Deck 26: Advancing Your Career

Question 1

During an interview for a night shift ICU position, the manager asks the job candidate, "Will working the night shift interfere with your husband's schedule?" How should the candidate interpret this question?

A) It is a legitimate question.
B) It is an illegal question to ask.
C) It is none of the manager's business.
D) It is something the candidate should consider.

Answer 1

It is an illegal question to ask.

Question 2

A nurse with an associate degree in nursing is interested in obtaining more education but is unsure if it is wiser to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing or to pursue certification. The answers to which

A) Am I interested in nursing management?
B) Which goal can be accomplished at the least expense?
C) Do I want to go to graduate school?
D) What are my future options in my current position?
E) Is either option available online?

Answer 2

Am I interested in nursing management?
Do I want to go to graduate school?
What are my future options in my current position?
Is either option available online?

Question 3

A nurse has joined the local Sigma Theta Tau organization. The nurse is hoping to find a mentor within the organization. Which person would be a good candidate?

A) A senior nurse who has the career experience that the nurse is interested in pursuing
B) The president of the organization
C) A senior nurse who has a wide range of career experiences
D) A member of the board of the organization

Answer 3

A senior nurse who has the career experience that the nurse is interested in pursuing

Question 4

A nurse who has an interview with the human resources (HR) director enters the office, doesn't make eye contact, and is very timid. Toward the end of the interview the HR director asks the nurse if there are any questions. The nurse states, "No, I think I've learned all I need to know." What impression has this nurse given the HR director?

A) Lack of interest in the position
B) Shyness and the inability to manage people
C) Rudeness
D) Laziness

Question 5

A newly licensed nurse has submitted an application, letter of interest, and résumé to the human resources department of a hospital and has an interview scheduled for next week. How should the nurse prepare for this interview?

A) Write down and memorize answers to questions that are typically asked.
B) Go to the organization and try to talk to some staff nurses.
C) Add additional information to the résumé.
D) Review the organization's website.

Question 6

A nurse has always been interested in the legal nurse field. What would be the best program in which to learn about this field?

A) A seminar in which the nurse can obtain certification as a legal nurse as quickly as possible
B) A seminar that offers a variety of speakers addressing the legal nurse profession
C) An accredited program by a legal nurse association
D) A program in which lawyers speak of the opportunities available for legal nurses

Question 7

A nurse has been in practice for 14 years and has worked in three different departments in the hospital. The nurse is a member of a professional organization and is considering running for an office next year. According to Shirey, this nurse is in which career phase?

A) The promise phase
B) The adolescent phase
C) The momentum phase
D) The harvest phase

Question 8

A nurse is considering graduate school. The nurse is interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. This nurse has worked as a medical-surgical nurse for the past 10 years. Which opportunity would benefit this nurse's career?

A) Taking a position as an assistant nurse manager
B) Applying for a nurse manager position on a renal unit
C) Transferring to the ICU unit
D) Transferring to the oncology unit

Question 9

An ICU nurse has been approached by a colleague to join the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. The nurse asks the colleague, "Why would I want to join this organization?" Which would be the best response?

A) "It will further your career."
B) "It looks good on your resume."
C) "It will help you to network and enhance your learning."
D) "You have to join before you can obtain critical care certification."

Question 10

The nurse has just interviewed with a nurse manager. The manager offers the nurse an opportunity to tour the unit and meet potential coworkers. Why is this a beneficial opportunity?

A) It allows the candidate to learn more about the unit.
B) It allows the candidate to make a final determination about whether the unit is a good work environment.
C) It allows the candidate to make some assessment of coworkers.
D) It allows the candidate to determine nurse-to-client ratios.
E) It allows the candidate a first look at the types of clients served by the unit.

Question 11

A baccalaureate nurse has been invited to join Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). While trying to decide about taking the offer, the nurse asks a member about the organization. Which option reflects the best reason to join a group such as this?

A) It offers the privilege of joining a distinguished group of professionals.
B) It offers the privilege of participating in an organization.
C) It offers the ability to network and learn while serving the organization.
D) It offers the ability to join the American Nurses Association.

Question 12

A student who is about to graduate is discussing the future with a nursing instructor. The instructor asks the student, "What schedule are you interested in working? What organization is near your home?" The student says that salary is the most important thing. Which response by the instructor would be appropriate?

A) "Since you have been in school for so long, the most important thing to you is to get a job that pays well."
B) "I would focus on those organizations that pay premium wages for nurses."
C) "A small difference in salary is less important than working in an organization where you can obtain your future goals."
D) "Money is not important; the job is important."

Question 13

A candidate is concerned that some answers she gave during her interview were vague and lengthy. She relates some of the answers to a peer, saying "I don't know what happened. I was just so nervous." What is an appropriate response by the peer?

A) "Why did you give those answers?"
B) "You should have given short and to-the-point answers."
C) "You gave good answers."
D) "I think your answers were specific."

Question 14

A nurse has interviewed with the nurse manager for a position and is very interested in obtaining it. After the interview, what would be an appropriate action to take?

A) Call the human resources director the following day regarding the selection process.
B) Call a staff nurse on the unit and inquire whether a decision has been made regarding the candidate.
C) Send a post-interview thank-you letter the following day.
D) Call the interviewer every day postinterview until a decision is announced.

Question 15

A nurse who has a baccalaureate degree in nursing is interested in going to graduate school. The nurse is talking to a peer who is in a nurse practitioner program. Which advice would be beneficial for this nurse in choosing a graduate program?

