Wow! First few interviews!

[TallRNBB]

I just graduated from a two year RN program and am scheduled to take my boards on July 16th. I am an LPN. I've had three interviews so far for three different hospitals. One in CO. and two in CA. My firt two went great and I have basically been offered jobs. The second interivew at an OC hospital this morning was terrible! I sat down with the Dept. Director, a charge nurse and another RN. The interview started out well and it was the basic meet and greet type questions. Then the DON starts giving me case scenarios about ortho patients etc. What would you do if you saw this. No big deal I thought. I said I'd assess the patient etc. She wanted more detail in my answers i..e walking her through my head to toe assesment. One of the case scenarios was a patient with a PE. What would you do? What would you order yadda yadda? How is a PE diagnosed. At one point she asked me how much O2 I would put the patient on (who's sats were 88%) I said I'd probably start them off on 1-2L. She said well that probably wouldn't do much you'd want to try 4L or so. Anyways, this was the worst interview I've ever had. I felt completely off guard and had no idea I would have to answer questions like that. I have a feeling it was because I was a male and had a 2 year degree. After the interview she said that she didn't think I was a good fit for her floor etc. I was upset and yet so angry. I've talked to other new grads and they've never had an interview like that. Maybe a question or two like what would you do if you walked into a room and saw this or that. But nothing like what would you order, detailed assessment questions, diagnosing PE's etc. I mean is this normal? My other interview was much different. At the other hospital in OC the recruiter interviewed me and showed me the hospital, handed out my resume to charge nurses on the other floors, and said when I get settled to call her and set up a second interview with a charge nurse on a specific floor. Anyone else have this experience? I want to call the nurse recruiter at the hospital and tell her what a negative experience I had and if all the interviews are like that and all the floors?

[AprilRNhere]

wow- those sound rough.

My first one was brutal. It was a phone interview. It took an hour and they never asked ANYTHING nursing related! It was like an online personality quiz. Seriously...they asked me "are you addicted to happiness" and "Are you a compulsive smiler" "Do you like to spend time in the outdoors"

It was rediculous.

The other 2 interviews I had were fine. One was great....the poor facility was desperate for help. It felt more like I was interviewing them. If I asked a simple questions...she went on for 20 minutes trying to "sell" the job to me.

The last interview I had..and the job I accepted was a standard, what I expected interview. They asked standard priority of care questions, my goals, a little about me and my view points etc... Then they called me back for a second interview where they asked more in depth questions and more personality fit scenarios. It felt like a fit and I was pleased when they offered me the job the next week.

>>>>sending good vibes that you find a great job!

[TallRNBB]

Thanks April. I mean I couldn't believe it. I could understand asking basic care/assessment questions but she was grilling me with questions like how is a PE diagnosed, what would you do if you walked into a room with a such and such patient such and such time post op with a heart rate of 170. What would you order? And if I said something like bloodwork, etc. she'd want details. Like electrolytes, CBC, ABG's. I mean I know nothing about the protocols of the hospital or the floor. And on top of that I was not exposed to much ortho/neuro during clinicals. I felt like a complete ass during that interview. When I was talking about my assessment and go to the lungs for example she asked me how would I assess the lungs? ***????????????? I thought she was joking. I was thinking to myself left to right, back to front etc. Listening twice on each side before moving to the next in a zig zag type pattern. It was hard to verbalize all this on the spot. She asked how would I verify if the heart rate was accurate? I said listen to the apical pulse. Im surprised she didn't ask me where the apical pulse is. LOL. It was insane. And I could tell she just wanted to test me and weed me out for some reason.

[AprilRNhere]

Just be happy it came out in the interview I guess. You wouldn't want a job that expected all of that from a new grad. I've heard horror stories of new grads getting little training and expected to take full work loads immediately and do everything with few questions.

I'm lucky to have gotten a job where I did all my clinicals. I KNOW how understanding they are of new grads, they have a great new grad program and assign a mentor to every new employee.

[ManyRN2B]

I had a job interview just like that. They asked 3 scenerios about differen patients and they wanted to know down to what labs to order etc. I had that interview before I graduated. It was nerve wracking. This hospital would offer you certain units based on how you did. So if you wanted to go to the ICU, you needed to kick butt. That was the worst interview I ever had and now I hate interviewing because I'm afraid it will happen again. Whew!!

Sorry you didn't get the job. I feel your pain. :)

Tiff