Questions to Help You Prepare for Job Interview  

Posted by tobby

Nursing Philosophy & Beliefs

What is your philosophy of nursing?
Is there a nursing theorist that you use as a basis for nursing practice?
What do you believe is the most important concept to support excellence in nursing? Personal

Goals & Planning

Where do you see yourself in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
Have you developed any professional goals? If so, would you share those with me?
Why do you want to work here?
What plans do you have for continuing education in nursing?
What do you see as your weakest area in nursing?
What do you see as your strengths in nursing? Your Experiences
What experience in your nursing education did you find the most rewarding? Why?
What experience in your nursing education did you like the least? Why?
In what kind of setting did you have an opportunity to work as a nursing student?
What other job experiences did you have? What skills did you develop there that will be useful in nursing?

Problem Solving

Identify a problem in patient care that you encountered as a student and explain how you solved that problem.
Describe a difficult patient with who you worked. Include why you found that patient difficult and how you managed the situation.
Identify a situation in which you were involved in a conflict and describe how you handled that situation. If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?
Explain how you would use the nursing process in patient care.
A problem may be presented to you for your solution. Plan ahead to approach it in a systematic manner.

Technical Skills

What technical nursing skills do you feel comfortable performing?
What skills will you require assistance with?
What do you do when you encounter a technical skill you have not performed before? The

Employment Setting

In what type of unit do you wish to work?
Why do you want to work here?
Why do you think we should hire you for this position?

Source: Nursing In Today's World. Trend's, Issues, and Management. 8th ed. p. 431

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Job Interview Tips  

Posted by Red in

Job Interview Tips

An interview gives you the opportunity to showcase your qualifications to an employer, so it pays to be well prepared. The following information provides some helpful hints.

Preparation:

    Learn about the organization.
    Have a specific job or jobs in mind.
    Review your qualifications for the job.
    Be ready to briefly describe your experience, showing how it relates it the job.
    Be ready to answer broad questions, such as "Why should I hire you?"       "Why do you want this job?" "What are your strengths and                         weaknesses?"
    Practice an interview with a friend or relative.

Personal appearance:

    Be well groomed.
    Dress appropriately.
    Do not chew gum or smoke.

The interview:

    Be early.
    Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him or her with a firm           handshake.
    Use good manners with everyone you meet. 
    Relax and answer each question concisely.
    Use proper English—avoid slang.
    Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
    Use body language to show interest—use eye contact and don’t slouch.
    Ask questions about the position and the organization, but avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company Web site. 
    Also avoid asking questions about salary and benefits unless a job offer is made.
    Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands.
    Send a short thank you note.

Information to bring to an interview:

    Social Security card.
    Government-issued identification (driver’s license).
    Resume or application. Although not all employers require a resume, you should be able to furnish the interviewer information about your           education, training, and previous employment.
    References. Employers typically require three references. Get permission before using anyone as a reference. Make sure that they will give you a good reference. Try to avoid using relatives as references.
    Transcripts. Employers may require an official copy of transcripts to verify grades, coursework, dates of attendance, and highest grade completed or degree awarded.

When a job interview doesn't produce a job offer:

    Poor personal appearance.
    Lack of focus. Be clear about what you want & what you don't want.
    Appearing too eager or too anxious. Listen 75% of the time & talk 25% of the time.
    Poor references. Always contact your references before you attend             interviews & if you are not sure of what they will say, ask them. It's also a good idea to give them a copy of your resume.
    Poor attitude. Don't be arrogant.
    Very high salary expectations.
    Lack of common sense.
    Qualified, but not the most suitable for the job.
    Lack of potential.
    Late arrival to the job interview. 
    Inflexibility.
    Insincerity.
    Not being self motivated

 
Below are questions you may be asked in the interview:
 
Tell me about yourself? (try to hold your response to 2 minutes) 

What do you know about our company? 

Why should we hire you? 

What can you do for us that someone else can't? 

What do you look for in a job? 

What skills and qualifications are essential for success in the position of ______? 

How long would it take for you to make a meaningful contribution? 

How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan? 

Describe your management style. 

What do you believe is the most difficult part of being a supervisor of people?

Why are you looking for a new career? 

How would your colleagues describe you?

How would your boss describe you? 

How would you describe yourself? 

What do you think of your present or past boss? 

What were the five most significant accomplishments in your last assignment?

What were the five most significant accomplishments in your career so far? 

Can you work well under deadlines or pressure? 

How much do you expect if we offer you this position? 

