QUESTIONS

Tip: If you ever get stuck answering a question default to “review my care decisions with
my more experienced colleagues to ensure I did not miss anything….”
Tip: Brush up on the patient population you will be working with to better anticipate the
type of questions you will be asked.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS
Tip: use these questions to tie in a lot of those keywords from the mission, vision, and job post
in your answers. Can show your knowledge about the hospital to show you're taking it seriously.
Be authentic, try not to sound rehearsed. Depict yourself as ready and willing to learn, wanting
to advance your career and that this is the place to do it.

What are your future career goals and how will this position help you achieve them?

Where do I want to be in 5 years?

What is one goal you have yet to reach and why haven’t you? (consider as reason for
nursing)

Short term and long term goals?

What do you know about our hospital?

Tell us the mission and vision of this hospital and how it applies to you?

05:55 Why do you want to work at THIS hospital?

Tell me about yourself?

Why nursing?

Why this position/specific field of nursing?

08:31 Why are YOU a good candidate for this job? (What are your strengths, why are you
a good fit, what do you have to offer? How are you different from other candidates?)

How have your clinicals prepared you for this job?***

04:15 What are your weaknesses?

Strength and weaknesses?

21:03 What are your thoughts on evidence based practice? ***

0:37 Describe what great patient care means to you

What does cultural competence mean to you?

What is your greatest achievement?

3 words to describe yourself?

3 qualities you want most in a unit?

Least and most favorite clinical experiences?

Worst and best thing about nursing?

If not nursing what career would you have pursued?

Why is cultural diversity important in the workplace?

What does human kindness mean to you?

What kind of people do you not get along with?

Who is your nurse role model?

Is it ok to break set rules?

How do you feel about caring for COVID-19 patients?

BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
Tips: try to use real life examples when possible. If not phrase it as “although I have not
had that experience yet, what I would do….” or share what you have seen your
nurse/preceptor do in a similar situation and say how it inspired you to do the same. Try
to show communication, teamwork, collaboration with these answers. And that you are
not afraid to admit “IDK” and you will seek help.
Tip: STAR approach to organizing your answers: Situation, Task, Action,
Result/Reflection

01:19 Describe a mistake that you made and what did you do to fix it?

02:50 What is the most valuable criticism that you've gotten from a manager/instructor?

07:20 How would you handle a rude doctor or supervisor?

10:15 How do you deal with stress?

11:30 Explain a time when you went above and beyond your responsibilities.

13:35 Explain a time when you collaborated with others. ***

14:00 Describe a time when you needed to be innovative. ***

Tell me about a time you had to work with someone you didn’t like. (advocate for
yourself?)

15:19 Tell me about a time when you were challenged and you wanted to quit. (How have
you handled a difficult situation?)

16:55 Tell me a time when you stepped into a leadership role.

18:57 Tell me about a time when a patient's family was dissatisfied with the care and how
did you handle this situation?

20:19 Talk about a time when a patient was appreciative of your care.

21:55 What approach do you take when patients don't know medical jargon?** When was
there a time?

22:51 Give an example when you had to deal with a patient that was hostile? ***

24:12 Describe a time when you had a patient who did not want to disclose information.
How did you handle that situation and what was the outcome?

25:32 Describe a time when your facility was undergoing some change. How did that
impact you and how did you adapt?

27:08 Tell me about a time that you FAILED. How did you approach and overcome the
situation?
28:39 Talk about a time you worked in a fast-paced setting & how do you prioritize tasks
while maintaining excellent patient care. ***

Tell me about a time a patient’s condition was rapidly changing?

Tell me about a time you caught a someone else’s mistake. What did you do about it?

How can you promote patient safety on the unit? (A time you advocated for patient
safety)
How do you use communication when learning a new skill? Or Tell me about a time you
had a miscommunication with a colleague?

Thoughts on having a/ time you had a spiritual connection with patients? (for religious
hospitals)

If you didn’t know a drug where would you find the answer?

Pt found out they had 6mo to live. How do you respond?

Name a time you stood up for a patient? (Advocated for them, in front of a
superior/doctor)

Tell us a time you were different from the people around you? How did you learn?

How do you function within a team?

Tell us about a time you collaborated with interdisciplinary teams?

Have you witnessed a dangerous situation and what did you do about it?

What would you do if your shift replacement does not arrive on time or at all?
Tell us about a time you saw someone take a shortcut in a procedure, how did you
handle it?

Patient is visibly upset, wants to talk to you, but you're busy. What do you do?

Have you had an experience with patient death? How would you handle death and
dying?

Time you had difficulty making a decision?

Time you exhibited time management? (prioritization)

Tell me about a time you had an unhappy patient?

Time you disagreed with a policy?

How is your customer service?

CLINICAL QUESTIONS
Tip: Focus on the type of patient population you will be working with. For example if you will be
getting telemetry patients, familiarize yourself with some common conditions and care.
HOWEVER the BIG 3 is: cardiac arrest, stroke, sepsis (always good to prepare for these no
matter where you apply) Remember you have to notify doctor but assess and promote pt safety
first

What would you look for in a septic client?

