Getting a job
Consider the process:
1. Resume
2. Key selection criteria
3. Shortlisting
4. Preparation for interviews
5. How interviews are conducted
6. Sample interview questions
Resume:
Your resume is the key to getting you in the door to the shortlisting process. Attend an
academic skills workshop related to resume development. There are many sample
esume templates you can use.
• Ensure is not more than 2 pages and follows a logical simple format.
• No photos (unless requested) and no colored paper.
• Ensure your contact details are co
ect and your email address is appropriate no
sexychick96@gmail.
Key selection Criteria:
You will be required to respond to a series of selection criteria-often based on the
National Safety and quality standards or the registered nurse standards of practice so
ensure you are aware of these standards.
• Keep within the word limit provided.
• Ensure your response is concise, consistent and clear.
• Nor grammar issues or spelling mistakes.
Shortlisting:
Shortlisting is the first step for a selection committee/interview panel. This is where it is
determined who should be invited for an interview.
Areas considered for shortlisting:
• Googled: Applicants are now ‘googled’ to determine integrity to gauge you online
social media presence and authenticity so google yourself and clean up your
special media accounts-you are being considered for your ‘fit’ to a team
environment.
• Inco
ect application: Did you fill out the required application details co
ectly? If
you didn’t then you are immediately not considered.
• Response: Response to long or too short ensure your response is within the
ecommended word limit
• Syntax: Grammar issues, spelling issues. Proof read!
• Inco
ectly addressed e.g.: applying to the Mater and you refer to the RBWH-
looks clumsy and you will not be considered
• Reference to facility applying to: Not being aware of the value statement, ethics
and code of conduct related to where you applying-do some homework on where
you are applying to work
• Position description: Not familiar with the position description or program you
have applied for. You may be asked about the position you have applied for so be
aware of the requirements.
• If you are a dual degree student consider that the role of a paramedic and a
egistered nurse are very different professions-interviewers want to know
that you are aware of the difference.
The interview: preparation for interviews:
The Selection Committee will have a series of questions to ask you related to the
selection criteria specified in the position description.
The questions designed are to evaluate:
• Skills-novice level
• Knowledge-novice level
• Insight into level of knowledge/practice-post graduate registered nurse
• Temperament-are you the right fit for the unit/ward/clinical area
• Role description suitability
• Suitability for the ‘team’
• Your communication skills
Interview questions may be developed around the Registered Nurse Standards of
Practice:
http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-
standards
egistered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
or
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards:
https:
www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/assessment-to-the-nsqhs-
standards/nsqhs-standards-second-edition/
How interviews are conducted
You will be offered an interview with a fixed place and time-generally no negotiation on
this. If you do not attend you will not be followed up.
• Panel of 3-4 members-each member will ask 1-2 questions
• 10-20 minutes to respond-total time
• Can ask for question clarification
• Dress appropriately
• Turn off your phone
• Can use palm cards as reminders
• Be on time or a little bit early
Sample questions:
1. Tell us about your greatest strength and greatest weakness. How do you
manage them?
2. How do you manage your differing roles as a paramedic and a nurse?
3. Tell us how you actively contribute to working in a team. Do you have an
example?
4. Why did you decide on a career in nursing?
5. How would you deal with a patient who is unhappy with the care
provided?
6. What is your understanding of AHPRA’s social media policy?
7. How do you handle stress?
8. What can you
ing to the nursing team here at? Why are you interested in
working here?
9. Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult patient and how you handled it?
10. How have you managed a patient who continually asks for pain relief as an
undergraduate nurse? Tell us about a time you were in a stressful situation. How
http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards
egistered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards
egistered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
https:
www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/assessment-to-the-nsqhs-standards/nsqhs-standards-second-edition
https:
www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/assessment-to-the-nsqhs-standards/nsqhs-standards-second-edition
did you manage it?
11. What is your communication style?
12. Tell us about a time when you didn’t communicate well. How did you rectify the
situation?
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
14. How will you manage transitioning to working shift work?
15. What is your understanding of cultural safety?
If you have not worked in a clinical environment it’s okay to use examples from clinical
placement and/or other work areas such as hospitality. Consider complaint
management, de-escalation of difficult customers, welfare of colleagues, occupational
health and safety etc.
