't expect you to know upper level information etc as you are still a nursing student.

Just be prepared, they might but from what I know from a friend who did this during school, they just asked basic information such as what level of the program she's at, what her clinical experience is etc.

johsonmichelle · Jun 26, 2015

Hey everyone! I've been applying to so many student nurse and CNA positions this summer and I finally got a call back! I have an interview set up next week with for the SICU.
Does anyone have any tips on what I should expect? Will they ask me any clinically based questions? They said to wear scrubs but should I just pack them or wear them to the the interview? Anyone else accept a student nurse position before and can share what I can expect to experience during the interview?
If you couldn't tell by now I'm a ball of nerves ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

I can answer this question as I just had a student nurse interview and mines went very well. Like you , I was also instructed to wear scrubs to the interview . WEAR IT, just make sure it's clean, nicely ironed and please do not wear your scrubs that has your school logos on it to the interview( some of my classmates did that). They ask you to wear scrubs so that you can shadow after the interview. To prepare for the interview , research about the hospital and unit as much as you can. Know they mission, values and vision if they have any. They will ask you very basic questions such as, describe yourself, why you decided to go to nursing school, what you like/dislike most about nursing etc. I was not asked any clinically based questions. Please prepare questions for them, it will help you tremendously because each hospital is different and have different rules. I asked a lot of questions, because being a student nurse can be little different from being a hospital tech. The good thing about being hired as a student nurse is that you will be at the top of list for consideration for their new grad residency program if they have one. Good luck with your interview, working in the SICU would be a great opportunity.

cgambino70 · Jun 26, 2015

My interview was a panel interview and very involved. I brought my school portfolio and came prepared. They asked me a lot of clinical questions. What would you do in this situation questions? I had just finished my first semester of nursing school and I had just gotten my CNA license so I did my best. I highlighted my accomplishments and I had a list of questions for them I asked about job opportunities after graduation and what kinds of things I would be allowed to do on the floor that would relate to my nursing studies. I am on a CV stepdown unit and absolutely love it. It is hard work but the nurses are great and they know I am in Nursing school so they let me do a lot of things they don't let others do. I learn a lot and it has opened a door for a job after graduation. I had applied to about 50 positions before I even got an interview. It can be frustrating but i made the most of the interview and was hired immediately. Just be prepared and you will do fine. Good luck to you and be confident. I went in there and let them know that i would be an asset on their floor. I also brought three letters of recommendation from professors that talked about my work ethic and ptient care abilities and that always helps.

jennyxyz · Jun 29, 2015

They told you to wear scrubs to a interview? That just doesn't seem to be logical in any shape or form lol. You should dress businesses casual and bring along scrubs in case that is actually factual wanting students to interview in scrubs. I'm just baffled by this lol.
Or actually, why don't you call them and verify this information first because wearing scrubs to any interview, student based or not, is unprofessional.
Also, when my friend did an interview for her student nurse position they just asked her who she is, why she's interested in nursing, what her experience is from nursing school, what level she's in in nursing school and what makes her a great candidate for the student position etc. I wouldn't expect them to ask you clinically based questions such as "if you have a patient in v-tach what do you do first?" That's what nursing school is for and what the student nurse potions are for; to gain experience and to learn.
You will be working with a preceptor more than likely and won't ever do things on your own so I highly doubt their going to ask you clinically based question but then again, everyone is different and they just might. Plus as a student, they can't expect you to know upper level information etc as you are still a nursing student.
Just be prepared, they might but from what I know from a friend who did this during school, they just asked basic information such as what level of the program she's at, what her clinical experience is etc.

I had to confirm this with the person who contacted me. Yes they want me to wear scrubs to the interview.

Thanks for letting me know!

jennyxyz · Jun 29, 2015

My interview was a panel interview and very involved. I brought my school portfolio and came prepared. They asked me a lot of clinical questions. What would you do in this situation questions? I had just finished my first semester of nursing school and I had just gotten my CNA license so I did my best. I highlighted my accomplishments and I had a list of questions for them I asked about job opportunities after graduation and what kinds of things I would be allowed to do on the floor that would relate to my nursing studies. I am on a CV stepdown unit and absolutely love it. It is hard work but the nurses are great and they know I am in Nursing school so they let me do a lot of things they don't let others do. I learn a lot and it has opened a door for a job after graduation. I had applied to about 50 positions before I even got an interview. It can be frustrating but i made the most of the interview and was hired immediately. Just be prepared and you will do fine. Good luck to you and be confident. I went in there and let them know that i would be an asset on their floor. I also brought three letters of recommendation from professors that talked about my work ethic and ptient care abilities and that always helps.

Wow that seems pretty intense! By school portfolio what do you mean? Also what kind of clinical questions did they ask you?

cgambino70 · Jun 30, 2015

Our school portfolio has our skills checkoffs, papers we have done, volunteer activities. We are required to have one and go over it with our mentor each semester. It has reference letters and our resume. As for clinical questions they asked all different patient situations and what would you do. Like what would you do if a patient kept refusing a bathand stuff like that. They wanted to gauge your knowledge of patient interactions. I had already completed two clinical rotations and am a licensed CNA so i was pretty comfortable answering those.