- General assessment and vital signs, hemodynamic stability, temp, HR, BP, O2sat
- Respiratory effort, urinary output
- Monitor for changes in mentation or LOC, allergic reaction to antibiotics
- Have labs ready for doc: lactic acid, electrolytes, ABGs, urine output
- Enact appropriate RRT or hospital policy for signs of deterioration and shock

Plan of care for pneumonia? What would you have ready for the doctor?
- 1. Focused respiratory and cardiac assessments, vital signs, temp, O2 sat, RR
- 3. Maintain airway and turning promote ventilation
- 3. Chest x ray, Blood work, electrolytes, BNP, ABG, urinary output for doctor

Patient presents w/ chest pain, radiating to left arm course of action?

- 1. Obtain 12 lead ECG. Give MONA as needed. Vitals, IV access, review thrombolytic
criteria, initial cardiac markers, may need chest xray
- 2. After ECG interpretation, enact appropriate BLS or ACLS algorithms or code blue if
there is a loss of pulse
- 3. Anticipate additional therapies like nitroglycerin and heparin or transport to PCI
- 4. Update doctor, review my care decisions with staff, and monitor once stable

What is your post cardiac arrest care?

- 1. Maintain optimal O2sat and consider the need of advanced airway
- 2. Treat any hypotension, IV therapies, vasopressor
- 3. Get 12 lead ECG, and enact ACLS/BLS algorithm
- Anticipate reperfusion interventions, temperature management, and transport to floor
with higher acuity
- 4. Review care, update doc

Plan of care for symptomatic bradycardia?

- 1. Assess, maintain airway. O2 as needed, vital signs, 12 lead if available, IV
- 2. Anticipate atropine initially, and possible transcutaneous pacing, dopamine, epi
- 3. Monitor pt, review care, update doc and seek further instruction

Patient on floor what do you do?

- 1. Call for help, assess environment safety, and immediately assess the patient, attempt
to arouse check for breathing and pulse
- 2. If no pulse, or breathing call Code Blue, enact BLS and ACLS algorithms and
immediately begin compressions or rescue breathing dependant on assessment
- 3. Utilize AED as soon as first available
- 4. If patient is responsive but injured, asses safety and status, stabilize any injuries, get
help for safe transport of the client
 - 5. Once pt is stable, continue to monitor, update doctor, review care, and file any reports
needed per policy

How to treat Vtach? Or Vfib (same as pulseless vtach)

- 1. First assess and determine if Vtach is with a pulse or without
- 2. If without enact ACLS algorithm, Code Blue if needed, anticipate defib, epi, and
amiodarone
- 3. If with pulse → unstable or stable? → ACLS algorithm → anticipate
cardioversion and sedation, 12 lead, adenosine, antiarrhythmic, Mg, expert
consult
- 4. Once patient is stable, monitor, transport to higher acuity if needed, update doc,
review care

Treat stroke?
- 1. Perform stroke assessment, neuro check, and activate stroke team, RRT, or hospital
policy
- 2. Provide O2 as needed, ensure IV access, check glucose if possible, 12 lead ECG
- 3. Assist RRT or stroke team as needed, anticipate CT scan and possible therapies such
as tPA, aspirin, neurologist consult
- 4. Anticipate transport to a floor of higher acuity, and provide report to receiving staff,
doctor, review care

What to do for patients with low BP?

- 1. Assess patient for symptoms of hypotension, recheck VS, check for signs of bleeding
or bruising - Call doctor
- 2. Enact BLS/ACLS algorithm if necessary or code/teams, apply pressure to any
bleeding call for help, maintain positioning of pt, maintain IV fluid therapy
- 3. Delegate staff to contact surgeon and prepare for transport to OR

How do you take care of a central line?

- 1. Consistently assess need for central line and its patency, with timely flushes
- 2. Prevent CLABSI infections follow hospital policy when handling, promote aseptic
technique, clean ports with swab when handling, keep locked if unused, avoid frequent
dressing change only when needed
- 3. Reposition client for any occlusions, check for kinks.

Plan of care for HF?

1. Assess patient, focused cardiopulmonary assessment, vital signs,
2. Differentiate between RHF and LHF: (right: systemic reaction, JVD, edema, abdominal
pain) (left: pulmonary congestion, displaced PMI, S3 heart sound,
3. Have I/O, daily weights, electrolytes, BNP, renal labs ready for doc
4. Anticipate BP, glycosides, diuretic meds
5. Maintain diet, monitor status and weight, O2 as needed, review care
Patient presents with a sudden onset of shortness of breath, what do you do?
- Its pulmonary embolism
- Oxygen as needed, get CT scan stat, get vitals, call doctor
- Anticipate thrombolytics or blood thinners

QUESTIONS FOR THEM (Ask 4-5 questions) (Ask questions that are meaningful and
show that you are serious about the job and preparing for it)

How are the experienced nurses on the floor receptive to new grads? Are there any instances of
conflict and if so what do they typically involve?

What type of support does the leadership and management at this hospital offer to new
graduates or new nurses once on the floor?

Are there any resources you can suggest I look into to further prepare me for this
position?

From your perspective what problems do new grads typically run into on your unit?

What type of support has your hospital provided their nurses and other staff during the
pandemic?

What opportunities and resources does this hospital offer to help new grads advance their
career aside from the new grad program?

What are some of your reasons why you enjoy working here?

When can I be able to expect an update on the status of my application?

What does a shift typically look like for a nurse here?

What are some of the resources for support available for employees aside from fellow
colleagues? Things like administrative support, educational opportunities, community outreach,
and counseling?