Why do you want to work for us? 

What other positions are you considering? 

Have you kept up in your field with additional training? 

What are your career goals? 

What are your strong points? 

What are your weak points? 

How did you do in school? 

What position do you expect to have in 2 to 5 years? 

If you took the job what would you accomplish in the first year? 

What was wrong with your current or last position? 

What kind of hours are you used to working or would like to work? 

Do you have your reference list with you? (Remember don't give it out unless it is asked for). 

Can you explain your salary history? 

What questions didn't I ask that you expected? 

Do you have any question for me? (See Questions for the Interviewer that you might want to ask below).


Below are questions you may want to ask the Interviewer 

Why is this position open? 
 
How often has it been filled in the past five years? What were the main reasons? 
 
What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position? 
 
What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job? 
 
What is most pressing? What would you like to have done in the next 3 months. 
 
What are some of the long term objectives you would like to see completed? 
 
What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this position? 
 
How do you think these could best be handled? 
 
What type of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances. etc? 
 
What freedom would I have in determining my own work objectives, deadlines, and methods of measurement? 
 
What advancement opportunities are available for the person who is successful in this position, and within what time frame? 
 
In what ways has this organization been most successful in terms of products and services over the years? 
 
What significant changes do you foresee in the near future? 
 
How is one evaluated in this position? 
 
What accounts for success within the company?
 
These questions are presented only as interviewing guidelines. They are meant to help you prepare for the interview. Some questions may or may not be appropriate for your interviewing situation.
 
By practicing your responses to some of these questions, hopefully you will not be taken off guard if asked one of them. Most importantly, relax, go with the flow, and before you know it, you'll be in your next job.


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ESSAY WRITING CONTEST for 2ND PINOY NURSES EXPO  

Posted by Red in

ESSAY WRITING CONTEST for 2ND PINOY NURSES EXPO 


Island Exhibit Link together with Rotary International District 3830 proudly presents an essay writing contest. This contest hopes to encourage our nursing graduates and registered nurses as well. To express to the nursing community their genuine thoughts and ideas as we engage with a very significant topic “The Role of Filipino Nurse in Reducing Child Mortality” This theme was derived from Rotary International District’s current campaign for the community which is Child Mortality Reduction.

Further more, Rotary International District 3830 will be awarding the winner of this contest the sum of P30,000.00. Island Exhibit Link will award the 1st runner up the amount of P15, 000.00. With plaque of recognition and the winning entries will be posted on the next SCRUBS Magazine issue, one of the leading HealthCare magazines in the country.

Announcement of the winners will be done on the second day of “The 2nd PINOY Nurses Expo 2008: A Tribute to the Global Filipino Nurse” slated on October 3 and 4, at the Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City this year.

This contest is open to all Nursing Graduates and Registered Nurses, ages 21 and above . All entries should be original composition, and must be submitted via email at islandexhibitorglink@yahoo.com not later than September 15, 2008.

WHAT IS THE THEME FOR ESSAY?

Theme: “The Role of Filipino Nurse in Reducing Child Mortality”

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA?
Nurse Graduate or Registered Nurse
Age 21 and above 
Philippine Setting Only

Entries can be in English or Tagalog, with maximum of 500 words. It should be original composition.

WHEN CAN I SEND MY ESSAY?

On or before September 15, 2008. Late entries will not accepted.

HOW DO I SEND MY ESSAY?
Send it to islandexhibitorglink@yahoo.com or you can also register in their forum http://islandexhibit.freeforums.org/login.php
Via Fax (Fax No.:5257554)

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES FOR THIS CONTEST?
Php. 30,000 from Rotary International District 3830 (for the 1st Prize)
Php. 15,000 from ISLAND Exhibit Link (for the 2nd Prize)
Plaque of Appreciation
10, 000 worth of White Beauty Products
and many more

START SENDING YOUR ESSAY NOW!!!

From an EMAIL, more power achie tea…

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BEST OF BOTH WORLDS  

Posted by Red in

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
 
I made this article to share my personal experience on both worlds with regards to most of us (nurses) call, "NCLEX time". Why both worlds? Well, to be honest, I got both the ups and downs of it. To further elaborate, here's my story...

