Talk about the proudest moment you have experienced as part of a larger healthcare team. What role did you play in that effort?

"Last year, I was working a night shift and we had a patient go into cardiac arrest with myself, another nurse, and the hospitalist on duty. As the first to respond to the room, I immediately called for help, checked for any signs of breath, and immediately began administering CPR. Within a minute, the other nurse and physician were in the room and they prepped and delivered the AED to the patient while I continued CPR. After the second shock and a few chest compressions, the patient was revived and had a steady heartbeat. While the physician immediately prepared the patient for pre-surgery, my nurse colleague hugged me tightly and thanked me for taking action. Soon thereafter, the physician gathered us both and we took a moment to reflect on what we did right and celebrated together."

Prior to your interview, think of a situation when you felt a sense of pride and accomplishment in a team effort during your time as a registered nurse. Try to paint a clear picture for your interviewer of what the situation was, who was involved in making it a great team effort, and what the ultimate outcome was. If you can relate your answer to a direct patient care situation, that is even better. In the end, make sure that your interviewer walks away knowing that you would take pride in what you do on the job as a PICU nurse on their team.