Unit mgr interview help

[opey9519]

Ok all- I need some advice on how to rock my upcoming interview. I have been an RN for about 8 months, but have 9 years of management experience in my "previous life" and was elected class President in nursing school. I am always finding myself the "go to" person regardless of asking for it. Staff from various shifts and departments always come to me with their issues etc.

SO- my point...I am interviewing for a unit manager position this week at my facility and need advice. I have been told by various people that I am a great nurse and are often shocked to discover I have been a nurse for only a brief time. How can I focus the attention on my management abilities combined with nursing?

ANY input is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Expect budgeting questions, staffing issue questions, staffing reduction questions, firing employee questions,etc... In this day and age it's all about the bottom line for mid level managers.

No offense either but it speaks volumes to their desperation to consider a new grad for a manager position.

[opey9519]

I am being considered because of my management experience as well as being an internal candidate. None of the things you mentioned are new to me and also have nothing to do with length of time as a nurse. A person can be a nurse for twenty years and never be capable of management. I will have no issue answering those. Thanks!

[kcochrane]

I recently interviewed for a Nurse Manager job. They asked about my experience as a "leader". They wanted examples of difficult situations and how I handled them. Situations like conflicts among coworkers, tardiness, absenteeism and poor performers. They asked if I had fired anyone and how I had handled that. No matter what the interview, they always ask about my weaknesses and how I had overcome them. Also what I felt were my strengths as a leader. What type of changes I had implimented as a leader and how they had impacted the unit. They wanted examples of difficult families and what resolution I came up with. They wanted to know how I would prioritize my time if I was faced with several issues at once. For example, a family member being upset and wanting to speak to me NOW, a patient whose status had changed for the worse, someone not showing up to work, a team member needing to talk to me in private and visually upset and an important meeting with higher managers that I was already late to. Just things to have in your mind when you go in. I did not get that job, but they hired me as a evening/night supervisor. Good Luck!