Interviewers are looking for:
1. Insight-you know that you have a lot to learn and that you even don’t know the things you
don’t know!
2. Consolidation of theory-putting your degree into practice
3. You use social media responsibly and are aware of AHPRAs stance on the use of social
media http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-
Statements/Policies/Social- media-policy.aspx ***this is vitally important***
4. Team work-That you work well in a team, you contribute actively in a team and share
knowledge and information. Remember all that IBL that you hated?-it has adequately
prepared you for an interview and working health care
5. Patient centred care
6. Quality and safety-using the best up to date evidence based information to support your
practice (no Wikipedia or patient sites!)
7. Will not make assumptions about patients, families or the care you need to provide
8. That if you need help you will ask for it
9. If you are struggling you will tell someone or ask for help
10. That if you do not know something you will say that and seek help to find the information
you need
11. Take the job seriously-people in hospital are very vulnerable and you are in a position
of authority and power to influence their journey
12. Always have examples of situations up your sleeve in relation to the above questions! Use
the EAR acronym to help you: Experience-what happened/Action-what did you do/Review-
what did you learn, how would you do things differently
13. Do you have any questions for the panel? Have 1-2 questions for the panel based on the
position you are applying fo
Best of luck
http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Policies/Social-media-policy.aspx
http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Policies/Social-media-policy.aspx
http:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Policies/Social-media-policy.aspx
Interview questions may be developed around the Registered Nurse Standards of Practice:
If you have not worked in a clinical environment it’s okay to use examples from clinical placement and/or other work areas such as hospitality. Consider complaint management, de-escalation of difficult customers, welfare of colleagues, occupational he...
Microsoft Word - Guide to reflective practice.doc
1
A guide to reflective practice
A fact sheet
As part of this CD-ROM learning resource, you're asked to reflect on your
personal and professional experiences as a health care student. There is a
number of ways to undertake reflective practice. You may be familiar with a
process that works for you.
The 5 Rs of reflection
When practising reflection, think about the '5 Rs of reflection'. They can help you
work through a number of questions contained in this CD-ROM.
The 5 Rs What to do What's included
Reporting Provide a descriptive
account of a
situation/issue.
What happened/what the
situation/issue involved.
Responding Record your emotional
esponse to the
situation/issue.
Observations, feelings and
questions about the
situation/issue.
Relating Report on your
understanding of the
situation/issue and how it
elates to the theory.
Your connections between the
situation/issue and your
experience, skills, knowledge,
and understanding.
Reasoning Explore and explain the
situation/issue.
Significant factors that underlie
the situation/issue and how they
elate to what happened and
what the situation/issue involved.
Reconstructing Draw a conclusion and
develop an action plan
ased on a well-reasoned
understanding of the
situation/issue.
Your deeper understanding of the
situation/issue, which you've
developed through well-reasoned
thought.
This understanding is used to
econstruct the practice and/or
the theory of health care.
Palliative care: A learning resource for health care students
A guide to reflective practice: A fact sheet
2
Sample questions to aid reflection
Below are some sample questions that may help you reflect on situations/issues
elated to your learning. Please feel free to come up with your own questions.
Important!
Always ask searching questions that help you think deeply about the many
aspects related to a situation/issue. This will enhance your learning.
The 5 Rs Questions to consider
Reporting What is the situation/issue about? What are the key aspects of
the situation/issue?
Responding How do I feel about or react to the situation/issue? What makes
me feel or react this way?
Relating How does the knowledge/insight I have about the
situation/issue relate to my:
• personal and/or professional experiences
• knowledge, understanding and/or skills?
In what way/s does it relate?
Reasoning How does the practice relate to the theory regarding this
situation/issue?
How do different perspectives, such as my personal
perspective, my perspective as a student and my perspective as
a health care professional affect the way I understand the
situation/issue?
Reconstructing In summary, what have I learned about the situation/issue?
What conclusions can I draw? Why?
Why is the situation/issue significant?
What have I learned about myself and about professional