| -> | | | | on a candidate's personal reasons on desiring to be a |
| Many people want to be nurses. It is a very in-demand | | | | nurse. |
| profession despite the long hours of work entailed to it. | | | | Majority of questions are competency based and |
| Nurses carry a very important job. They deal firsthand | | | | behavioral type. Candidates will be asked on how they |
| with patients, needing their utmost sincere attention and | | | | will deal with emergency and death situations, work |
| care. | | | | practices, and quality patient care. More often that not |
| Hospitals and health care providers sift applicants | | | | behavioral questions require specific answers with |
| carefully in three main areas. First is orientation and | | | | detailed evidences. They can be situational to |
| training, then working environment, and lastly employer's | | | | determine or predict future performance. There are |
| management and administration. | | | | instances wherein applicants find these questions to be |
| Orientation and Training consists of questions regarding | | | | the most difficult to answer. |
| the qualification of the applicant. An applicant must be | | | | On the other hand, competency based questions are |
| able to discuss her theoretical training and hands-on | | | | structured interviews. It can be a series of questions or |
| skills to the interviewer. It also includes questions | | | | in-depth probing questions. These are formal questions, |
| regarding clinical effectiveness, governance and | | | | graded thru a standard rating sheet. |
| perception of medical terms. | | | | There will also be questions that need opinionated |
| Working Environment area consists of questions | | | | answers. These mostly deal with current debates and |
| regarding one's flexibility on scheduled work shifts, | | | | issues, like euthanasia and abortion. |
| nurse-patient ratios, and requirement of on-call duties. | | | | Before an interview, familiarize and take time to know |
| Management and Administration area consists of | | | | the employer's interview process. This includes learning |
| coping with management styles, performance reviews | | | | the company's mission and future goals towards health |
| and facing challenges at work. | | | | care. |
| There are also additional questions regarding core | | | | Prepare at least two questions for the employer. This |
| competencies, previous work experience, personality, | | | | is a sign that one is interested to truly work in the |
| motivation and coping skills. | | | | company. Remember to ask relevant questions. |
| Questions on previous work experiences would be | | | | Employers do not always look for the right answer. |
| based on the submitted resume. It is very important to | | | | Sometimes they are just looking at your gestures, |
| prepare and familiarize oneself with the resume | | | | poise, confidence and articulateness. |
| submitted. | | | | Prepare an answer to the standard question on |
| Questions on core competencies would test time | | | | strength and weaknesses. |
| management and team management skills. It will also | | | | Think and be positive. Answer truthfully and directly. |
| look into an applicant's capability at effective | | | | Anyway, it is easy to detect when one is just going |
| communications and patient care abilities. | | | | for an ostentatious answer, or lying. |
| Ideally nurses must be able to project good | | | | Maintain eye contact, be enthusiastic and smile during |
| communication and interpersonal skills. Personality, | | | | the entire interview. Relax and treat the interview as |
| motivation and coping skills questions would be based | | | | just another conversation with someone you know. |