What Challenges Do You See The Organization Facing In The Future
This question shows you think beyond your role as a nurse practitioner and hold the success of the company in high regard. While it can impress interviewers, the question also can reveal what situations, challenges or issues you as an employee may face if they offer you the position and you accept it. Other similar questions you can consider asking include:
- What challenges do you see this position facing in the short- and long-term?
- What concerns might you have about my ability to succeed in this role?
- What do you envision the healthcare industry and this practice looking like in three to five years?
Follow Up After The Interview
One thing that many people forget to do after a nurse practitioner interview, is to follow up with the hiring manager or healthcare recruiter. As many healthcare recruiters and hiring managers schedule several interviews on the same day or during the same week, its easy to get lost in the shuffle and stacking of other candidates.To ensure that this doesnt happen with your application/interview, you should make sure that you follow up with the interviewer later on down the road. You can choose to send a thank you note, or an email. In this thank you note or email, you want to once again thank them for considering you for the position and reinforce why you would be the ideal candidate for the position. If you have decided to not move forward with your own consideration of the position, this would also be a good time to let the interviewer know so that no time is wasted on either end.A small follow up gesture is a great way of reminding the interviewer about who you are, and your passion to work with them moving forward. In addition, it might give you the extra edge against those candidates who forget to follow up.
Talk About A Conflict Within Your Healthcare Team What Was The Conflict And How Did You Handle It
How to answer:
Explain the conflict surrounding the situation. Who was involved? What was your role? Did anything positive come from this? What did you learn?
Conflict often occurs in the hospital setting particularly between new nurses and more seasoned staff as well as doctors and nurses. One specific time, there was concern from a parent that a newer nurse was not monitoring a patients breathing postoperatively as closely as she would have liked. I was covering the nurse for lunch and the mother brought her concerns to me. I discussed and validated her concerns. Once the nurse was back from lunch, I spoke with her regarding the mothers concerns. The nurse was very upset and felt it was not my place to say anything to her regarding this. A parent or patients concerns should never be dismissed. I spoke to the nurse educator on the unit to use the opportunity as a teaching moment.
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What Do You Think About Health Care Reform
Be as prepared as your can be to answer topical questions about the Affordable Care Act. If you are faced with a question you are unsure about, consider this response: I am unsure of the correct answer, but I will go home tonight, find the answer, and get back to you. I do look forward to learning more on this topic in nurse practitioner school.
If You Saw A Colleague Failing To Adhere To Health
In healthcare environments, rules are usually there for a reason. Along with promoting patient and provider safety, many are necessary for regulatory compliance.
With this question, the hiring manager is trying to determine if you would step up if you knew a colleague was putting people at risk. What makes this question simple is that theres technically only one right answer.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
If I noticed that a colleague was falling short of the safety standards, I would first address it quickly. If I was able to intervene before anyone was put in danger, I would speak with my colleague about it directly. Its possible it was a one-time, accidental oversight, and that a simple reminder would ensure their vigilance. However, I would also refer to company policy to determine if additional action is necessary, such as reporting the activity through the proper channels. Patient and provider safety are both of the utmost importance, so I would follow the policy to the letter to make sure the situation is documented and handled as needed.
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Dr Decapuas Interview Experiences
I graduated from the Xavier University School of Nursing in Cincinnati, Ohio with a bachelor of science in nursing. During my junior year, I studied and took the Graduate Record Exam, and during my senior year, I applied to psychiatric nurse practitioner schools across the country. Following graduation from Xavier, I passed the NCLEX-RN and was accepted into the MSN program at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating and practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for about six months, I knew I wanted to learn more. I then applied for and was accepted into the DNP program at DeSales University Department of Nursing in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.
New Grad Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions
A nurse practitioner is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in a person. We will discuss Grad Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions here. They work closely with doctors and take their advice when needed. Nurse practitioners are trained in the prevention of diseases and health risk reduction. They address the patients health needs, collect the patients medical history, see how an illness affects a persons life, etc. Nurse practitioners can also be researchers and work in the education field and treat patients, and team members can also consult them.
