Hospice Nurse Interview Preparation Guide

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

This is your time to shine. Just remember the interviewer is looking for work related strengths. Mention a number of them such as being a good motivator, problem solver, performing well under pressure, being loyal, having a positive attitude, eager to learn, taking initiative, and attention to detail. Whichever you go for, be prepared to give examples that illustrate this particular skill.

A loaded question. This is a nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?

In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

I had been a nurse for about 18 years when I was introduced to hospice. At the time, most of my experience had been in emergency nursing, home health, and psychiatric nursing. Over the past 12 years, I have worked for various hospices, both in Arizona and in California. For the first nine of those years, I worked as a case manager, seeing hospice patients at their homes and in facilities. Much of the time, I worked after hours or on-call.

Often, when working nights or weekends, if a call came into the hospice, I would take the call, either manage it over the telephone, or make a visit. As patient loads grew, many hospices began to use a dedicated telephone triage nurse to take calls and, if necessary, dispatch a dedicated visit nurse or another provider, such as a social worker or CNA, to the patient's location. I began to do that job and have continued, part time or per diem, over the past few years.

I like the challenge of analyzing and solving problems from a distance. The job requires me to maintain my clinical knowledge of symptom management, and to utilize a variety of psychosocial skills. It is rewarding to be able to calmly deal with a family in crisis and help them work through the situation.

Also, the flexibility is a huge plus. I am able to work from home or from anywhere I happen to be. My home, in fact is in Arizona, and the hospice I work for (and all of the patients I deal with) is in California. I have done triage while on vacation, working from my cell phone and laptop in a hotel room. As I also work another job and sometimes travel, I can continue my triage assignments at night. The triage job is very compatible with another schedule.

A close friend asked me to help her prepare for a potential job of her own by quizzing her with hospice nurse interview questions. I happily did so, but during the process, noticed that she had given an answer that didn’t match up with something I saw on her resume. I asked her to clarify her response, and ultimately helped her convey herself so clearly that she was offered the job. She confessed if I had not been paying such close attention to details, she would have continued to express herself inadequately, which would have likely resulted in another candidate being offered the position.

Although this would seem like a simple question, it can easily become tricky. You shouldn’t mention salary being a factor at this point. If you’re currently employed, your response can focus on developing and expanding your career and even yourself. If you’re current employer is downsizing, remain positive and brief. If your employer fired you, prepare a solid reason. Under no circumstance should you discuss any drama or negativity, always remain positive.

In my previous job as a Labor and Delivery nurse, we sometimes experienced sudden surges of patients into the unit. Since we could not turn away pregnant patients undergoing labor, I learned strategies to manage these surges. I would multi-task between patients while ensuring that I was still prioritizing. I would write down the things that must be prioritized within the L & D unit and carry out the tasks. Because of this, during some really busy shifts, we were able to handle up to 30 patients.

Whether the area of specialization is ER, Occupational Health, Community Health, ICU or any other, the key to answering interview questions about your nursing career choice is to be very specific about why you chose it. What influenced you in your choice? How did you explore your options? Highlight how your strengths are best utilized in this area and how it suits your personal competencies.

I am sure that I was successful. I have dreamt to work for your company and I can do anything to make my dream become true. And I am really interested in this job, for my passion not for money.