An interview with a healthcare professional is of utmost importance because they deal with patients and manage emergencies. The competence level has to be great to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. We present the top 25 interview questions and answers for ER nurses, which may help you with the interview. You can go through them briefly and prepare for the ER interview. Surely, all of them might not work for you, but as we said, they are the top ones, so at least most of them can prove helpful for you in some way.
1. Tell Us About Yourself
My name is John, and I have worked in the ER department for seven years. I belong to a middle-class family and have four siblings. I have completed a bachelor’s in nursing from a renowned college in the USA. I am passionate about treating patients and helping people. I am very dedicated and service-focused.
Moreover, my skills, qualifications, and experience qualify me for this role, and I consider myself lucky enough to serve humanity. I feel passionate and motivated because it is my dream job. My family, friends, and parents have always supported me in the said role, and I assure you that I won’t ever disappoint you.
2. What Qualities Do You Think An ER Nurse Needs?
ER is extremely busy, so the nurse must be very vigilant and needs a lot of energy to move around. She requires ample knowledge of the management of patients, including IV drug administration, etc.
Some of the qualities include the following:
- Quickness. ER nurses must think and act quickly when dealing with emergency patients. Sometimes, a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Doctors and nurses must assess patients quickly and administer the right care without hesitation.
- Calmness. Nurses must act calmly when treating patients in serious conditions and act promptly. When patients with severe injuries or illnesses panic, a nurse’s job are to help ease their minds.
- Communication. Along with communicating honestly, confidently, directly, objectively, and accurately with patients and their doctors, nurses should also be able to communicate with patients’ friends and families. Communication skills training has been shown to improve patient satisfaction and reduce complaints.
- Coping. Sadly, not all ER patients will survive their injuries and illnesses, and even the best ER nurses won’t be able to save everybody. Handling these losses and the emotions of caring for very sick or injured patients is key to working in an ER.
3. Why Did You Choose A Career In Nursing?
Choosing a career in nursing has been a dream for a long. I have dreamt of serving people, and what better than saving lives and helping distressed humans?
I have always found myself in any setting that involves delivering skills from one person to another. The role of an ER nurse is to serve patients in an emergency.
4. Why Do You Prefer Working With Us?
I would love to work in a stroke center or a burn center. It is because I have worked with stroke victims and burn patients before. Also, I enjoy working with children, and I have seen that your center has a top-notch pediatric emergency department. Moreover, your reputation and reviews are impressive, and it would be an honor to work with you.
5. Did You Have A Conflict With A Supervisor At Any Point Of Time? How Have You Handled It?
I previously worked in a position where we used a specific method for checking patients that I felt was quite outdated and inefficient. So I looked for an appropriate time during our staff meetings and suggested that I would like to improve the process. The supervisor looked for ways to increase efficiency but disregarded my opinions about the check-in process. He didn’t like any ideas and didn’t change the process. I continued using the old system, and although I wasn’t satisfied much, I couldn’t do anything.
6. Describe The Ability To Stay Calm In High-Pressure Situations.
I have been doing well with numerous deadlines and thriving in a fast-paced environment. During my tenure at an urgent care clinic, I have been able to help numerous patients with different types of illnesses, injuries, and some health crises. One evening, a mother brought in her young child, who had been quite ill. During the process, the child became unconscious, and I had to think as soon as possible and act very calmly.
7. Did You Ever Face Any Situation With A Distraught Family Member? How Did You Handle That Particular Situation?
It is very difficult for immediate family members to see the suffering of the people they love, and I understand that firsthand. I remember when I dealt with numerous family members coming in with a particular patient requiring immediate ambulance transfer to the emergency department. In each case, I spoke very calmly, clearly, and honestly to that individual. I acknowledged the condition and assured the family members that the medical team would try their best to provide great care for their loved ones.
8. What Is Your Method Of Handling A Person Who Is Non-Verbal Or Quite Unable To Communicate The Symptoms?
I used to treat and work with many patients who were unable to speak due to a particular medical condition, such as a stroke or, in some cases, a coma, or because they were under anesthesia. In these specific situations, I rely on their family members or other caregivers for information about the symptoms and their medical history. I also use my skills as an active listener to dig out important details from a non-verbal patient by observing the facial expressions and body language. It was a great experience, and I strongly bonded with them in a very short time.
9. What Would Your Plan Of Action Be If You Were Having A Shift And A Patient Came To You In With A Condition That You Were Unfamiliar With?
If I was working a particular shift and a patient came in with a different condition I had never seen before, I would try my best to assess the symptoms and determine what they might be. Then, I would look up those conditions online or ask any other nurse or doctor to help identify the condition. After researching, I would call the hospital’s emergency department physician and ask for their advice if I still couldn’t figure out what it was.
10. Do You Have Any Experience Working With Children? If So, How Do You Manage To Handle Their Unique Needs?
I have worked with numerous parents and patients in my career as one an emergency department nurse. My experience has shown that patients must understand what is happening during their treatment and feel comfortable. I explained to them everything in detail we were doing and why to a young patient who was experiencing stomach pain. The same allowed the child to relax and concentrate on getting better.
11. Do You Feel Comfortable Working In A Fast-Paced Environment Where You May Have To Multitask?
In my previous job, I had to multitask between several different tasks due to the large number of patients that came through the emergency department at one time, which made me very comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. To keep track of the waiting patients, I wrote down their information on paper and then put it into the computer when I had time, for example, when I was helping one patient.
