Interview Questions:

1. Tell me about a time in clinicals at your nursing college in which you delivered high quality, patient-centered, care to individuals, families, groups, and communities in varied settings.

Situation: “When I was in the pediatric ward and one of the patients was screaming and shouting because her kid was being inserted the PICC line.”

Task: “As the nurse who was administering the service, it was my responsibility to calm down the patient, A major part of my job was to make sure the patient understood that it was not harmful it everything will just be okay.

Action: “After finishing inserting the PICC line, I explained to the patient step by on what PICC line is and its uses and explained why her kid had to use it. She said that she was relieved and that she thought the kid was in a very serious situation and might not recover.”

Result: “Since I took the time to explain every use of the PICC line to my patient, she went from being worried to being relaxed during our interaction. Later during the day, I noticed that she was happy and had no more worries and panic. She even thanked me for treating her nice by understanding her.”

1A. why does this example meet this objective? 

Many patients are unaware of the PICC line insertion, they believe that when a patient gets to a point of being inserted the PICC line then that’s the end. This example met my objective since I was able to teach other patients too not to be scared of the PICC line.

2. Tell me how you used something you learned from one of your class assignments to incorporate best practice and professional values and standards into compassionate, nursing practice.

Situation: “One time when I was on duty on the maternity wing, an expectant mother came in with labor pains and had a still birth.” 

Task: “As the nurse on duty, it was my responsibility to help her get through this situation. My main task was to make sure the patient delivered safely.”

Action: “After taking to the patient labor ward, I first checked the dilation and realized that she was fully dilated, I slowly instructed the patient her to push, I guided her through the process I had to do an episiotomy she delivered her baby. She said that it was quite fast.”

Result: “Since I took the time to help my patient deliver her baby safely, she was very happy and she said the service I offered was the best since this was her third child.”

2A. Did the outcome of using this new knowledge improve the outcome of the situation you used it for—why or why not? 

Yes. It helped me handle the patient with concerns, and compassion. I understood my patient’s needs and worked towards satisfying the need.

3. Tell me an example of how you have demonstrated cultural and global congruency in the healthcare environment with diverse populations in promotion of healthy lifestyles and preventative health screenings in clinicals at your nursing college.

 Situation: “When I was at antenatal clinic, one patient was very emotional and helpless claiming that we gave her wrong HIV results.”

Task: “As the nurse in charge of antenatal care, it was my responsibility to think of a solution to her problem. A major part of my job was to make sure the patient understood and accepts her status.”

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Action: “After doing the second test, the HIV results were positive. So I slowly interpreted the results and took her through counselling I assured her the child can be HIV free and she can live a positive life. I guided her through on how she will take her medicines to protect her unborn child. She said that she is willing to do anything to protect herself and her unborn child.so I I introduced her antiretroviral drugs.”

Result: “Since the patient was HIV positive, I took the time to counsel her, took courage and composed herself. She was easy to deal with since she did not deny her status. Although she still had the fears of how to break the news to her family.

3A. How does incorporating this impact how and what you present in patient discharge information and education?

 The patient having calmed after counselling but knowing she could relapse into being emotional later, I still took time to reassure her of support in the coming days as and when she needs. I informed her that the hospital staff are available any time to attend to her queries. I gave her more information on the therapy and medication and also on nutrition and self-care.

4. Describe a situation in SIM or clinicals at your college where you functioned as and effective member of the healthcare team demonstrating excellent inter-professional collaboration.

Situation: “When I in shift at the maternity ward, I received a patient who had come to deliver through caesarian delivery.”

Task: “As the in charge of the maternity wing, it was my responsibility to take the patient through the procedure in which she would sign a consent form at the end before surgery could be performed on her.”

