Practical Nurse

Instead of saying something generic like, “I am a great communicator or I pay close attention to detail”, provide a personal story. “I have always been the type person to go the extra mile in everything I do in life. I give it 110%. When I was completing my training course, I was working with a patient I had gotten to know well. Her conversations with me one morning were nothing like we had before. I just had a feeling something wasn’t right even though she looked well and her vitals were fine. Even so, I talked to my supervisor to let her know something was wrong. The doctor was called and it turned out the patient was ill that day. Since I had always taken time to really talk to and understand my patients, I was able to help when she was not well.”

I’ve always loved nursing, but my interest in healthcare really started when I volunteered at a homeless shelter in college. This really inspired me to pursue a career where I could devote my time to looking after others. The more times I volunteered, the more I knew that nursing was what I really wanted to do.

I wanted to do something that is challenging, interesting and make’s a real difference in people’s lives. I feel very passionate about the healthcare profession and also see it as a way of contributing positively to society.

My mother was a nurse and when I was growing up I saw the satisfaction she gained by helping others. This also contributed very greater to my interest in pursuing nursing as a career.

This is a favourite question during interviews, and those professionals who offer LPN job interview tips recommend that to prepare your answer to this question you review your qualifications. Pointing out one’s strengths is generally easier than one’s weaknesses. It is easy to say that you are a good communicator, that you are not a clock-watcher, or that you are excellent in making a patient feel comfortable and lifting their spirits. It is not that easy to admit that you are a bit scared to give an injection however. The way to answer regarding a weakness is to put a positive spin on it; say that you are a bit nervous about giving injections, but that you volunteer at a old-age home one off-weekend per month and that you it includes giving injections, and the more you give them the more confident you are becoming. This demonstrates that you recognise your weaknesses and are prepared to do something to rectify them.

Finding out how many patients, residents, or clients you will be responsible for is very important. This can vary extremely and can depend on patient acuity, facility standards, and legal requirements. There are no specific federal standards for the number of patients allowed per nurse. In high acuity environments this can be as low as 1 to 3 patients, however this is not typical. In today’s healthcare working environment nurses are often stretched to their limits. This nurse has been responsible for medications, treatments, wound care, and documentation for 35 patients. Some nurses report caring for upwards of 50 patients per shift. This is not typical either but it does happen. The important thing to remember is that each patient is receiving adequate care. If patient load is too high to permit this, speak up! Also be sure to work as part of a healthcare team. Utilize and collaborate with nursing assistants, other LPN's and RN's. Also remember, while a patient load may seem high at first, once you are comfortable with the job and start to establish a routine you should be able to care for everyone easily.

This is a question all nurses should be comfortable answering. This question is asked during almost every interview. There are various forms of this question including: “Why did you become a nurse?” or “What made you decide to become a nurse?” No matter how it is phrased this question is an important one. This question is one that is aimed at the core of every nurse. If you haven’t thought about this yet, think about it now! There are various reasons for wanting to become a nurse. Many want to help others, some are inspired by other family members or friends, still others are intrigued by the medical side of nursing and like the gory details. Most likely the answer is multi-faceted and complex. There is no wrong or right answer to this question, just be sincere and truthful to yourself.

This is commonly asked before, after, or together with the previously mentioned question. When preparing for this common question, take the time to really think about your weaknesses and how you can improve them. Be honest with yourself and find areas where you need personal or professional improvement. There are several ways to approach this question. One way to answer this question with a positive spin is answering by stating a weakness in which you have or are currently improving. This shows a potential employer that you are conscientious and capable of self-improvement. Consider the following example:

“Being organized was not always my strong point; however at my last job I worked with a co-worker whom I admired for her time management ability. She helped me to develop a system for time management and organizing my day. This has helped me and I plan to continue my self-improvement.”

In this sample response the nurse identifies a potential weakness, organizational skills, then goes on to explain how they recognized the weakness and are attempting to fix it. Another great way to answer this question is to focus on nonessential skills. These are skills that are not necessarily needed to complete a job. For example, as a nurse communication skills are very important. Some nurses are great at communicating one on one with patients or in small groups with family members yet they lack the ability for public speaking to larger groups of people. If this is true, be honest. State your weakness but don’t forget to also emphasize the strength that goes with it.

I realize that some patients are more difficult to deal with than others, whether it is because of their medical condition or because they have a certain disposition. At my previous job, I came across an elderly gentleman who was extremely cantankerous because of dementia. Right away, I tried to find the cause for his anger. I eventually discovered that it was because he was experiencing physical pain. When I took steps to remedy that pain, he calmed down a little, and we were able to treat him properly.

Since I first got into nursing, I’ve always strived to cultivate empathy for patients, and that has helped me immensely whenever I come across someone who seems like they may not want to be helped.