By Jim|2023-08-25T18:56:33-05:00August 7th, 2023|News Posts|Comments Off on Engaging the Faith-Based Nurse
Tips for Nursing Students: The Successful Interview
The National League for Nursing and the National Students Nurses’ Association (NSNA)(2012) stated that “although there is a shortage of registered nurses, the economic recession has flooded the RN market with experienced nurses who were retired, planning to retire, or went from part-time to full-time employment. The need for RNs has declined due to low hospital census”. Nursing students graduating today face a competitive employment market. Much of your success at getting the position you want will depend on how well you interview for the job. Follow these steps to be better prepared and increase your chances for a successful interview.
Be prepared
Submit your resume and application in advance, but do not assume that the person interviewing you has read them carefully. Before the interview, think about how you can highlight important aspects of your experience or education. Do some background research on the organization or place to which you are applying.
Familiarize yourself with the key people in authority, especially focusing on the person who will interview you. During the interview you can use this information to establish some common ground. Consider some key areas such as: How large is the organization and/or the unit where you are applying? What population and geographic area do they serve? What expertise do you have to offer that might be valuable to them? For example, if you are applying for a job on an inpatient rehabilitation unit, did you have a course in rehabilitation or do clinical rotations in rehab? If so, be sure to mention this during the interview.
Look professional
Paul Walden, writing on the NSNA website, stated, “appearance and attitude are everything. Dress in professional attire and smile. Make sure you arrive promptly”. Although professional attire may be more casual than it has been in years past, employers still expect an interviewee to look his/her best. This means no blue jeans, shorts, cut-offs, flip-flops, low-cut blouses, miniskirts, overbearing jewelry, or other extremes in attire. Business casual is usually acceptable, but when in doubt, err on the side of dressing more formally in business attire than casual.
Start with a good beginning
Introduce yourself and offer to shake hands with the interviewer while making direct eye contact. Do not sit down until directed to do so. The interviewer controls the interview. Express enthusiasm for the interviewer taking time to speak with you and make a positive comment about the surroundings or reputation of the facility. Smile and convey friendliness, approachability, and confidence. Most nurse managers are looking for a “good fit” in a new employee with their existing staff and unit milieu. Your personality may be as important to the manager as your skill set. Listen for comments made by the interviewer that suggest he/she is seeking someone who will be a team player and then be sure to share ways in which you have successfully blended with similar groups in the past.
Ask thoughtful questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask. For example: How does the open position fit within the organizational chart? Is there opportunity for gaining additional education? What type of orientation or mentoring do they provide for new nurses? Are there opportunities for advancement? These types of questions show that you are interested in a long-term relationship with the organization and are willing to learn and increase your professional skills. Asking deliberate questions can also help you assess whether or not this job is the right one for you.
Be memorable
You want the person conducting the interview to remember you in a positive light. What sets you apart from others who might be applying for this job? Answering that question in advance will point you in the direction where you need to shine. This might be your engaging personality, strong evaluations from clinical professors, your flexibility or willingness to learn, your experience in another country with service-learning projects, or your good academic performance.
End the interview well
If you were fortunate enough to be given a tour of the unit or facility, be sure to take advantage of any opportunities to greet or interact with staff or patients. The interviewer may be watching to see if you display positive interpersonal skills. Before you leave the interview, be sure that you know how you will be notified if they wish to hire you. Thank the interviewer and shake hands again (if appropriate), expressing your enthusiasm for this wonderful opportunity. If possible, send a follow-up email or thank you note to the interviewer for his/her time and attention. Be sure to continue to display warmth and cordiality as you leave the facility. You never know who may be watching.
Engaging the Faith-Based Nurse: Exploring Nursing as Ministry.
Listen to the webinar from authors Kristen Mauk and Mary Hobus, Engaging the Faith-Based Nurse: Exploring Nursing as Ministry.
Nursing as Ministry provides the foundations of Christian nursing as ministry, taking an interprofessional perspective with 29 contributors from backgrounds in theology, nursing, medicine, social work, and pastoral ministry. Designed to be a student-friendly textbook for faith-based schools, this first edition text focuses on the spiritual aspects of patient care, providing practical information ministering to specific populations. The reader is guided through topics such as homelessness, substance abuse, community health, vulnerable elders, prison ministry, culturally sensitive care, and more. Additionally, the text is designed to guide the reader through their own spiritual journey, with personal reflection questions in each chapter to help students and nurses to internalize the content.