A) Perform an online search and look for the program that requires the least amount of time to obtain the degree.
B) Meet with faculty and students of various graduate programs.
C) Discuss the graduate schools with a physician.
D) Don't start until you are certain you can finish.

Question 16

The nursing faculty member requires that last-semester nursing students create a résumé. One student submits a résumé that includes education, past employment, and accomplishments. Which additional information will the faculty member recommend the student include in this résumé?

A) Family information
B) Short-term personal goals
C) Transcript
D) Long-term career goals

Question 17

A nurse who has worked in the dialysis unit for the past 5 years is considering a career change. The nurse is unsure whether to follow a management or a clinical career path. Which would be a good beginning step for this nurse?

A) Enroll in a graduate nursing program.
B) Investigate careers by talking with nurses in those positions.
C) Investigate the salary options for various careers.
D) Seek advice from the manager of the unit.

Question 18

A nurse is unsure in which graduate nursing program to enroll. A colleague recommends the nurse consider a degree program for which it appears there will be growing demand. Which role is expected to continue to be in great demand in the future?

A) Nurse administrators
B) Community health nurse
C) Nursing education
D) School nurse

Question 19

A nurse has an interview with the nurse recruiter at a large metropolitan hospital. During the nurse's education, clinical practice was conducted in smaller facilities. Which topics would be good for the applicant to focus on during the interview?

A) Information regarding the position and the organization
B) The nurse's past experiences
C) Salary
D) Benefits
E) The nurse's strengths and weaknesses

Question 20

During the interview a nurse learns there are several people interviewing for the position. Several days postinterview the nurse is called for a second interview. How should the nurse prepare for this interview?

A) Prepare in the same way as for the first interview.
B) Prepare in a similar way as for the first interview but with more details regarding past experiences.
C) Anticipate questions in regard to the position that are situational and provide information regarding competence.
D) Anticipate questions about goals for the future.

Question 21

A nurse who has worked on a unit for 8 years has just accepted a position as a nurse practitioner at an indigent clinic. How should the nurse handle leaving the current position?

A) Leave by the end of the week.
B) Tell the manager as soon as the decision is made.
C) Advise the human resources department prior to the unit manager.
D) Discuss the matter with colleagues well in advance of telling the manager.

Question 22

A newly promoted nurse manager is overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork that must be submitted to the director. The nursing unit is very busy and is short staffed, so the manager also takes a client assignment. This additional work makes the paperwork load even more daunting. Which statement is the most important lesson for this manager to learn?

A) A manager's first priority is client care.
B) A manager's first priority is the nursing staff.
C) The job requires the nurse to adjust, respond to change, and remain flexible.
D) The paperwork is not important.

Question 23

A nurse manager has a strong belief in the value of certification for staff nurses. Unfortunately, only two staff members are certified. How could the manager encourage the remaining staff to seek certification?

A) Make it a job requirement.
B) Obtain grant monies to fund purchase of materials for certification.
C) Support those who are seeking certification with study sessions and helpful study hints.
D) Work with administration to obtain a salary adjustment for those who become certified.
E) Role-model the behavior by becoming certified.

Question 24

Several months ago, the nurse accepted a management position in the neurological care unit. The nurse has been very challenged and stressed and is unsure the position change was the correct choice. What should the nurse do now?

A) Give proper notice and go back to the previous position.
B) Discuss the matter with the director of the unit.
C) Discuss the matter with staff nurses on the unit.
D) Take a few days off to think about the situation.

Question 25

A nurse knows that both experiences and a plan are important when building a résumé. Which attributes are the most important for the plan part of this endeavor?

A) Flexibility
B) Long term
C) Focused on one career path
D) Includes frequent contact with the nurse's current mentor through the years
E) Designed around a fixed retirement date

Question 26

In an activity log, a nurse records attendance at an education seminar as, "Class on arrhythmia recognition, State College, taught by Sue Smith, RN." What else would be valuable for the nurse to include?

A) The exact title of the seminar or event
B) Which colleagues attended with the nurse
C) Who paid for the course and what it cost
D) The date
E) Any certifications achieved

Question 27

A nurse has decided to relocate to another state. Which entry on this nurse's resume will be most useful in searching for a new job?

A) Boy Scout leader for 3 years
B) Member of Sigma Theta Tau International
C) Six years work experience as nurse manager in ICU
D) Graduated with honors from a BSN program

Question 28

A nurse has two job offers. One will not be available for 6 months and the other is in an organization that the nurse does not think is a good fit. The client care in the second organization is not what the nurse would feel comfortable providing. What action should the nurse take in regard to the second organization?

A) Gracefully decline the job by saying he is moving out of state.
B) Accept the position and plan to resign as soon as the other position opens.
C) Thank the manager for the offer, but decline it.
D) Send a letter to the manager, thanking the organization for the offer.
E) Tell the manager that the client care in the organization was not what was expected.

Question 29

A female nurse has an interview for a new job scheduled next week. What should the nurse plan to wear to this interview?

A) Scrubs
B) A neatly pressed lab jacket and white uniform
C) Capri length pants and sandals
D) Dark pants and a gray jacket
E) Simple jewelry

Question 30

A nurse says, "At last I feel like I am beginning to harvest some of the benefits of my career. I love sharing what I have learned with the new generation of nurses." Someone hearing this statement would interpret it to mean the nurse has likely practiced for at least ______ years.