Action: “After admitting her, I took her blood pressure, an anesthesiologist explained to her the options of anesthesia she would could pick from. A catheter was inserted to keep her bladder empty. We cleaned her abdomen with an antiseptic and had an oxygen mask placed over her mouth to increase oxygen to the baby. The doctor then made a 3-4 incision through her skin in the wall of the uterus and then removes the baby through the incisions. The umbilical cord is the cut and the placenta removed and then incisions closed.”

Result: “the CS was a successful team effort though the patient was exhausted. The anesthesia had waned off and so we administered painkillers. The patient commended the service at the hospital as good upon her discharge.”

4A. What skills have you learned in classes at your college have increased your communication skills in SIM and clinicals at college?

5. Describe how you have demonstrated beginning skills in point of care leadership, management and care coordination using effective communication skills through either successful completion of class projects or a clinical situation or experience.

Situation: “When I worked at the garden nursery, one customer was upset that we did not have her favorite tulips in stock.”

Task: “As the customer service representative, it was my responsibility to think of a solution to her problem. A major part of my job was to make sure the customers left the store happy.”

Action: “After checking our inventory, I saw that she was incorrect, so I kindly explained that we moved the tulip display. I guided her to the display. She said that we didn’t have enough for her garden, so I contacted our seller to speed deliver more of the bulbs.”

Result: “Since I took the time to work with this customer, she went from upset to happy during our interaction. Later that evening, I noticed that she left us a 5-star online review and mentioned my name.”

5A. How do you plan to grow and strengthen your leadership skills in your practice as a nurse?

6. Describe how you implement safe and competent care to individuals through both system effectiveness and individual performance in varied healthcare settings.

Situation: “When I working with the outpatient and received cerebral patient, the patient was in a mental confused state.”

Task: “As the nurse in charge of outpatient, it was my responsibility to call other nurses to come and help hold him down. A major part of my job was to mobilize other nurses and make sure the patient was in a good position before sedation.”

Action: “After holding the patient in a still position, we sedated him so that he could calm down.”

Result: “Since the patient had been sedated. We had to give him sometime before introducing medication.

6A. Tell me about a specific clinical situation in which you identified something unsafe for a patient and what you did about it then and why.  Would you change what you did then now?  If so, why and what would you do differently?

STAR Question Format Explanation

This is an explanation of the STAR format questions. Many interviews today ask questions that request you to answer them in the STAR format.  Your interview project in this course is asking you to do the same.  This is the SATR format.

1) STAR stands for situation, task, action and result.

2) These questions are designed to have you answer using real-life scenarios and describe behaviors that you have displayed.

3) Many behavioral interview questions begin with the following:

Tell me about a…

Describe a situation…

Give me an example of…

Have you ever…

4) Here is how an interviewee/job candidate should answer a question in the STAR format:

Here is what each part of the STAR format includes:

Situation: The candidate describes the scene and provides relevant details of their example. Look for an answer that explains the context of the situation and why it connects to your question. 

Task: Next, the candidate describes their role in the situation. This can help you determine what level of responsibility they had in their previous roles. 

Action: They explain how they addressed the situation and what steps they took to overcome the challenge. A good answer shows how the candidate added value to the situation and made logical decisions.

Result: At the end of their answer, the candidate explains the outcome of the situation. A quality answer includes concrete examples and quantifiable achievements. They should explain the direct effects of their efforts in their answer.

5) Below is an example of a question and answer to a behavioral STAR question:

Question: Describe a situation when you had to work with a difficult customer.

Situation: “When I worked at the garden nursery, one customer was upset that we did not have her favorite tulips in stock.”

Task: “As the customer service representative, it was my responsibility to think of a solution to her problem. A major part of my job was to make sure the customers left the store happy.”

Action: “After checking our inventory, I saw that she was incorrect, so I kindly explained that we moved the tulip display. I guided her to the display. She said that we didn’t have enough for her garden, so I contacted our seller to speed deliver more of the bulbs.”

Result: “Since I took the time to work with this customer, she went from upset to happy during our interaction. Later that evening, I noticed that she left us a 5-star online review and mentioned my name.”