You need a particular skillset and abilities so that you thrive as a nurse practitioner. You need to be compassionate and like helping people. You need to be a good team player and be able to work under pressure as well. A nurse practitioners position is almost equivalent to that of a doctor. So, you need the proper training for this position. Here is a list of interview questions and answers for you to crack that interview.
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Questions You Should Ask During An Nurse Practitioner Job Interview
There are some additional questions you should ask during an NP interview. Some of these could happen in subsequent interviews, but if the topics come up, I think these are important details to ask about.
Its a good idea to make sure you have a list of these common NP interview questions that you plan to ask different team members. I recommend actually writing them down and keeping them with you as you go through each step of the interview so that you can remember to ask them!
What Qualities And Attributes Contribute To Success Here
As a candidate, you get invited to interview because your background, experience and education meet or exceed the qualifications for the role, though there often is more than a skill match to feeling happy, fulfilled and successful at work. Asking a prospective employer this question helps you get to know what personal traits and characteristics they recognize, value and reward and can help you determine if your personality is a good addition to their workplace culture.
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Tell Me About Yourself
Yes, this one seems a bit cliché. Fortunately, you know it’s coming, so you can arrive fully prepared. I usually write out a one-minute spiel that summarizes my education, experiences, and passions. Be sure to tailor your story to the job you are currently interviewing for. Include a short summary of your accomplishments, and consider ending with, “Is there anything specific you would like me to elaborate on?”
How Would You Deal With A Cranky Patient
Nurse practitioners are supposed to deal with all kinds of people and patients. Not all of them would be cooperative and friendly. The interviewer here wants to check how well you handle aggressive behavior without losing your cool
First and foremost, talk about how you would try making the patient feel at ease. Establishing an open communication channel with the patient, diagnosing his problem, assigning the proper treatment etc. is all part of your job. As a nurse, youre also supposed to be sensitive towards his mental state and emotional well-being. Get professional assistance in case you notice signs of chronic depression or suicidal tendencies. Also, be firm, gentle and completely honest in dealing with the family members of the patient.
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Tip #5 Find Out If Youre Meeting With Hr Or A Potential Colleague
For many nurse practitioner positions, you will have multiple interviews. These interviews may begin with a human resources representative as a general screening process and then proceed on to a direct supervisor or department representative.
If you are interviewing for an NP position within a practice setting, you may have an opportunity to meet with other nurse practitioners and physicians. This is an excellent time for both you and the practice members to ask questions and determine if this will be a good fit for everyone.
Some companies may conduct initial interviews over the phone. You may even be speaking with a recruiter instead of a direct employee of the organization or practice. In this case, conduct yourself as if the interview was being done face to face. Professionalism is crucial.
You should be aware that recruiters are well-trained and quite knowledgeable. Often, a physician or NP will provide more in-depth questions to ask nurse practitioners during the interview process.
The person conducting the interview will be prepared to go beyond the Tell me about yourself type questions. So you will need to prepare for an HR interview as rigorously as you would a conversation with a hiring manager when considering a nurse practitioner position.
Now, youre ready. Lets look at specific items to expect at an NP interview.
Question #: Who Would Be My Backup
Even in states that have full practice authority, it is important to know who is available for collaboration. Is this person an MD or another advanced practice clinician? Are they on-site, or are they only available by telephone? This information is crucial, especially if you are a new grad.
As a follow-up question, ask if you can meet your backup. You dont want to find out on your first day that the designated clinician was never told about his or her new responsibilities.
An interview is not just about the employer getting to know you. As with any new relationship, you should assess the situation as a whole and form an opinion about your potential employer just as they are certainly forming an opinion of you. Watch their body language and note how your interviewer reacts to your questions. This is equally as important as their answers. If the answers dont come easily or seem rehearsed, it could be a sign of workplace problems.
If all goes well, you can accept the position secure in the knowledge that you did your due diligence. And if not, then you know you can happily decline and explore some of your other options!
