VANDERBILTPROFESSIONALNURSINGPRACTICEPROGRAM

InterviewQuestionsforLevel3and4LPNandRNCandidates

CANDIDATENAME:____________________________________________________________

WORKAREA:_________________________________________________________________

APPLYINGFOR:RN3______RN4_____LPN3_____LPN4_____

InterviewquestionsarebasedonthePillarGoalsoftheClinicalEnterprise.Thesegoalsarerepresented
below.

Pillars

Goal

Wenurtureacaring,culturallysensitive,andprofessional
atmosphereaswecontinuouslyinvestintheindividualand
collectiveaspirationsofourpeople
Collegialityisacentralcharacteristicofourcultureanddefineshow
weserveourpatients,thoseweteach,andthelocalandworldwide
community

Werelentlesslypursueandmeasureourselvesagainstthehighest
qualityperformanceinallareas,frompatientcaretoscholarship

Weinvestourresourcesinamannerthatsupportsourlongterm
obligationtosociety,toachievelocal,nationalandworldwide
impactinimprovinghealth

Weseekexcellenceandleadershipasweadvanceoursystemsof
care,educationalpractices,andourcommitmenttodiscovery

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VANDERBILTPROFESSIONALNURSINGPRACTICEPROGRAM
InterviewQuestionsforLevel3and4LPNandRNCandidates

QUESTION
PEOPLEPILLAR
Problemsolving
Communication
Collaboration

1. Weareallobligatedto
findasolutiontoany
problemthataffects
ourpatientsclinical
care.Indoingthis,we
haveallexperienceda
differenceofopinion.
Describethesituation
andexactlyhowyou
handledit.Howhave
yousharedyour
resolution
process/resultswith
others?

Response:
Situation/Task

KEYINDICATORS(examplesmustinclude)
Servesasarolemodel&resourceinmanagingcomplexpatientorsystem
problems
Managesdifferencesofopinionindependentlyanddirectly(34)
Appropriatetime,manner,andplace
Ensuresprivacyanddealsdirectlyandkeepswithinneedtoknow
grouponly
Controlsemotions,doesnotescalateandcoolsdownfist,if
necessary
Listenstounderstandotherspointofview/position
Clarifiesproblemcollaboratively
Clearlydefinesproblemfromallperspectivesbeforeproblem
solving
Honest/usesdata.Differentiatesdifferencesofopinionfromconflict
Triestounderstandownandothersreasonsfortheirposition.Does
notjustquotepolicy,butexplainswhy
Exploresoptionsforfindingcommongroundcollaborative
Restatesandconfirmsagreements
Followsuptoensureresolution
Ifgoingupchainofcommand,tellpersonofplantodoso
Facilitatesproblemresolution(34)
Leadsothersinproblemsolvingprojectsandmentorsconflictresolution(4)
Action
Results

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VANDERBILTPROFESSIONALNURSINGPRACTICEPROGRAM
InterviewQuestionsforLevel3and4LPNandRNCandidates

QUESTION
SERVICEPILLAR
Planning/ManagingCare
ContinuumofCarePlanning
Patient/FamilyEducation

2. Tellusaboutacomplexor
challengingpatient/caseor
familysituation.Whatdid
youdoordirectanotherto
dotosignificantlyimpact
thepatent'soutcome?

Response:
Situation/Task

KEYINDICATORS(examplesmustinclude)
Incorporatespatient/familyeducationand/oruseofnoncustomaryresources
thatdemonstratesandindepthknowledgeandisareaspecific.Notall
practicesusethesamecommonresources.
Providesleadershipincomplexclinical(34)oroperational(4)situations
Consultsonclinicalproblems
Initiatesconsult(s)foranticipatedproblems(34)
Proactivelymanagescaretoavoidadverseoutcomesbeyondwhata
competentnursewoulddo(34)
Identifiesbarrierstolearning
Language/communicationbarriers(otherthanforeignlanguage
barriers)
Educationbarrier(cannotread/write,slowlearner,distractedbypain)
Locationbarrier(homeless,distancefromresources)
Psychologicalbarrier
Emotionalorculturalbarriers
Rolemodelsandisaresourcetoothersforcomprehensivepatient,family,or
colleagueteaching
Consultsandleadsteamindeveloping,evaluating,orrevisingpatientor
familyeducationmaterials
Identifiesneedforanddevelopsorrevisesmaterials(collaboratively).
Considerspossibleapplicationtoorimpactonotherareasand
collaborateswithand/orshareswhenappropriate
Plansfromanindepthknowledgeofdiseaseandrecoveryprocesses
ORNursesdemonstrateknowledgeofpatienthistoryanduseinformationin
implementationofintraoperativecare
Model(3)/Mentors(4)othersForexample:
Level3actsasaresourceandcoacheswhenasked
Level4initiatescoaching/mentoringotherstofacilitateCOCplanning
Action
Results

