pillar... · web viewserves as a role model & resource in managing complex patient or system...

VANDERBILT PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAMInterview Questions for Level 3 and 4 LPN and RN Candidates

CANDIDATE NAME: ____________________________________________________________

WORK AREA: _________________________________________________________________

APPLYING FOR: RN3______ RN4 _____ LPN3 _____ LPN4 _____

Interview questions are based on the Pillar Goals of the Clinical Enterprise. These goals are represented below.

Pillars Goal

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We nurture a caring, culturally sensitive, and professional atmosphere as we continuously invest in the individual and collective aspirations of our people

Collegiality is a central characteristic of our culture and defines how we serve our patients, those we teach, and the local and worldwide community.

We relentlessly pursue and measure ourselves against the highest quality performance in all areas, from patient care to scholarship

We invest our resources in a manner that supports our long-term obligation to society, to achieve local, national and worldwide impact in improving health


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We seek excellence and leadership as we advance our systems of care, educational practices, and our commitment to discovery


QUESTION KEY INDICATORS (examples must include)PEOPLE PILLAR Problem solving Communication Collaboration

1. We are all obligated to find a solution to any problem that affects our patients’ clinical care. In doing this, we have all experienced a difference of opinion. Describe the situation and exactly how you handled it. How have you shared your resolution process/results with others?

• Serves as a role model & resource in managing complex patient or system problems

• Manages differences of opinion independently and directly (3 – 4)• Appropriate time, manner, and place• Ensures privacy and deals directly and keeps within “need to know”

group only• Controls emotions, does not escalate and cools down fist, if

necessary• Listens to understand other’s point of view/ position• Clarifies problem collaboratively• Clearly defines problem from all perspectives before problem

solving• Honest/uses data. Differentiates differences of opinion from conflict• Tries to understand own and other’s reasons for their position. Does

not just quote policy, but explains why• Explores options for finding common ground collaborative

• Restates and confirms agreements• Follows up to ensure resolution• If going up chain of command, tell person of plan to do so• Facilitates problem resolution (3-4)• Leads others in problem solving projects and mentors conflict resolution (4)

Response:Situation/Task

Action Results

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QUESTION KEY INDICATORS (examples must include)SERVICE PILLAR Planning/Managing Care Continuum of Care Planning Patient/Family Education

2. Tell us about a complex or challenging patient/case or family situation. What did you do or direct another to do to significantly impact the patent's outcome?

• Incorporates patient/family education and/or use of non-customary resources that demonstrates and in-depth knowledge and is area specific. Not all practices use the same “common” resources.

• Provides leadership in complex clinical (3-4) or operational (4) situations• Consults on clinical problems• Initiates consult(s) for anticipated problems (3-4)• Proactively manages care to avoid adverse outcomes beyond what a

competent nurse would do (3-4)• Identifies barriers to learning

• Language/communication barriers (other than foreign language barriers)

• Education barrier (cannot read/write, slow learner, distracted by pain)• Location barrier (homeless, distance from resources)• Psychological barrier• Emotional or cultural barriers

• Role models and is a resource to others for comprehensive patient, family, or colleague teaching

• Consults and leads team in developing, evaluating, or revising patient or family education materials

• Identifies need for and develops or revises materials (collaboratively).• Considers possible application to or impact on other areas and

collaborates with and/or shares when appropriate• Plans from an in-depth knowledge of disease and recovery processes• OR Nurses demonstrate knowledge of patient history and use information in

implementation of intra-operative care• Model (3) / Mentors (4) others – For example:

• Level 3 acts as a resource and coaches when asked• Level 4 initiates coaching/mentoring others to facilitate COC planning


Action Results

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QUESTION KEY INDICATORS (examples must include)QUALITY PILLAR Planning/Managing Care Continuous Learning

3. Evidence based practice must be continually verified and updated. Tell us about the most recent research you have applied that either verified or challenged your practice. What did you do with the new information? How has it affected the quality improvement process in your area?

• Sources might be research article, rounds, seminars, conferences, benchmarking, etc (source citation required)

• Shares new research information in practice area and is a resource to others (3)

• Demonstrates awareness of research underway in PCC (3-4)• Applies research findings to guide, validate, and/or change own practice (3)• Takes lead in implementation of a practice change based on research findings

(4)• Uses information to initiate and follow through for practice area• Considers if practice change is applicable beyond area and shares

when appropriate• Uses data to evaluate changes initiated or lead


Action Results

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QUESTION KEY INDICATORS (examples must include)GROWTH & FINANCE PILLAR Planning/Managing Care

4. To ensure the success of VUMC, it is the responsibility of every employee to participate in identifying opportunities to reduce costs. Describe what you have done to ensure or improve cost effectiveness (or cost/case) in your area (beyond what is expected of everyone).

• Monitors and adjusts resource utilization for individual patients. • Identifies problem/need and participates (3) or leads (4) the change process

(Usually a unit or an area wide measure rather than for an individual patient)• Uses data to evaluate results of lead or initiated changes and considers if

appropriate to share with other areas (4)• Evaluates products or supplies for cost effectiveness (4)

• NOT ACCEPTABLE : All nurses should be removing extra supplies from patient rooms, decreasing lab draws, and flexing staff off and on for census/acuity (when in charge)


Action Results

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QUESTION KEY INDICATORS (examples must include)INNOVATION PILLAR Problem Solving Communication & Collaboration

5. Think about an outcome in your area where your leadership made a difference. What specifically did you do to influence that outcome? What evidence did you use to support your actions?

• Participates (3) or Leads (4) in development or revision of standards• Models and acts as a resource to others for effective

communication/collaboration (3)• Precepts nursing students and house staff (3)• Mentors others in effective communication/collaboration (4)• Mentors new preceptors (4)• Acts to resolve actual and potential systems, knowledge, and behavior issues

(3-4)


Action Results

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