Interview Questions NSCC

Question 1

Tell us a little about yourself.

Answer 1

• Brittany Heighton
• Grew up in Pictou County
• Bachelor of science with advanced major at STFX (grad 2013)
• Worked in the role of a CCA at VVV during the summers I attended university
• Worked on medicine unit for the past 7 years
• Preceptor on a regular basis
• Educational posters
• Completed my certificate in adult education through Dalhousie University in June 2020
• Very passionate about my career as a nurse
• Strive to be a role model for nursing students and new graduate nurses

Question 2

What personal qualities do you have that would make you a good candidate for this position?

Answer 2

• certificate in adult education (important of needs assessment, program design using a variety of instructional methods, facilitation, and evaluation; UDL)
• Hard worker (worked on a fast paced medicine unit for 7 years) which helped me to develop strong critical thinking and time-management skills
• Very approachable
• Strong preceptor skills
• Commitment to life-long learning
• Experience in long term and acute care
• Excellent communication skills - collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary team on a daily basis; respectful; excellent listening skills
• Very technology driven; able to operate most Microsoft word applications with confidence; familiar with brightspace application

Question 3

What did you learn from the adult ed program?

Answer 3

1) The importance of performing a needs assessment to identify gaps in knowledge (weaknesses/strengths/previous experiences)
2) Developing a set learning objectives that articulate the outcomes that I want to achieve throughout a specific learning experience; based on the three domains of learning (cognitive/behavioural/affective)
3) learning objectives that are simple, realistic, and measurable; using active verbs
4) Program design and using a variety of instructional methods to accommodate different learning styles 5)Strategies for maintaining engagement such as using ice breakers to promote engagements and socialization with peers; creates a more relaxed and comfortable learning environments
6) Facilitation skills - specifically my public speaking abilities
7) Evaluation strategies such as pre-post tests, discussions - how it’s impacted by your learning objectives

designed a workshop and facilitated it for my peers over zoom

Question 4

How would you maintain engagement with online learning?

Answer 4

• My experience with bright space is primarily from a student perspective because its the application that was used for my certificate in adult education; they did a really good job keeping us engaged and used a variety of strategies that I would employ as well
• introduction posts
• ice breakers
• communicate using a variety of formats such as discussion boards, audio clips, videos, discussion boards, chat rooms, and instant messaging, home page announcements, and screen cast videos
• provide active learning opportunities such as case studies and group projects
• making it social (promoting engagement between peers, and instructor and student); discussion boards and participating in the discussion boards
• gamify (creating games to deliver the content); less intimidating and will promote interaction amongst peers
• using a variety of different applications such as the menti app
• providing timely and useful feedback (positive and detailed instead of faint and unclear) - students will be more engaged if you respond to e-mails and discussion posts quickly
• self-assessment opportunities (learning plans, e-portfolios; allow students to give their peers feedback and input)

Question 5

How have you assumed leadership positions in your current role?

Answer 5

• worked on medicine for the past seven years
• change over in staff in the last few years
• newer staff; required me to assume more of a leadership role
• opportunity to preceptor
• mentor for my peers and colleagues
• apply adult education; specifically the UDL and how to accommodate for the learning styles of my students
• example refer to policy and procedures, also using videos of certain skills; some people prefer to review the skill and watch it be performed once and others are okay with reviewing the policy and jumping right in
• I am currently signed up to complete my BLS instructor course and look forward to assisting people in obtaining this certification
• little things on the unit; updating our kardex, creating educational posters; newsletter
• charge nurse (responsible for ensuring patient assignments are appropriate, coordinating the care of the patients on the floor, providing support to my peers during acute and complex patient situations)
• Champion for immunizations, bump, and meditech
• commitment to life-long learning

Question 6

Describe your communication style

Answer 6

• strong communication skills in nursing; collaborate with physicals, nurses, CCA, members of the interdisciplinary team on a regular basis
• communication with patients and families
• approachable
• calm
• respectful
• active listening
• feedback
• patient

Question 7

How would you assist a student who is struggling with time-management?

Answer 7

• working on a fast paced environment such as medicine, strong time-management abilities are crucial to your role as a nurse
• as a student engaging in online learning and in a program such as nursing which has a demanding work load, time-management is crucial
• I think it’s really important to have a calendar or agenda so you can keep track of your assignments and clinical dates
• Then I would encourage them to prioritize their tasks
• If we were in the school, I would encourage the student to come in a bit earlier so that they can get ready for the day; I would do the same if they were on the unit
• I think it would be important to sit down with the student or communicate with them and figure out what barriers exists in terms of managing their time, and then coming up with a plan together on how they are going to approach overcoming these barriers with my support
• start working on assignments early
• set out specific time for studying because adult learners have a lot of other responsibilities outside of school so setting time aside will help them to get their school work done
• set goals for your study sessions; so what you want to cover during a specific period of time
• eliminate distractions if possible
• study in short bursts with limited distraction
• being supportive and acknowledging that

Question 8

Are you familiar with the brightspace application?

