What are they looking for??

Nurses General Nursing

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I had an interview recently that left me wondering. I was asked if I to describe a situation where I witnessed someone breaking policy or not following rules and how I handled it.

I sputtered a bit, trying to remember something (anything) and finally spit some story about a fellow student cheating back in my college days. I said, in essence, that I spoke with the student first, but then discussed it with the professor.

So, my question is, what are they hoping you'll say? I assume that they don't want to hire someone who wouldn't report breaks in protocol, but you also wouldn't want someone who isn't a team player and runs tattling to management. I'm not sure how they think such things should be handled. Let me add that I was feeling slightly rattled by this point because the interviewer was typing my responses into their computer verbatim. Now I'm left wondering if I even used complete sentences!

TIA for the insight.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

Everyone knows what the "right" answer is, so that can't be what they're looking for. I think they're looking for anything that's not too extreme one way or the other- because it's likely to be an honest answer.

My honest answer would be that I didn't bother with the "little" things. An employee who called in sick and was spotted at the mall with friends would escape my "wrath". On the other hand, I would have no trouble reporting a nursing colleague who was diverting narcotics from patients.

I always use hypothetical situations, even when asked for things that happened to me personally. Personal situations are often too complicated to make good examples.

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I had an interview question once that asked, "What would you do if you made a med error?" not the same as your question, but still , I have heard others say they were asked this question also on interviews.

report it, incident report, check the patient -( vs, ie..) notify dr, family ( if needed) and then how to PREVENT future mistakes, what could be changed if anything?. ect.. (and not necessarily in that order)

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Specializes in NICU.

If you don't report mistakes then people won't learn how to prevent them. So you always want to put that in there. The importance of reporting a mistake is not to tattle or to get someone in trouble but to help everyone learn.

They are looking for you to do the right thing is all. Always use a hypothetical situation.

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Thanks! The hypothetical situation is a good idea, even if they ask for a personal. I agree, Orange Tree, that personal examples are too complicated. I think that is why I was choking about how to net it out!

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Someone is trying find out how your judgement is and where your morals and values lie. Being a team player and knowing what to do if you see someone compromising a health care policy are two different things. IMHO there is only one way to do something and that is the right way. I'd rather loose friends on a job then a pt.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/PCU.

So do interviewers really just expect interviewees to describe hypothetical situations under the guise of "this really happened", or are there some out there that still believe that the stories their interviewees are telling truly happened? Or do you let them know it's just a hypothetical example beforehand? I agree it's often harder to use personal experiences, but I always thought that's truly what interviewers were looking for. As difficult as it may be to relay some personal experiences, I find it would be much more difficult (for me & my conscience, anyway) to give a 'fake' story when they ask for a real one.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.
So do interviewers really just expect interviewees to describe hypothetical situations under the guise of "this really happened", or are there some out there that still believe that the stories their interviewees are telling truly happened? Or do you let them know it's just a hypothetical example beforehand? I agree it's often harder to use personal experiences, but I always thought that's truly what interviewers were looking for. As difficult as it may be to relay some personal experiences, I find it would be much more difficult (for me & my conscience, anyway) to give a 'fake' story when they ask for a real one.

I wouldn't present a "fake" story as a real one. It's always explained that if "xyz" happened, this is what I would do. No one seems to mind a hypothetical situation when a personal example is asked for. In fact, sometimes I don't have a personal example for the type of situation they're asking about.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/PCU.
I wouldn't present a "fake" story as a real one. It's always explained that if "xyz" happened, this is what I would do. No one seems to mind a hypothetical situation when a personal example is asked for. In fact, sometimes I don't have a personal example for the type of situation they're asking about.

@Orange Tree Thank you for your clarification. I think a hypothetical situation presented in that sense is very acceptable and appropriate. I too would choose to offer an "If xyz happened, then I'd..." example when a personal experience is lacking. Thank you for sharing :nurse:

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