12. How Do You Handle A Situation Where You Disagree With Another Member Of The Medical Team?
At first, I would listen carefully to what my colleagues say and try to understand why they disagree. If their reasons for disagreeing with me are valid, I will consider changing my mind. In contrast, if I felt strongly about my position, I would explain my reasoning to them and offer to find a compromise.
13. Provide Us With An Example Of A Time When You Had To Administer A Treatment That Was Unfamiliar To You. How Did You Handle The Situation?
The first patient I treated in the emergency department had consumed a lot of poison sumac. I had never used an antihistamine before, but I researched how to administer meperidine and was able to treat the patient successfully. It scared me initially, but I gained enough confidence later.
14. If A Patient Is Experiencing Some Severe Allergic Reaction, What Treatment Would You Administer?
If I notice a patient experiencing an allergic reaction, I would immediately administer epinephrine through an injection or intramuscularly. I will give him oxygen via a nebulizer or mask if he has trouble breathing. I will monitor his vital signs until he stabilizes after administering these treatments.
15. What Do You Think? When Would It Appropriate To Call A Code Blue?
The code blue indicates someone who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. When a patient suddenly stopped breathing, I called a code blue at my last hospital. Doctors and other nurses responded immediately and revived the patient before any lasting damage occurred. It’s important only to use a code blue when necessary because it alerts everyone on staff to respond immediately.
16. If We Wish To Improve Our Infection Control Procedures. How Can You Implement A New Hand-Washing Policy?
Initially, I would ensure that I understood why changing the current hand-washing policies is required. After that, I will discuss the new procedure with my team and how it could benefit the staff and patients. Also, I will ensure that enough sinks are available so everyone can wash their hands before entering the treatment room.
17. Explain Your Process For Documenting A Patient’s Medical History.
I begin by asking the patient their name, date of birth, and any allergies they have. After getting all the required information, I record it in my charting software so that one can find it later. Next, I asked what brought them to the emergency room and their current symptoms. Additionally, I ask if they have any other health history or preferences they would like to share with me. I write down everything they tell me to refer back to my notes when needed.
18. What Makes You An Outstanding And Suitable Candidate For This Position?
I became an emergency nurse because of my passion for helping others in need. As a result of my career, I have developed excellent time management and critical thinking skills, allowing me to assess patients efficiently and quickly. Due to my calmness under pressure, I am also an excellent nurse in an emergency department because I can stay focused in stressful situations.
19. Mention Any Medical Software Programs Have You Used In The Past And How Were They Beneficial To Your Job?
In the past, I worked in two hospitals. During my time at those two hospitals, I used a similar medical software program to easily locate patient information when required. For instance, I could quickly discover a patient’s blood type or allergies using the software program. As a result, I saved time working with many patients daily since I could easily access this information.
20. What Do You Think Can Be The Most Important Aspect Of Patient Care?
My patients must feel safe and well cared for when it comes to patient care. As a result, I can be empathic, respect them, and work harder to care for them the most. I always help them by putting myself in their shoes and imagining what they are going through.
It won’t only treat the patient, but you will also have some peace of relaxation within yourself. As a doctor, everyone’s prime responsibility is serving others irrespective of caste, gender, race, and ethnicity.
21. How Often Do You Perform Patient Assessments?
I perform a patient assessment when I meet a new patient or their condition changes. During my previous role as an Emergency Room nurse, I performed at least one patient assessment per shift. For instance, if a patient’s vital signs change, I would perform another assessment to ensure I was treating them appropriately. The same also, let me know all details beforehand.
22. You Have A New Patient Who Is Unaware About His Health Condition. How Would You Start Your Diagnosis?
Firstly, I would ask them about their signs and symptoms, what brought them to the hospital, and if they have any reactions, allergies, or conditions, I should be aware of. It is undoubtedly important to know beforehand because severe issues can arise if something goes wrong. Some patients don’t even know they are allergic to a few drugs or injections. So, I take their tests myself before any consultation or medication. As needed, I would perform a physical examination and order diagnostic tests. To provide the best care possible, I would ensure that I have completed my diagnosis before moving on to other patients if I have more than one patient waiting for me.
23. What Strategies And Mindsets Are Required For This Role? Explain With Examples.
Through my experience, I have learned several important lessons, one of which is developing strategies that will help me treat patients perfectly. A few of the strategies and mindsets I have formulated for this reason are these:
- Using medical equipment
- Researching the latest techniques and methodologies
- Learning new software programs
- Adjusting in faced-paced environments as the emergency has lots of rush
- Keeping myself calm and patient in all situations
24. How Do You Stay Motivated At Work?
Many rewarding things in this profession can help you stay motivated. First, the idea of being able to serve either a human being or the whole of humanity by treating and helping them is what makes me feel over the moon. Apart from this, I use my desire to serve all around me without any benefits. I remain motivated and energetic at all times.
25. Do You Have Any Questions?
I have some questions in mind if you can help.
- How many patients, on average, come, and how many doctors and staff do you have to treat them?
- Do you have any concerns about my candidacy?
- How do you manage workload, i.e., if there is some incident and a big rush is created?
- Do you use the latest medical software programs?
- What are the prospects in this role?
- To whom will I report?
Conclusion
ER nursing is a very noble profession. No doubt, the degree is not enough for this role. It would help if you cleared specific exams and some practical work for a better experience. Here you are working with human lives. Therefore, the interview and selection processes of most departments and hospitals can be difficult. We have mentioned the 25 best interview questions with their answers in this content, but still, you need to keep yourself prepared in all cases. You shouldn’t rely only on them; they can help you in most cases as they are all general (position-specific).