Interview

I had my interview today for the job I really want. There was a short maths test, a written patient prioritisation question and then the interview consisted of lots of different nursing scenarios and questions about what I would do.

The maths test: I'm good at maths, it's never been a problem for me during my training, and the test wasn't difficult. I made a couple of stupid errors that I corrected when I noticed (like there are 4 3's in 12, not 3 as I originally put) but at first on two easyeasy questions I really struggled. I knew the answer in my head easily, but you have to show your working and I went a bit brain-blank when I tried that. Got there in the end.

The prioritisation scenario: 3 patients you have to look after.
A 4 year newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic who required regular BM's and insulin
An 8 year old asthmatic stable over night but still requiring 4 hourly nebulisers and a dose of prednisalone
A newborn baby in withdrawal requiring morphine injections. The parents aren't present. (I think that baby was in withdrawal, I'm suddenly having a panic that that was an assumption I made)
Q1: After receiving handover what are the first things you would do
Q2: In which order would you prioritise your patient and why

After that in the interview I was asked questions such as 'Why do you want to apply for a rotation programme?' 'What do you understand to be the meaning on clinical governance?' 'What child related legislation/policy have you read recently?' and then I was given a variety of scenarios and asked what I would do.

• A 15 year old already consented by her parents to have an orthopaedic operation is now refusing to have it done and she tells you that she is pregnant. What would you do?
  
• You notice a bruise on the back of a child when examining them. What would you do?
  
• You go to collect a patient from theatre, what would you prepare before collecting the child and what would you do when collecting them?
  
• You are admitting an 18month old with ?pneumonia from A&E what would you need to prepare before their arrival and what would you need to do on their arrival.
  

I didn't at any point think "Oh my goodness, I can't answer that!" though there were some that I struggled with through lack of experience, but they were very helpful and would prompt me. I kicked myself when I came out remembering loads of things I could have said, but I think that's normal. It's a bit of an anti climax really and I couldn't say whether it went well or not, I just don't know. I suppose it wasn't disastrous!

One really off-putting thing was that all 3 of my interviewers were making notes and they had these forms with tick boxes and at times I could see boxes unchecked so would know there was something else I needed to say but just couldn't think of it!

I refuse to think about it now, I can't change anything. I'll hear wednesday at the earliest.