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How Well Can You Manage Stress
A nurse practitioner has a lot of things on his/her plate, they constantly need to multitask and deal with a lot of stress. This question checks your ability to deal with the work pressure and also tests your presence of mind.
Talk about the various duties youll be expected to perform as an NP. State how well you are in handling the stress and multitasking, a major aspect of your job. You can also mention instances and real-life experiences where you had to deal with the stressful situation and how well you fared in them. This gives an added credibility to your answer.
What Interviewers Are Looking For
An interview for an NP position differs from an RN interview in scope and content, focusing more on advanced nursing skills, patient care experience, leadership, and specialization areas.
As Straus explains, “As an NP you’re a provider, you’re seeing patients and making money for the practice. As a nurse, you’re carrying out tasks to make the office and patient care run smoothly.”
Straus suggests that interviewees highlight certain skills and experiences, including case scenarios, which, he says, “Allow the employers to judge your critical thinking skills and care management.”
Talking about case scenarios also lets the employer judge your use of resources and competencies in care. Employers also look for timely and accurate charting, basic coding knowledge, emotional intelligence, management skills, and clinical judgment.
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The Star Method: The Best Strategy For Answering Interview Questions
No single answer is appropriate in every situation, as the ideal response will be tailored to your unique background, goals, and personality. Instead, look to a strategy known as the STAR method to help you prepare for a variety of difficult questions. “STAR” stands for:
- Situation
- Result
Now, let’s dive into the specifics of each element of the STAR acronym:
- Situation: This references the context in which you accomplished something or faced a particular challenge. Provide details to help the interviewer understand the unique circumstances that influenced your response.
- Task: What was your responsibility during the event in question? Why were you committed to fulfilling this duty?
- Action: Describe how you were able to rise to the occasion. Focus on your response, rather than the actions of supervisors or fellow employees. How did you draw on your unique knowledge and abilities to provide a desirable resolution?
- Result: Describe how the situation came to a close. When relevant, explain what you learned and how those takeaways will influence your future work as an NP.
Tips For Interviewing For A Nurse Practitioner Position
Below, are some important tips to keep in mind before your interview. Several of them are unique to healthcare positions, while others are general guidelines that you should follow no matter what job youre applying for:
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Review your application. The interviewer will doubtlessly refer to content on your job application, such as your skill sets, prior experiences, and education.
You need to at least outline your response before the interview so that you can display confidence when speaking about your experience and abilities.
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Review the job description. Especially when it comes to healthcare-related positions, your experience needs to align closely with the jobs duties.
A software developer can be flexible and work with a programming language theyve never used.
However, a nurse practitioner cannot fulfill certain duties if they lack the necessary training.
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Research the facility. Before your interview, you need to be already familiar with certain information about the office, facility, or healthcare system that youll be working with.
This is especially important if youre applying for a research position. You need to demonstrate that youre familiar with some of the projects theyre involved with or the techniques that they use.
A good method of doing this is to reference any recent press bulletins the facility has released, and comment on how you can apply your skills and abilities towards their present challenges.
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Questions You Need To Ask In A Nurse Practitioner Program Interview
If you are in the process of applying to nurse practitioner programs, youre being asked a lot of questions. Tell me about yourself, Talk about a time when you overcame a challenge and What kind of nursing experience do you have? are the types of responses you are thinking through. From filling out your address to drafting a perfectly crafted personal statement, the application process is all about sharing yourself with nurse practitioner program admissions staff. But, there is a time in the admissions process to turn the tables.
When you interview for a coveted seat in your nurse practitioner program of interest, preparation is of utmost importance. As part of your interview prep, its important to come to an interview with a few questions of your own on hand. These should be questions whose answers cannot easily be found online and that cannot be answered with a simple response in a follow up email. Think deeper. Asking questions not only gives you more information to help you select the best nurse practitioner program for your needs, but can also make a positive impression in your interview.
Here are a few questions you should consider asking in your next NP program interview.
1. What challenges do students in your program most commonly face?
