Here are the 6 most common questions you’ll encounter in an interview for an ER nurse position:
- 1. Tell me about yourself.
- 2. Why do you want to work here?
- 3. What are your salary requirements?
- 4. Tell me about your experience working in an emergency room.
- 5. Have you ever had any disciplinary actions or any problems with your nursing license?
Full Answer
How to prepare for an emergency room nurse interview?
You should also be prepared to discuss specifics related to the nursing field and the emergency department. These sample emergency room nurse interview questions and answers will help you be prepared with the essential details. 1. Why did you choose nursing for your career?
What does an ER nurse do?
Top 5 ER nurse interview questions with detailed tips for both hiring managers and candidates. Emergency room (ER) nurses assist doctors in the treatment of critical care patients.
What questions should I ask during an interview for a nursing job?
They will likely start out with a few general inquiries about your interest in the position or your previous experience. You should also be prepared to discuss specifics related to the nursing field and the emergency department.
What kind of questions are asked in an ER job interview?
The actual interview questions may include more general topics about work experience, your perceived strengths and weaknesses, or questions that aim to get to know you as a person. Then, it may dig down into ER-specific topics.
Why do ER nurses need to be able to assess a patient's symptoms quickly?
A: ER nurses need to be able to assess a patient's symptoms quickly, to administer treatment and stabilize them . This question helps an interviewer gauge a candidate's ability to recognize symptoms and associate them with injuries or illnesses. It also allows them to learn more about a candidate's thought process.
What would you do if an ER patient did not respond to a particular treatment?
This question helps you find out whether the candidate has a solid understanding of both the standard and more advanced treatments that are appropriate for various cases. You’ll learn how the candidate could work independently and whether he or she would know when to ask for advice from another team member. You can gain insight into the applicant’s understanding of the hospital’s chain of command.
How would you deliver bad news to a patient or to a patient’s family?
Asking this question will help you assess whether this ER nurse has the appropriate level of empathy, compassion, and professionalism for this position. You’ll discover whether the nurse takes enough time when delivering news or whether he or she is too abrupt in doing so. You’ll also learn whether he or she explains things with language that patients and families can understand. This question tells you about the nurse’s people skills and empathy.
How have you handled previous situations where there was a conflict with a patient or supervisor?
This question helps you delve into the ER nurse’s interpersonal skills and find out whether he or she would be easy to work with as a staff member. You’ll learn whether the nurse is likely to have the necessary skills to avoid conflict in the first place; you’ll also be able to assess his or her knowledge and application of conflict resolution strategies. You’ll learn whether the candidate is dependable.
How to prepare for an emergency department interview?
To prepare for your interview, think about how you’d answer the above questions. Then, enlist a friend to listen to your responses, or just speak aloud to your reflection in the mirror to see how you come across. Be sure what you say communicates the main points you want to make — that you have relevant experience and you’re passionate about working in the emergency department. Practicing aloud should help you stay focused on the topics you’re most familiar with, and it can help you feel less nervous about what to say because you’ve already rehearsed.
What to expect during an interview?
Expect a scenario-type question like this during your interview. The team wants to know how you make quick, controlled decisions. By hearing how you’d triage these patients, your interviewer will get a sense of your clinical expertise and your critical thinking skills. Be sure to discuss task prioritization, delegation, and conflict resolution within your answer.
What questions should I ask in an interview?
When your interviewer wants to know if you have any questions, consider asking: 1 "Can you tell me more about the facility’s specialized care streams, such as trauma, burn, or pediatrics, and how I may become involved?" 2 "What are your expectations for new hires during the first 3-6 months?" 3 "What is the culture like in your department, and how do you handle conflicts between staff members?" 4 "Are there any challenges that are unique to nurses in your emergency department?" 5 "What’s the typical nurse-to-patient ratio in your department?" 6 "What are the chances for advancement within the team?"
Why do nurses need time management skills?
Due to the urgency associated with the type of care your patients will need, ER nurses need excellent time-management skills. And because the conditions that bring patients to the emergency department are varied and unknown until they arrive, it’s difficult for nurses to plan ahead or rely upon go-to strategies to get through every situation.
How to dress for an interview?
Dress professionally on the day of your interview. Keep your hair and accessories simple, and don’t overdo it with makeup or perfume and cologne, which can be overwhelming. If you have tattoos, you may want to consider covering them, if possible. Although tattoos and piercings are gaining more acceptance in the workplace, many hospitals still maintain strict policies against faculty and staff having visible body art of any kind. Be sure to look up the particular institution’s policies ahead of time so you can dress appropriately.
How long do nurses stay in the job?
Your interviewer will want to hear that you plan to stay on in the position for at least a year or two, if they choose to invest in you.
Why do ER patients lash out?
Because some ER patients are disoriented, hostile, or resistant to treatment and may lash out physically or verbally when you’re trying to help them, your team needs to see how you’d maintain control of the situation and when you’d seek help. If you have a strategy, explain it and use an example.
1. Why did you choose nursing for your career?
I have always enjoyed helping people and find great satisfaction in providing care to people who need medical attention. When I was young, my little sister had cancer. Watching her go through medical treatments was difficult and it taught me the importance of skilled, caring medical staff.
2. Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a supervisor. How did you handle it?