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VANDERBILTPROFESSIONALNURSINGPRACTICEPROGRAM
InterviewQuestionsforLevel3and4LPNandRNCandidates

QUESTION
QUALITYPILLAR
Planning/ManagingCare
ContinuousLearning

3. Evidencebasedpractice
mustbecontinuallyverified
andupdated.Tellusabout
themostrecentresearch
youhaveappliedthateither
verifiedorchallengedyour
practice.Whatdidyoudo
withthenewinformation?
Howhasitaffectedthe
qualityimprovement
processinyourarea?

Response:
Situation/Task

KEYINDICATORS(examplesmustinclude)
Sourcesmightberesearcharticle,rounds,seminars,conferences,
benchmarking,etc(sourcecitationrequired)
Sharesnewresearchinformationinpracticeareaandisaresourcetoothers
(3)
DemonstratesawarenessofresearchunderwayinPCC(34)
Appliesresearchfindingstoguide,validate,and/orchangeownpractice(3)
Takesleadinimplementationofapracticechangebasedonresearchfindings
(4)
Usesinformationtoinitiateandfollowthroughforpracticearea
Considersifpracticechangeisapplicablebeyondareaandshares
whenappropriate
Usesdatatoevaluatechangesinitiatedorlead

Action

Results

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VANDERBILTPROFESSIONALNURSINGPRACTICEPROGRAM
InterviewQuestionsforLevel3and4LPNandRNCandidates

QUESTION
GROWTH&FINANCEPILLAR
Planning/ManagingCare

4. Toensurethesuccessof
VUMC,itisthe
responsibilityofevery
employeetoparticipatein
identifyingopportunitiesto
reducecosts.Describewhat
youhavedonetoensureor
improvecosteffectiveness
(orcost/case)inyourarea
(beyondwhatisexpectedof
everyone).

Response:
Situation/Task

KEYINDICATORS(examplesmustinclude)
Monitorsandadjustsresourceutilizationforindividualpatients.
Identifiesproblem/needandparticipates(3)orleads(4)thechangeprocess
(Usuallyaunitoranareawidemeasureratherthanforanindividualpatient)
Usesdatatoevaluateresultsofleadorinitiatedchangesandconsidersif
appropriatetosharewithotherareas(4)
Evaluatesproductsorsuppliesforcosteffectiveness(4)

NOTACCEPTABLE:Allnursesshouldberemovingextrasuppliesfrompatient
rooms,decreasinglabdraws,andflexingstaffoffandonforcensus/acuity
(whenincharge)

Action

Results

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VANDERBILTPROFESSIONALNURSINGPRACTICEPROGRAM
InterviewQuestionsforLevel3and4LPNandRNCandidates

QUESTION
INNOVATIONPILLAR
ProblemSolving
Communication&
Collaboration

5. Thinkaboutanoutcomein
yourareawhereyour
leadershipmadea
difference.Whatspecifically
didyoudotoinfluencethat
outcome?Whatevidence
didyouusetosupportyour
actions?

Response:
Situation/Task

KEYINDICATORS(examplesmustinclude)
Participates(3)orLeads(4)indevelopmentorrevisionofstandards
Modelsandactsasaresourcetoothersforeffective
communication/collaboration(3)
Preceptsnursingstudentsandhousestaff(3)
Mentorsothersineffectivecommunication/collaboration(4)
Mentorsnewpreceptors(4)
Actstoresolveactualandpotentialsystems,knowledge,andbehaviorissues
(34)

Action

Results

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