With a need for a contemporary, evidence-based text on nursing ministry, this first edition offers an abundance of resources including critical reasoning exercises, interviews with nurse leaders, case studies, suggestions for faith integration in daily nursing care, and more.
Features and Benefits:
Video interviews with Christian nursing leaders
Scripture integrated throughout the chapters
Personal stories of nurse leaders woven throughout the text
Navigate 2 Advantage Access
Each new print copy includes Navigate 2 Advantage Access, unlocking a comprehensive and interactive eBook, student practice activities and assessments, a full suite of instructor resources, and learning analytics reporting tools.
Guest Blog: How You Become A Legal Nurse Consultant
Legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who specialize in the legal field. They work as consultants for attorneys, insurance agencies, and other companies that deal with legal matters. The duties of a legal nurse consultant can vary from one consulting firm to another; however, most require you to interview plaintiffs and witnesses and document their responses on case files. You also need to take notes on the information from depositions or interviews and prepare reports for your clients based on your findings. This article will help you understand what a Legal Nurse Consultant does, as well as give your insight into what it takes to become one.
What is a Legal Nurse Consultant?
A legal nurse consultant is an expert witness who provides guidance to attorneys on injury cases related to healthcare and medical devices. Legal nurse consultants work on a contractual basis and are often hired by law firms to put together a case against a healthcare entity, such as a hospital or drug manufacturer, that is the defendant in a civil lawsuit. The role of a legal nurse consultant is to review medical records, speak to patients, and review a wide range of materials that attorneys may use to support their claims. A legal nurse consultant can also testify in court, if necessary. Legal nurse consultants are often seen as a crucial part of the pre-trial discovery process.
What Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do?
As a legal nurse consultant, you could find yourself conducting interviews with patients who’ve suffered injuries and/or death due to medical negligence or errors including IVF in hospital etc. You may also be called upon to examine and review medical records and/or other documents related to the case. Depending on your job duties and the needs of your employer, you could be conducting many different activities that make up the day-to-day life of a legal nurse consultant. Some of the tasks you might be responsible for as a legal nurse consultant include:
– Reviewing medical records to determine if they are accurate and complete – Carrying out physical examinations of patients to document findings
– Interviewing witnesses or clients (under oath) to determine the facts of their cases
– Writing reports summarizing your findings and observations
– Testifying in court about your findings and recommendations
How to Become a Legal Nurse Consultant
To become a legal nurse consultant, you first need to become a registered nurse. You can then gain additional experience by working in a variety of healthcare fields, including oncology, emergency room, and critical care. Nurses who have worked in these areas can better understand the pressures and challenges that can occur in these environments. Some organizations recommend that you have at least five years of experience as a nurse before you apply to become a legal nurse consultant. Most legal nurse consulting firms require that you have experience in a clinical setting. The more experience you have working in different areas of health care, the better your chances of being hired.
Courses You Need to Become a Legal Nurse Consultant
Legal nurse consultants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass a certification exam. There are two certification options that you can take to become a legal nurse consultant: – Registered Nurse Certification Exam: The National Certification Board for Health Care Providers (NCB) offers a Registered Nurse certification exam that covers numerous topics, including health promotion, health assessment, pharmacology, medical terminology, and infection control. You can take this exam either through the mail or online.
Certification Options for Becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant
Legal nurse consultants are not required to be certified or licensed. However, the more education and experience you have in the field, the better your chances of landing a job as a legal nurse consultant, or you can take online tuition for more knowledge. If you’re interested in becoming a legal nurse consultant, you can gain experience as a legal nurse consultant with a consulting firm that offers internships. While working as an intern, you can gain valuable insight into the role of a legal nurse consultant. You can also network with attorneys and gain valuable experience that may help you land a job in this field after you graduate. Once you graduate, you can also apply for a job as a legal nurse consultant at a law firm. You may need to take the certification exam before you can start working as a consultant. You can find out more about how to become a legal nurse consultant by contacting attorneys in your area, contacting consulting firms.
Conclusion
Legal nurse consultants help attorneys build cases against healthcare providers by interviewing patients and reviewing medical records. They are crucial during the discovery process and can testify about their findings in court. Becoming a legal nurse consultant requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing, plus two years of experience. You can then take the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Exam offered by the Health Lawyers Association.