Answer 8

• from a student perspective
• online engagement can a bit more difficult to maintain when you’re not face to face
• familiar with the discussion boards and certain applications within brightspace
• brightspace has lots of instructional videos available that I would refer to and have referred to in preparation for this role

Question 9

What is UDL and how would you incorporate this into your facilitation approach?

Answer 9

• universal design for learning
• learning opportunities for all
• presenting information that allows students with a variety of learning styles to engage, respond, and demonstrate knowledge and skills
• helps students to achieve the learning outcomes
• multiples means of representation (videos/audio/lectures), graphics, animations, support vocabulary
• multiples means of action and expression (plenty of options for expressing what they know, feedback, and supports for different levels of proficieny)
• engagement (give them choices to keep them interested)
• if your curriculum is universally designed it appreciates that students have different strengths, experiences, and learning styles
• flexible curriculum
• whats my goal
• whats barriers exists

Question 10

How would you ensure that your classroom promotes diversity?

Answer 10

1) In collaboration with students, establish a list of classroom norms that centre around celebrating diversity, being respectful, and creating a safe space for all individuals
2) Get to know your students and what makes them unique; encourage students to participate in discussion and share with their peers what makes them unique
3) UDL
4) Include teaching materials that include voices from a variety of people with varying backgrounds
5) Use language that promotes positivity and doesn’t reinforce stereotypes or actions; address inappropriate comments
6) Respectful communication

Question 11

Tell me about a time when you were precepting a student and had to give them criticism.

Answer 11

1) Have a respectful and calm approach
2) Avoid humiliating the student; have the conversation in private
3) Use positive language; highlight what they’re doing well in addition to what they need to work on
4) If their action/knowledge/behaviour is wrong; state your observation and give the student and opportunity to identify how they can improved, followed by providing additional strategies and rationale
5) Peer feedback - less intimidating and provides a more casual perspective; information retention
6) Preceptored

Question 12

Why would you make a good facilitator?

Answer 12

1) 7 and a half years experience working in acute care medicine
2) Preceptor on a regular basis I took my certificate in adult education and designed a work shop
3) Adult ed - solid understanding of how a universally deigned program can impact a student’s learning outcomes
4) Approachable and patient; familiar with technology; committed to life long learning
5) I understand that adults learn differently than children and have the knowledge and skills to truly support an adult learning throughout their learning experience

Question 13

Why does this position interest you?

Answer 13

• I love nursing
• I love preceptoring
• very passionate about education and the difference it can make in our practice
• I took my certificate in a adult education to see if it was something I could picture myself doing and really enjoyed it
• passion for teaching people
• any time there’s nursing students on the unit, I like being a mentor and support for them because I know the difference it can make

Question 14

What would be challenging about this role?

Answer 14

• making sure that the content I’m delivering is engaging
• making sure that I’m teaching in a way that appreciates the diverse learning needs of my students
• giving feedback
• facilitating online will present it’s own challenges
• I have the tools and resources that I will refer to on a regular basis

Question 15

How would you apply the principles of adult learning in your classroom, in an online environment?

Answer 15

• self-directed
• more selective, problem-centred, practical
• diverse experiences that their bringing into the learning opportunity
• stimulate discussion (past experiences)
• use real-life situations and scenarios
• appreciate their diversity and teach using a variety of strategies that appreciates their diversity; being flexible
• offer feedback

Question 16

How does your experience in acute care nursing prepare you for this role?

Answer 16

• busy unit - time management and organization
• nursing skills
• critical thinking skills
• communication skills
• opportunities to preceptor
• opportunities to develop leadership abilities
• charge nurse
• I know the job; familiar with the routine
• variety - patients with co-morbidities

Question 17

What is your experience in LTC?

Answer 17

• worked in the role of a CCA for three years
• appreciate their role as part of the nursing team
• geriactric population
• ALC patients on our unit
• experience with patients with dementia
• depression in the elderly

Question 18

Share a time when you’ve taught using methods other than a lecture. What was the
outcome?

Answer 18

• I have less experience teaching using lectures and more experience teaching hands on in the clinical setting
• when teaching an nursing skills, I always encourage the student to review both the institutions policy and also their potter and Perry text book
• in some instances, I will use a video to demonstrate the skills
• some students are more hands on then others and jump right in to the skills, others want to watch as I perform the skill first
• I designed a workshop that supported parents in discussing e-cigarette and vape use with their youth
• this allowed me to employ a variety of instructional methods
• I used a power point and enlaced multiple activities throughout it to promote engagement
• we did true or false questions, quick fire slides, and watched videos
• students were able to engage in active discussion
• we did it over zoom which allowed me to practice my facilitation skills in an online environment

Question 19

Share an experience in which you successfully coordinated with others. How about a
coordination effort that was not as successful?

