Chapter 18: Work Force Trends: How to Find a First Job You Will Love Knecht: Success in Practical/Vocational Nursing, 8th Edition

1. What advantage does a nurse have in locating a job he or she likes? a. Nursing school encourages one to decide on a career area prior to graduation and allows for extra experiences. b. Clinical assignments include practical nursing experience in a variety of clinical settings. c. For nursing students in a community college or vocational/technical setting, the school guarantees a job on graduation. d. Because of the rapid turnover of nurses in health care facilities, locating a choice job is easy. ANS: B Having experience in a variety of clinical settings makes it easier to determine which types of units one would find to be a good match for skills and personality traits. Nursing school does not encourage one to decide on a career area prior to graduation, nor does it allow for extra experiences. Community colleges and vocational/technical settings do not guarantee a job upon graduation. It is not necessarily true that because of rapid turnover of nurses in health care facilities, locating a choice of job is easy. There may be no openings on units the nurse would prefer. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 275 | p. 276 OBJ: 4 TOP: Job selection KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 2. Which of the following individuals is most likely to provide the most authoritative, positive reference for a student nurse who is beginning to search for postgraduation employment? a. Instructor A, who has provided positive feedback during clinical labs b. Program director B, who is familiar with the student nurse’s academic record c. Nurse C, who is the student nurse’s acquaintance at the health club d. Student nurse D, who is a peer enrolled in the same nursing program ANS: A This individual would know both the academic record and clinical performance strengths of the student nurse. Because the instructor has given positive feedback, this person should be able to provide a positive reference. The program director may not have first-hand knowledge of clinical performance and might be less able to emphasize clinical performance strengths. The nurse who is the student nurse’s acquaintance at the health club would be unable to provide first-hand information about academic and clinical performance. A fellow student cannot provide a reference that would have the same weight as an instructor or a nurse with whom the student has worked in a health care agency. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 283 OBJ: 3 | 9 TOP: References KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 3. Which would be most valuable to include on a list of references? a. People who have worked in the agency to which one is applyingb. Personal friends who can be trusted to provide a positive reference c. Influential people in the community d. Health care workers who have supervised one’s work and are willing to provide a reference ANS: D Individuals who can comment authoritatively and positively on work skills are more valuable as references than individuals who are employed at the agency to which one is applying but who have no frame of reference for commenting on one’s work skills or those who know one socially or are influential in the community. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 283 OBJ: 3 | 9 TOP: References KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 4. What is the first step that should be taken by a student nurse who wants to use a particular instructor’s name as a reference? a. Look in the catalog to make sure the name is spelled correctly. b. Pass the course taught by the instructor, which permits listing the name. c. Ask the instructor whether her or his name may be used as a positive reference. d. Check with recent graduates to see which instructor writes the best letters of reference. ANS: C The student should make sure the individual is willing to be a reference and, moreover, is willing to write a positive letter. Looking in the catalog to make sure the name is spelled correctly is relevant but not the first step. Passing a course does not confer the right to use the instructor as a reference. Checking with recent graduates to see which instructor writes the best letters of reference is not an appropriate action. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 283 OBJ: 3 | 9 TOP: References KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 5. A student nurse is interested in working shortly after graduation. What action would have the greatest potential for achieving the goal of securing employment? a. Limit job applications to positions listed in the Help Wanted section of the newspaper. b. Obtain lists of job offerings posted in health care agencies. c. Research agencies of interest and write brief letters expressing an interest in employment. d. Depend on the school of nursing and school placement service to find employment. ANS: C Researching agencies of interest and writing brief letters expressing an interest in employment follows through on a broad strategy for obtaining employment. Limiting job applications to positions listed in the Help Wanted section of the newspaper makes use of only limited resources. Obtaining lists of job offerings posted in health care agencies suggests obtaining lists but does not suggest taking further action. Depending on the school of nursing and school placement service to find employment is both passive and unrealistic. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 287 OBJ: 4 TOP: How to search for employment openings KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A6. What action should the nurse take if the employer begins to ask interview questions about work experience on the phone when the nurse calls to set up an interview? a. Answer all questions asked by the employer pleasantly, accurately, and completely. b. Express willingness to discuss qualifications in detail during a scheduled interview. c. Mention being in a hurry now but give permission to receive a call back in an hour. d. Report the phone call to the civil liberties commission. ANS: B Deflecting employer questions until the actual interview is a good strategy. It prevents the employer from making a snap decision about the individual without seeing the applicant and exploring his or her qualifications in greater detail. Answering all questions asked by the employers pleasantly, accurately, and completely allows the employer to substitute a phone call for a personal interview. Mentioning that you are in a hurry now but giving permission to receive a call back in an hour would be perceived as impolite. Reporting the phone call to the civil liberties commission is unnecessary and inappropriate. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 289 OBJ: 6 | 8 TOP: Scheduling an interview KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A