Cracking the Nursing Interview

325 Pages·2017·3.813 MB·English

by  Jim Keogh

Jim Keogh
Cracking the Nursing Interview

ISBN 978-1-5015-1504-0
e-ISBN (PDF) 978-1-5015-0610-9
e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-1-5015-0625-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book has been applied for at the Library of Congress.
Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed
bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de.
© 2017 Walter de Gruyter Inc., Boston/Berlin
www.degruyter.com
This book is dedicated to Anne, Sandy, Joanne, Amber-Leigh Christine,
Shawn, Eric, and Amy, without whose help and support this book could not
have been written.
Contents
Introduction
Part One: Understanding the Interview Process
Chapter 1: The Nursing Interview Process
How Nursing Jobs Are Created
The Nurse Job Description
Full-Time, Part-Time, Per Diem
Benefits and No-Benefits
Union vs. Non-Union
Job Postings
Applying In-house for a Position
Applying from the Outside
Networking Helps
Human Resources Interview
Nurse Manager Interview
Pre-employment Technical Tests
Job Offer
Pre-employment Health Exam
Background Check
Orientation
Probation
Chapter 2: Behind the Scenes of the Nursing Interview Process
The Challenges of Recruiting Nurses
The Ideal Nurse
How Decisions Are Made
The Flow of Interviews
Getting Lost in the Shuffle
The Dreaded Application Tracking System
Job Fairs
The Background Check Anxiety
Why You Didn’t Get Hired
Chapter 3: The New Grad Nursing Interview
Before Graduation
What Type of Nursing Do You Want to Do?
You Don’t Have Nursing Experience but You Have Experience
The Search Begins
Use Your Network
What Nurse Recruiters Look For
Selling Yourself in Your Resume and Job Application
Cover Letter
What to Expect During the Interview
After the Interview
Nursing as a Second ... or Third ... or Fourth Career
Chapter 4: The Experienced Nurse Interview
Are You an Experienced Nurse?
Risks of Changing Jobs
Transfer or Seek a New Employer
Per Diem Alternative
Resign or be Terminated
Hospital Mergers and Jobs
Returning to Nursing
Returning to Nursing Under Disciplinary Action
Networking Helps
Applying for a Transfer
Applying for an Outside Position
Cover Letter or No Cover Letter
Reapplying to a Former Employer
What to Expect During the Interview
After the Interview
Meeting the Hiring Nurse Manager
Chapter 5: Choosing a Nursing Specialty
Developing a Career Path
Obstacles to Change
Assess Your Current Nursing Career
Changing Nursing Specialty
Is Management for You?
Agency Nursing
Travel Nursing
Home Healthcare Nursing
Case Management
Nurse Practitioner
Flight Transport Nurse
Nursing Informatics
Hospice Nurse
Infection Control Nurse
Military Nursing
Nurse Educator
Legal Nursing
Forensic Nurse
Utilization Review Nurse
Telehealth Nursing
School Nursing
Cruise Ship Nursing
Medical Sales Representative
Chapter 6: Preparing for the Interview
Preparing Your “Script”
The Game Plan
It’s a Wrap
Some Thorny Questions
Bring a List of Questions to Ask
If the Interview Doesn’t Go Well
Be Prepared to Walk Away
Prepare for the Online Pre-Employment Tests
Prep for the Technical Interview
Part Two: Key Facts Every Candidate Should Know
Chapter 7: Preparing for Medication Questions
You Don’t Need to Be a Genius
Online Medication Tests
Prepping for Dose Calculation Questions
How Medications Work
Facts to Remember
Revisiting the Basics
Oral Medications
Liquid Medication
Sublingual and Buccal Medication
Transdermal Medication
Topical Medication
Eye Drop Medication
Eye Ointment Medication
Ear Drop Medication
Nose Drop Medication
Nose Spray Medication
Inhalation Medication
Nasogastric and Gastrostomy Tube Medication
Suppository Medication
Intradermal Injection
Subcutaneous Injection
Intramuscular Injection
Z-Track Injection
Intravenous Injections
Before Administering Medications
Things to Remember
Common Medications That Are Helpful to Know
Hypertension Medication
Diuretics
Medications That Interfere with Hypertensive Medications
Some Facts to Remember
Diabetic Medications
Insulin
Type 2 Diabetic Medication
Some Facts to Remember
Antibiotics
Facts to Remember
Pain Medications
Facts to Remember
Facts to Remember
Chapter 8: Preparing for Nursing Questions
Physiological Compensation
Estimating the Physiological Reserves
The Call for Help
The Cascading Effect
Assessments
Quick Assessment
Risk of Mortality
Baseline Assessment
Level of Consciousness
Reverse Triage
Dealing with Common Stressors
Prepping for the “Quiz”
Pre- and Post-Operative Care
Pre-Operative Care
Post-Operative Care
Cardiovascular Assessment, Disorders, Interventions
Angina Pectoris
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Cardiac Tamponade
Cardiogenic Shock
Endocarditis
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Hypertensive Crisis
Hypovolemic Shock
Myocarditis
Pericarditis
Pulmonary Edema
Thrombophlebitis
Respiratory Assessment, Disorders, Interventions
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Asthma
Atelectasis
Bronchiectasis
Bronchitis
Cor Pulmonale
Emphysema
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Respiratory Acidosis