Answer 19

• collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary team on a regular basis
• coordinate the care of patients in collaboration with PT/OT/dietary, social work, continuing care, the physician, and the family
• instances where we knew a patient was at risk for going home in terms of safety, and in coordination, with the inter-disciplinarny team, we came up with a discharge plan. Sometimes, the plan allows patients to go home safely and thrive, and in other instances, it’s not enough and the patient is re-admitted, and a new plan of care in terms of discharge planning has to be established
• Typically when things weren’t successful it was due to a lack of communication or misunderstanding and you could say something about how you use a direct and respectful communication style to ensure coordination goes smoothly

Question 20

How have you used technology to aid your teaching?

Answer 20

• learned a lot about what is effective in virtual teaching - LMS e-learning and bright space
• delivered my workshop over zoom
• used technology in developing your workshop and how you used technology to engage students
• out if necessity in the current state you know how important it is

Question 21

Provide an example when a student needed extra help. What did you do?

Answer 21

• Sat down with the student to determine what they felt they needed to improve on
• Asked the student what additional supports I could put in place to help them
• Came up with a plan for going forward - created a set of goals
• Reached out to the educators within our hospital to see if they were able to lend additional support - skills labs etc.
• One new graduate nurse was struggling confidently calling the doctor and relaying the appropriate situation. We sat down and re - reviewed the SBAR and then on nightshift when we had some extra time, we would practice with different scenarios

Question 22

How have you incorporated a variety of instructional methods while educating a student or patient?

Answer 22

• when prepping a patient for cardiac Cath, we provide them with a booklet, a video, and then face to face education to ensure that they understand the information. I usually will ask the patient themselves to explain, in simple terms, what the procedure will entail
• give them an opportunity to ask questions
• offer additional support if needed
• I developed a workshop that included a variety of instructional methods including a lecturette, true and false style questions, quick fire slides, video, group discussion etc.
• with students, I always encourage them to review policies and procedures, their skills text book, we engage in discussion, and then I offer to show them a video or perform the skill myself first so they can see how it is done.

Question 23

Tell me about how you go about developing a learning plan

Answer 23

• performing a needs assessment; this can be done informally; often times its a quick discussion with the student or patient to determine gaps in their knowledge about a specific subject or what they feel they want to get out of the educational experience
• what their past experiences are, what their strengths and weaknesses are, what skills they would like to work on etc.
• come up with a set of learning objectives based off your needs assessment; this will help guide the rest of your learning plan and will provide the student with a snapshot of what to expect during their learning experience
• next, it’s important to determine what strategies, resources, technology, content will support the student in achieving the learning outcomes
• implementation; the strategies you will employ, using a variety of different instructional methods
• evaluation - what types of assessments will you do in order to evaluate the outcomes of the students learning experience
• most times, in my experience, the student brings a structured, formal evaluation form that we fill out individually and in some instances, together
• evaluation can also take place informally; watching as a skill is performed, engaging in active discussion with the student about the patient situation; I use this to assess critical thinking abilities with different patient scenarios

Question 24

Provide an effective methods you used for evaluating a students work

Answer 24

• I generally use a variety of methods in evaluating a students work
• Formal - evaluation forms were I’m able to grade their learning outcomes in terms of being met, not met, or needing improvement
• informally, I engage in active discussion with the student about different patient scenarios or their understanding of certain concepts and principles
• monitor as a skill is performed
• done on both a summative and formative basis - so at the end of their clinical experience, but also throughout their experience as well
• use of case studies

Question 25

Please share an experience of when you presented in a group - how did this go?

Answer 25

• certificate in adult education
• developed a workshop to support parents in discussing e-cigarette and vape use with their youth
• initially we were suppose to present our workshop face to face but due to covid restrictions, we presented over zoom which required that I adapt my presentation in order to ensure that I could maintain engagement throughout the presentation
• I still was able to employ most of the instructional methods
• I practiced quite a bit leading up to the presentation; I wanted to make sure that I was speaking at a good place, volume, and tone
• I kept jot notes close to help as I progressed through the presentation
• I also had many opportunities throughout my adult education course to present in front of my peers and enhance my public speaking abilities
• one thing I learned, was that the flow and sequencing of your information is really important and that you should use a variety of instructional methods and weave them throughout your presentation to maintain engagement and interaction between your students and their peers, instructor

Question 26

Adapting and problem solving in the classroom

Answer 26

Adaptation means a change in the teaching process, materials, assignments or pupil products to assist a pupil to achieve the expected learning outcomes. … Expected learning outcome means the learning outcomes consistent with the curriculum.