T/week 5/discussionTopic 1Generate a list of questions you will ask during the interview such as teaching strategies, theories, technology, and evaluation techniques.Conduct the interview.Your discu

 T/week 5/discussion

Topic 1

Generate a list of questions you will ask during the interview such as teaching strategies, theories, technology, and evaluation techniques.

Conduct the interview.

Your discussion post should include:

The setting.

How the interview was conducted.

The questions asked and the responses given.

Anything else you think to be important.

Setting: Hospital - Director's Office

The interview was conducted as a one-on-one informal discussion in the Director's office at the hospital during day shift. There were a few interruptions including a code blue however, we eventually got through it and it was very interesting and informative.

Interview Q&A

Q. Please share with me an example of how you helped coach or mentor someone. What improvements did you see in the person's knowledge or skills?

A. Early in my nursing career, I worked on the Med-Surg unit and was orienting a new nurse to the unit. She had a patient that was very ill and had multi-organ failure. She was waiting for a hospice consultation when the patient coded. At that time, the patient was a DNR therefore she was not resuscitated. The nurse felt helpless and did not’t know what to do. She literally broke down in tears. I had a one-on-one conversation with her and explained the of end of life process and shared my first experience when I lost a patient. She later came back to me and thanked me for sharing with her as it was very helpful to process hers.

Q. Tell me how you organize, plan, and prioritize your work.

A. I begin each day with staffing which sets the stage for the rest of the team and the day. After staffing I meet with the day shift nurses, prior to them getting report to review and discuss any concerns or new implementations. I then meet with other directors and bed management to evaluate our bed availability and what needs to be done with any transfers or discharges. This information is communicated with the charge nurse and he or she will use this information to plan their day. Obviously, there are many obstacles that may arise or issues that may need to be resolved throughout the day which can't be planned for. At the end of the day there is another staffing meeting to prepare for the next day. I guess you can say each day begins with and ends with staffing, the backbone to a successful unit and patient experience.

Q. Please share an experience in which you presented to a group. What was the situation and how did it go?

A. I have presented to groups on multiple occasions however, the one that comes to mind is my first. At the time, I was promoted to Clinical Coordinator. I had never been in a management position before and was extremely intimidated and anxious when I had to conduct my first staff meeting. I prepared several days in advance and even rehearsed how I would run the meeting. I did not’t sleep the night before and was worried I would fail my director. Everyone gathered in the break room and I handed out the agenda. At that time, I realized I had nothing to worry about and this was my team. I conducted the meeting flawlessly and took a deep breath when it was over and smiled. 

Q. Share an example of when you went above and beyond the "call of duty".

A. Wow, that is a tough one. I don't know that I can remember one in particular. I think it is something I do on a daily basis or whenever the situation arises. I believe that being a nurse you often do more than you are "asked" to do. That is what makes our field and profession different from others. We take care of people. It's an amazing career.

Q. In your experience, what is the key to developing a good team? 

A. I believe the key to developing a good team starts with good communication. Which includes listening to staff complaints and concerns. If something isn't working you can try to figure out a solution or how to resolve it. If you don't know what is wrong, you can't fix it. Treating others with respect is also key as it promotes professionalism and a positive attitude. All of which are important elements in a good team as well as many others.