A newly graduated licensed practical/vocational nurse plans to interview for several potential career opportunities

Question

The nurse is apprehensive about working on a busy medical–surgical unit. The nurse wants to use the interview process to decide which employer will fit the nurse's needs. Which question is most important to ask during the interview process?
A) "How many patients are assigned to each nurse, and what additional expectations do you have for a staff nurse position?"
B) "How do you determine the acuity level of the patients and staffing ratios, and how do you provide breaks for the nurses?"
C) "May I see a job description for the position, and what type of orientation and mentoring process do you provide?"
D) "What style of nursing care delivery model does your unit use, and what team members are used to provide nursing care?"

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
The nurse is apprehensive about working on a busy medical–surgical nursing unit as a new graduate nurse, and the best question when comparing job offers is answer C because the job description outlines employer expectations for the nursing position, and asking about the orientation and mentoring process will help the nurse to judge if the unit is the right fit or not. Answer A is not the best question when comparing the available places for employment because the nurse needs to see expectations in writing in the job description, and assignments for the staff nurse may be different than the assignment for a new nurse in orientation. Answers B and D should also be addressed in the job description with the written expectations for the nurse. Answers B and D do not address orientation or mentoring to help the new nurse to acclimate to the unit and caring for the particular patient population.