| Whether you are hiring a nurse for a hospital, | | | | experience? Look for a common sense approach |
| clinic, or other medical organization, you will want | | | | to resolving the problem. |
| to learn everything about the potential employee. | | | | How would you handle the following situations? |
| Learning how a nurse handles stress requires the | | | | Provide a scenario or a couple of scenarios where |
| interviewee to give an introspective point of view. | | | | a candidate has to resolve a medical or |
| There are a number of questions an interviewer | | | | interpersonal problem. Look for how the candidate |
| can ask in order to reveal important information | | | | assesses the situation, implements the resolution |
| about the suitability of the nursing candidate. | | | | plan, and concludes the problem. How well does |
| Questions an interviewer can ask when hiring a | | | | the candidate think on his or her feet? Does the |
| Nurse include: | | | | candidate understand the issues? How detailed is |
| Tell me about yourself: The candidate should talk | | | | the candidate when describing how to resolve the |
| for several minutes about details that are not | | | | problem? |
| included on the resume. Look for rational, logical, | | | | How have you changed or matured over the past |
| and clear thinking. Assess communication skills and | | | | several years? Look for a response focusing on |
| body language. | | | | improved medical, technical, leadership, and |
| What are your most significant accomplishments? | | | | interpersonal skills. How did the candidate |
| Look for accomplishments that are relevant to | | | | overcome personal weaknesses? How did the |
| the nursing job (tough work, lengthy hours, and | | | | candidate acquire new strengths? This will reveal |
| handling a lot of pressure.) Look for how the | | | | confidence, self reflection, and a solid and |
| candidate was personally involved in the | | | | trustworthy candidate. |
| accomplishment (a leader or a follower.) | | | | Why do you want to work here? Look for a |
| Why do you believe that you are qualified for this | | | | candidate's knowledge of the medical facility, |
| position? Look for such traits as being | | | | valuable assets that will contribute to the |
| progressive, can adapt to change, works well with | | | | organization, what the candidate will bring to the |
| others (team player), open to change, and has | | | | medical organization, strengths, management |
| management skills, medical skills, and organization | | | | traits, and interpersonal skills. |
| and planning skills. | | | | What do you consider your most significant |
| How do you handle pressure? Look for situations | | | | weaknesses? Look for weaknesses that the |
| where the candidate was in a high pressure | | | | candidate successfully overcame and how he or |
| situation. How did the candidate handle the | | | | she overcame it. |
| incident, from the moment it happened up to its | | | | What are your career goals? Assess if the |
| conclusion? Look for honesty and if the candidate | | | | candidate is being realistic and is motivated to |
| came out of the situation with a positive outlook | | | | achieve these goals. Look for an introspective |
| about handling future stressful incidents. | | | | answer. |
| How do handle deadlines and difficult people? Look | | | | A career in nursing is not only rewarding and |
| for examples of situations where the candidate | | | | lucrative, but challenging and stressful. Making sure |
| had to resolve a frustrating situation with a | | | | you have hired the right Nurse candidate for the |
| person or group of people. How did the candidate | | | | job requires asking questions that provide detailed |
| resolve the problem? (Positive or negative | | | | and thoroughly thought-out answers. |
| outcome) What did the candidate learn from the | | | | |