Referral practice interviews

RE: Referral practice interviews

V E S — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 20:25:08 GMT

Woo congrats! Hope you enjoy it

It is a little daunting at first but you'll get used to it!

RE: Referral practice interviews

amber1989 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 07:55:13 GMT

So I got the job! Thanks for all your advice. They asked me lots of questions about my strengths weakness, where I want to be in five years, what I could bring to the team, why I wanted referral. Im a bit daunted by the shear size of the place but looking forward to getting stuck in.

RE: Referral practice interviews

Robyn — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 16:15:04 GMT

A referral practice was actually the first place I interviewed just after I qualified! It didn't work out, but they did ask me most of these questions. The main one I remember being asked was 'What would you do/how would you cope if a vet gave you an animal struggling to breathe, told you to give first aid, then rushed off to see to another critical patient and you were left on your own'! Obviously not a likely scenario and they probably just asked bc I'd never worked in practice properly before (I did the degree), but be prepared for a few curveball questions like that!

RE: Referral practice interviews

V E S — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 21:45:20 GMT

Hello!

I qualified 2 years ago and have been working in referral since then! It's not as scary as everyone seems to think it is!

Interview tips - they will likely ask about your skills and what you currently do in your role, e.g. are you happy taking bloods, placing IVs, intubating? They also may ask you about specific cases you remember, in my most recent interview they asked me what emergency situation had I been involved in and what did I do. I would say to try to apply knowledge you already know from first opinion, they don't expect everyone to have done/been involved with more complex cases.

I have just moved practices (referral to referral) and they said they don't get that very often and most of their new RVNs have no referral experience, so you will not be the only one!

Good luck and let us know how you get on

RE: Referral practice interviews

Wildlife Nurse — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 09:32:12 GMT

I very recently took the plunge into referral. I rotate between the different departments. My interview was pretty relaxed to be honest. I only had a couple of question as to why I wanted to move to referral, I said I felt I had learnt all I could in first opinion and needed more, that I like to learn new things and want to broaden my experience even more. Otherwise it was more them telling me about the job!

In my experience they work very very different to first opinion. I've been nursing a long time and feel very confident in my abilities. But I've learnt better ways, more efficient ways, even minor things are done in a set and certain way. Absolutely GOLD standard. It's mind blowing. It can be a little overwhelming as you feel you are drowning in an avalanche of things to learn, I do worry I can't fit it all in my brain. But so far so good, and no regrets! :) Feel free to ask me any questions, I will help anyway I can.

RE: Referral practice interviews

Sparky — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 07:55:38 GMT

I recently went to a referral practice interview, and after the interview spent the rest of the day with them to see how a nurse in my position would be working. If is a specialised referral practice for example just orthopaedics or oncology or neuro, they will ask you questions specific to these topics. For example, with orthopaedics-what orthopaedic surgery or treatment are you aware off, what treatments have you seen for certain conditions-the same goes for oncology-what treatments have you used or worked with before, what are your opinions on these? They also asked me if I thought further treatment for things such as chemo or pioneering limb repair/spinal surgery was something I thought worthwhile or wasting time and putting patients at more risk-the prolonging life for the right reasons kind of thing.

They will ask you what attracted you to them specifically, as in area of interest, new challenge etc.

Also, why do you want to leave SA 1st opinion with (usually)small teams to a large referral practice with multiple teams within it.

Good luck! hope that helps a little!

RE: Referral practice interviews

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 06:51:52 GMT

Are you going to be in a specialised area i.e. Imaging, theatre, medicine or wards. Or is a general referral nurse job. Rotating through the different disoplines. They'll more than likely ask what attracted you to referral nursing. Areas of interest. Whether you want to do advanced qualification. The 5 year question usually comes up. I'd maybe ask if you could spend a day with them At a later date. Get a feel for how the practice runs. I wouldn't say you're bored in current position. Say something along the lines of you don't feel challenge enough in your current role and that you feel that referral nursing will push you to your potential and use the knowledge and skills that you've learned during your training