Clinical Recognition Program

Preparing for Your Interview with the Review Board

An interview about your practice can be a nerve-wracking experience.  The Board views this time as a conversation with you.  Questions asked are not meant to trick you, but rather to help fill in any gaps in your portfolio and/or gain more information about items in your portfolio.  The interview team consists of 3 board members and on occasion a fourth may participate as an observer, with the lead interviewer coming from your discipline.  The interview should last approximately one hour, with a brief break in the middle.

Many clinicians have said that the thought of interviewing with the Review Board is the most stressful part of the application process. To help ease your anxiety, we have asked clinicians who have interviewed with the Review Board for advice they would give applicants as they prepared for the interview. We hope you find it helpful!

Here are some tips to prepare you for your interview:

• Have your director, CS, CNS or a peer help prepare you by doing a mock interview. Hearing their questions and thinking through your reflective responses will help decrease your anxiety and help you to articulate your practice clearly!
• Do a mock interview with someone who does not know your practice.  Often those who know your practice know the stories you will be discussing and subconsciously fill in gaps.  Gaining the perspective of someone who does not work closely with you is often helpful. 
• Review the list of reflective questions on the Clinical Recognition Program web site!
• Review your portfolio and the descriptors of practice at the level for which you are applying!  The questions in the interview come from examples in your portfolio.  The more diverse the examples in your portfolio, the easier the interview questions seem!
• Be ready to respond to “how you influence practice on your unit”. This question requires preparation before the interview!
• Be prepared to talk about yourself- what YOU do, what you contribute to the unit and the hospital!
• Arrange for your interview to take place on your day off or arrange for some time before the interview to relax and center yourself!
• If you get nervous and are prone to forget examples, write a note to yourself to bring into the interview!
• Realize that the interviewers are on your side. If you aren’t sure about a question, ask them to rephrase it!
• Before you answer any question, count to three in your head and think carefully about your answer!
• Be proud of what YOU do!  Relax and remember to breathe.

Preparing for the Interview with the Review Board

Reflective Questions for Advanced Clinician Applicants

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Preparing for the Interview with the Review Board

Reflective Questions for Clinical Scholar Applicants

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