The job search can prove to be challenging and take a good amount of time and effort. You have been diligent with making sure your resume is eye-catching and that your cover letter gains the attention of the hiring manager, and now you are getting ready for the important interview. Being prepared for the initial face-to-face is important because you are competing against a number of other highly qualified applicants. Doing some leg work and practicing your responses to the interviewer’s questions will help it pay off in the end.
Preparing for the questions that you will be asked is one of the best ways you can get ready. Most applicants can expect to be asked some general interview questions that will give the hiring manager an idea of who you are and what type of employee you would be. However, you will also be asked specific questions about the job you are applying for, and it is crucial that you answer them in a way that shows the interviewer you are the right person for the position. The following operating room nurse interview questions and sample answers will help you be successful during the face-to-face meeting.
5 Operating Room Nurse Interview Questions & Answers
1. Why did you choose to be an operating room nurse?
I chose to be a nurse because I wanted to work in healthcare and my aunt was a nurse who encouraged me to pursue the same path. I found that my compassion for taking care of others combined with my ability to multi-task was a great fit for nursing as a career. During school, I spent a lot of time observing different areas of the hospital and clinic. I was drawn to the operating room because of the level of responsibility needed and because I was able to use my problem solving skills. It is a fast-paced environment, and it feels good to see a patient come out of the OR in better shape after a surgery.
2. What is your previous surgical experience?
I have worked in different areas of the OR and have a variety of experiences in the surgical setting. I worked as a scrub nurse, prepping the operating room for upcoming surgeries and helping to monitor patients during surgery. I also worked as a circulating nurse for a short period of time. My last position was as an RN first assistant, in which I assisted during surgical procedures. Most of my experience was with orthopedic surgeries, although I do have some experience working in the ER.
3. Can you think of an experience in which a patient’s care was considerably different because of your close monitoring?
I was assisting with a surgery and I noticed some irregular heart rhythm on the monitor. Due to my pre-operative care and communication with the patient, I knew that the patient had heart issues in his history and that it was important to take care of the issue right away. I administered medication to help regulate it, and the rest of the surgery went along without any problems.
4. Talk about a time when you handled a high-stress situation calmly and effectively?
I was working a shift during which we were short-staffed and had a high volume of scheduled surgeries. I had to assist with multiple surgeries at the same time, which was very stressful. I kept an open line of communication going with the doctors and focused on staying detail-oriented and focused on each surgery at hand. It was a long day, but everything went smoothly.
5. Are you able to work as a team player?
I have learned the value of working as a team player from different areas in my life. I was in sports growing up and discovered that communicating with each other and letting each player do what they did best resulted in playing better as a team. Working as a nurse has also shown me how important it is to work as part of a team. While each of us needs to be able to work without excessive direction, we also need to collaborate with each other and communicate.
Using these operating room nurse interview questions as a guide, you can construct your own answers for a successful interview. Doing so will help ensure that you are invited back for a second interview.