Case Study: Interviewing
Sara is interviewing for a new position in a different facility from where she previously worked. She has not had to interview for a job since she graduated from nursing school and received her first and only position, where she worked for eight years. Sara is interviewing with Jeri Johnson, the nurse manager of the CVICU at Memorial Hospital. Jeri is fairly new to her position and has had little experience with leading the interview process.
Instructions:
Read the Case Study above, and then answer the questions below:
How does a nurse manager or nurse-recruiter prepare for an interview?
What kinds of questions are off-limits to an interviewer by law?
What kinds of questions do you personally believe to be ethically or morally wrong?
Since Jeri is not very adept at interviewing for applicants, what steps can she take to compensate for her lack of experience?
Sample Solution
Nurse managers and nurse-recruiters can prepare for an interview by:
- Reviewing the job description carefully. This will help them to identify the key skills and experience that they are looking for in a candidate.
- Developing a list of questions to ask the candidate. These questions should be designed to assess the candidate's skills, experience, and fit for the position.
- Researching the candidate. This can be done by reviewing their resume, LinkedIn profile, and other online sources.
Full Answer Section
- Participate in research. Nurses can participate in research as subjects, data collectors, or investigators. Research helps to advance nursing practice and improve patient care.
- Engage in continuing education. Nurses need to stay up-to-date on the latest advances in nursing practice. This can be done through formal continuing education courses or self-directed learning.
- Be involved in quality improvement initiatives. Nurses should be involved in identifying and implementing quality improvement initiatives in their units and throughout the hospital.
- Promote patient safety. Nurses should be vigilant about identifying and preventing patient safety risks. They should also be involved in developing and implementing patient safety policies and procedures.
- Board certification: Board certification is a voluntary process that demonstrates that a nurse has met high standards of knowledge and practice in a specialty area. Nurses can become board certified in a variety of specialties, such as critical care, oncology, and pediatrics.
- Advanced degrees: Nurses can pursue advanced degrees, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Advanced degrees can help nurses to develop their leadership skills and to conduct research.
- Awards and honors: Nurses can be recognized for their excellence with awards and honors from their peers, professional organizations, and employers. These awards and honors can be a valuable addition to a nurse's resume and can help them to advance their careers.
- Shared governance: Shared governance is a model of organizational governance in which nurses have a significant role in decision-making. This can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, such as nurse councils and committees.
- Professional development: Magnet hospitals invest in the professional development of their nurses. This includes providing nurses with opportunities to attend conferences, take continuing education courses, and pursue advanced degrees.
- Evidence-based practice: Magnet hospitals are committed to evidence-based practice. This means that they use the best available research evidence to inform their clinical decisions.
- Quality improvement: Magnet hospitals are continuously striving to improve the quality of their care. This is done through a variety of mechanisms, such as quality improvement initiatives and performance reviews.
- Patient safety: Magnet hospitals are committed to patient safety. This is done through a variety of mechanisms, such as patient safety policies and procedures and risk management programs.