In a position I worked in previously, we used a specific method for checking in patients that I felt was outdated and inefficient. At an appropriate time during one of our staff meetings, I made several suggestions that I thought would improve the process.
3. Describe your ability to handle high-pressure situations
I have always done well with deadlines and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. During my time at the urgent care clinic, I have helped numerous patients with illnesses, injuries and health crises. One particular day a mother brought in her young child, who had been quite ill.
4. Discuss your personal attributes that make you especially qualified for this job
I am extremely detail oriented. Whether I'm charting and keeping records, noting patient conditions or administering medication, I always double-check my work. Efficiency is important, but not at the expense of accuracy, and I believe in removing as many barriers to accurate care as I possibly can. I am also very observant.
5. Have you ever had to deal with a distraught family member? How did you handle the situation?
It is always very difficult for family members to see someone they love suffering, and I understand that first hand. During my time at the urgent clinic, I dealt with several family members who came in with a patient who required immediate transfer via ambulance to the emergency department.
What is an ER nurse?
Emergency room (ER ) nurses assist doctors in the treatment of critical care patients. They are the first line of response in medical emergencies and are expected to evaluate patient needs, perform minor medical operations, and make important decisions in high-pressure scenarios.
What are the qualities of a good ER nurse?
When interviewing ER nurses, good candidates will be confident under pressure, value empathy and compassion, and show attention to detail. Bad candidates will struggle to communicate effectively and lose composure under pressure.
How to demonstrate a methodical approach to emergency care?
Candidates should demonstrate a methodical approach to emergency care and walk you through their process of responding to an emergency. Look out for a detailed, step-by-step methodology that is cognizant of its strengths and weaknesses. 2. Describe a situation where a patient was not responding to standard treatment.
When a rigid, methodological approach to emergency treatment fails, are ER nurses required to think on their feet?
When a rigid, methodological approach to emergency treatment fails, ER nurses are required to think on their feet and demonstrate sound decision-making ability in time-sensitive scenarios. This question tests a candidate's ability to think on their feet. Look out for stories that display bold decision-making under pressure.
Why did you decide to become a nurse?
Odds are you decided to become a nurse to because you genuinely love working with people and caring for others. Share that with the hiring manager. This is a question for your hiring manager to get to know you on a personal level.
What does it mean to be a nurse?
As a nurse, you are treating patients while dealing professionally with patient families and performing all the other duties of nursing. That means you have more than likely dealt with a difficult patient situation. Know that this question is coming and be prepared to not only describe a situation but also how you worked through it.
Why is conflict important in nursing?
It’s important that you don’t be dishonest and lie if you have had a conflict. What’s important is you discuss how you handled it. Being able to articulate that you successfully handled conflict will allow the hiring manager to see you are mature enough to be part of their team.
What is the phone number for a host healthcare travel nurse?
Host Healthcare offers an extensive list of travel nurse jobs. Call one of our friendly recruiters at (844) 812-6757. We are here to help you to get started.
Why host healthcare?
Why Host Healthcare: Our team members in the office are champions in the industry and we only work with the best travelers who are dedicated to their field of work. These two factors combined make me excited to come into work every day to build a company dedicated to creating great experiences for everyone we encounter.
Do emergency room nurses have to be prepared to perform under pressure?
This is a common question for all nurses; no matter your RN specialty. Emergency room nurses must move quickly, make decisions on the fly and treat patients under circumstances that aren’t ideal. Be prepared to provide specific anecdotes that demonstrate you can perform with excellence under pressure.
Can an emergency nurse interview be under pressure?
Uncategorized. As an emergency nurse you must be proficient in performing under pressure. It comes with the territory. However fielding emergency nurse interview questions can cause a different type of pressure. When you go into your emergency nurse interview, it’s important you are prepared.
What is it like to work in the emergency room?
Stimulating. We take care of patients of all ages and with all different disease states. None day is the same; you must always be ready to shift up.
Do you know what it is like to work as a locum nurse?
I can’t say that I know that much, more than that you usually work shorter periods in different departments/receptions where there is a need. At the Emergency Department, we hardly have anyone working as a locum; I have therefore not been able to get any increased insight that way yet.
Interview Questions for ER Nurses
An ER nurse interview will usually start with a conversation about your resume.
New Grad ER Nurse Interview Questions
When preparing for a new grad ER nurse interview, it’s important to remember that you’ve never held this position before and will have to prove that you have the required skills.
Conclusion: ER Nurse Interview Questions and Answers
When preparing for an ER nurse interview, it’s important to be ready with answers that are specific to the job in question.
General Questions
Questions About Experience and Background
- Your interviewer may also ask you a series of questions to evaluate the level of experience and relevant qualifications you could bring to their team. They want to learn what you have done previously as an ER nurse to assess whether you can perform the tasks associated with the role effectively. Some of the experience- and background-related questions that you may encounter i…
Interview Questions with Sample Answers
- You can use the following examples as guidance to help you develop and practice your answers to ER nurse interview questions:
Jobs Similar to Er Nurses
- If you're interested in nursing, there are many positions that you can consider. Here's a list of 10 jobs that are similar to ER nurses: 1. Physician 2. Physician's assistant 3. Radiology technician 4. Certified nursing assistant 5. Nurse practitioner 6. Nurse educator 7. Travel nurse 8. Medical assistant 9. Emergency medical technician 10. Medical technologist