Step 4/5

Ah, step 4: panel interview. The most nerve-wracking step of them all. My appointment was at 10:45 AM, but they were running behind by about an hour. While I was waiting to be called in, the fire alarm went off and the whole building had to be evacuated. At least that got my mind off the interview. Once we were allowed back inside, I started talking to the other applicants who were also waiting for their panel interview. Aha, my competition! I didn't get much time to speak with them because once I started getting to know them, the recruiter came in to escort me to the interview room. It was a room of five employees gathered around a round table. I'm not sure what their names and title were because I was too nervous to even try and remember. All seemed nice except one. I think she was the Director of Nursing. She was kind of cold, but I guess that goes along with interviewing. For sure her number one agenda was not to make me feel comfortable. They asked me five questions, one being a case scenario.

"Mr. Wright is a 76 y.o. patient with pneumonia. T 101.2, P 120, RR 28, BP 180/90, Pulse ox 88% on 2L O2. He is on regular diet but only eats 30% of his meals and his family has not come to visit in days. What is he at risk for and why? What are your concerns for this patient? What are your nursing interventions?"

No too shabby. The rest of the questions were about my clinical experience with patients and experiences with peers. I felt like my interview was short. They asked me their questions, asked if I had any questions for them (I didn't. My mind was just blank.), and sent me on my way. Brilliant.

Now I wait for the nurse recruiter who recruited me to call me and tell me whether or not I get to have an interview with the nurse manager of the unit they decide to place me in. It's in God's hands now.
Oh how I hate the waiting...