Responses to Interview Questions

Type:  Essay

Subject: Nursing Interview Questions

Subject area: Nursing

Education Level: Masters

Length: 2 pages

Referencing style: APA

Preferred English: US English

Spacing Option: Double

Title: RN History    

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name and Number

Instructor’s Name

Date

Responses to Interview Questions

Please describe your RN history in direct care.

Since obtaining my license to practice as an RN, my journey has been a great one, so to say. It has been filled with many learning mistakes that turned out to be points of strength, and I have been able to interact with patients and other professionals who have made the journey successful. In many instances, I have encountered challenging situations, which have taught me the need for collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centered and holistic care to patients. As an RN, I have served in various capacities, with the primary role being leading the nursing team in my unit for an organized way of providing care to patients. I have also worked with other professionals through interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care among different patients. This has built me up and inspired me to seek further opportunities to advance my skills and knowledge for more effective patient care. 

Describe a typical shift’s assignment, types of patients, their acuity, range of how many patients?

The shifts are typically alternated, and some nurses were involved during the day while others were at night. This was to prevent burnout associated with prolonged work duration. At the nurse station, my assignment was to ensure that all the patients requiring medication received them at the right time. I was also involved in monitoring the patients to determine if there was any deterioration in their health, after which I urgently informed the doctor in charge of intervention. During the day shift, I was stationed in different areas at different periods. While at the outpatient setup, I mainly interacted with patients on their routine clinical visits and those who presented for the first time in the facility. The number varied, depending on the specific days. But the average number of patients was 160. During my periods at the wards, I took care of patients admitted for various health conditions. Each ward contained approximately 30 patients I attended to, together with a colleague nurse. 

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Do you have academic medical center experience- i.e., working with students residents?

As a caregiver within the hospital setup, I have also had the opportunity to interact with nursing students who practice within the facility. This has offered me another role of guiding the nursing students during their clinical teaching to ensure that they can translate what they learn in class into clinical practice. I have also worked with residents in various areas of specializations, and through such interactions, we have indeed shared a lot.

Can you tell me about a difficult conversation you’ve had with a physician? What was the issue, and how was it addressed?

Most often, we have managed to work in a favorable environment. However, I had an instance of a difficult conversation with a physician during my initial days in practice when I failed to document when the patient's next dosage was scheduled. The physician was upset since the patient ended up not receiving care. However, the issue was resolved after the physician emphasized to me the need to document patient information to prevent incidences of medical errors properly. 

Do you have tertiary care experience? How long?

I have had the opportunity to work in the med-Surg unit for six months. This boosted my experience in pre-operative and post-operative patient care. 

Describe how your practice is patient-centered vs. task-oriented

As I practice, I always focus on addressing the various patient needs, including their physical health, social and psychological well-being. This is critical in ensuring better health outcomes as it advocates for a holistic approach to patient care. At times, I become task-oriented to confirm that I can finish an activity appropriately. 

Do you hold any national professional nursing certifications?

Yes, I hold a certificate in Acute and Critical Nursing for neonates, pediatrics, and adults.

Can you describe a caring moment in your practice?

I have encountered various caring moments during my practice. However, the most memorable one was when I was caring for a patient who had a total hysterectomy. It was a difficult scenario and included various groups, including the patient's family. After a significant duration, the patient came to terms with it and was discharged. 

Can you describe a situation where communication may not have been ideal in the work setting? What was the issue, and how did you address it?

Communication is an essential tool in ensuring patient safety and better health outcomes. This, however, is only fruitful when the various healthcare providers relate well to each other in providing better health outcomes for the patient. An example was when there was a poor relationship among the healthcare providers due to personal differences and poor management. In the situation, communication was not ideal, and the patient outcomes were significantly affected. However, this was addressed when a free environment was created, and affected individuals could air their concerns. 

Unit specific questions:

Do you have experience with:

Step-down care, cardiac monitoring, and neurosciences? Yes, especially monitoring cardiac functions such as the pulse rate, circulatory volume, and shock cases.

Covid positive/infectious diseases. Yes

Acute rehab. No

Palliative care/postmortem care. Yes

Codes including stroke rapid response. No 

Ostomy care. Yes

Wound vacs. Yes