After taking my local board exam last year, I prepared myself for the next ultimate exam, THE NCLEX. I went to one of the famous review center (one of the most expensive too) and studied there for three months. A typical student usually has their own way of studying. Each of us has a different style when it comes to studying. Some prefer to study until dawn, some only at night, while some during the day. I did the latter. Our study habits can really reflect our ways of acquiring knowledge. In 24 hours of the day, we manage to conquer our own time wherein we can study more effectively. It’s where we can recall what we had read so far. So, anyway, my study habit was during the office hours (8am - 5pm) only, 7 days a week. Every night, I would listen to my audio NCLEX reviewer after a day's work in the review center. I managed to have a regular sleeping habit (at least 7-8 hours of sleep). This ritual went on for the next few months. I started form the basics and foundation to every major topics of nursing. The review center has this exam every time we finished a certain chapter. It’s like a gauge meter for us if we are doing well. To tell you frankly, I never reached the safe mark of passing during the chapter exams, hehehehe. But it never disappoint me, instead, I just went on studying especially on my weak points. Then came the exam day, its true that anxiety really blows you off especially the night before the big day, and when your exam was in the morning. I had a hard time sleeping (thanks to anxiety). However, in cases like these, "FOCUS" was my bestfriend. It controlled some of my anxiety. It’s always within ourselves to get full control of every situation that we may encounter. It really depends on how we control it - take full control of your emotions and never let anxiety get hold of you. So, there I was, in the middle of the exam room, took a deep breath, said a prayer, and started the thing that I was preparing for the last several months. Guess what? My exam lasted for 5 hours and 275 items. You could only imagine how exhausted I was after. I won’t be discussing the specifics of my exam for the purpose of security protocols of NCLEX, but I had a tough one. It was chaos! I was not sure if I answered most of it correctly. I remember the "Quicksand story" in one of the famous movie from Keannu Reeves, it’s about making a mistake in a game, and trying to do it right then came another mistake, and another, and another. The more you fight back, the deeper you fall. No matter how much you correct it, panic started to conquer you- like quicksand. When I was through, I was the only one left in the exam room.

Then there’s this agony of waiting for the result. Two things were in my mind, passed of failed? Some say that we should expect for the worst, some would say hope for the best. Which one should be followed? Well, I'd say, make a back-up plan. There's always a second chance. If we did our best from our 1st try and failed, there's always a tomorrow to redeem yourself. Don’t waste your time making regrets (I should have...), instead modify and move on. So, at last the result came. it was a big brown envelope. I failed. Its true that our emotions affects our judgment, our actions and our ego. Most of us can be depressed while few of us just shrugged it off (denial? hahahaha).
The day after I received my result, I started to review again. I think I tuned myself not to be affected by it and just do what all of us would not do, STUDY. Again, prepare yourself for another battle. Its not over yet. This time, I made some few changes. I did not attend to any review centers. Self-study, hehehehe. I borrowed a book (which was great!) and contemplate. Everyday, i muse from 8am to 5pm. I still listen to my audio reviewer at night before I sleep and answered a few practice exams on my computer. Whenever I got tired, I still watched DVD movies or even played my game console. This ritual went on for 7 days a week. If you wonder, do I still have a social life? Absolutely. I had some time-outs too. It’s part of my routine. I still have this goal to pass my next NCLEX.

The exam day. Again. There I was in the familiar exam room, anxiety was still there nevertheless, I was still in control. START...

My exam stopped at item 78. It lasted for one and half hour. As I was walking on the sidestreet of Makati, tears were rolling down my face, oblivious from the stares of people around. Wow, I reached my goal. I think "quicksand" made a run for its money. After some thought, I recollect my exam questions but it was hard to know if I did answered it right. But, what the hell! I did my best and just waited for the result.

The envelope please! Then it came. A small white envelope. I passed. Whahahahaha! I did it! I cried like a child. Tears of joy? Maybe, but its hard to tell. Mixed emotions, I guess.

Why Best of Both Worlds? Well, it turned out that both worlds (passed and failed) reflected my own preference to deal both of them. Learning from the first one and established a new one. We have a choice to make and that choice is to whether we throw in the towel or go on fighting. It doesn’t also mean that we should all self-study or we should attend a review center, its a matter of choice. The only important thing is what we learn from it. There are a lot of strategies on how we can acquire knowledge, and it’s up to ourselves to make the most of it.

May this personal experience give an inspiration to those who are in both worlds.

Note: This is a story of “someone” who with all humility requested not to post his name as author of this article. The author wants this article be posted to serve as an inspiration to everyone. To the author: We congratulate you for passing the NCLEX and more than that, we congratulate you for the Inspiration and for the heart of service. You really are Making a Difference.


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