1. Explain me what duties does an operating room nurse perform after a surgery has been completed?
As soon as an operative procedure is completed, it is the job of the nurse to check and record vitals, arrange for orderly and safe transition to recovery rooms, and evaluate patients' response to the surgical interventions.
2. What is your greatest strength as Operating Room Nurse?
This is your time to shine. Just remember the interviewer is looking for work related strengths. Mention a number of them such as being a good motivator, problem solver, performing well under pressure, being loyal, having a positive attitude, eager to learn, taking initiative, and attention to detail. Whichever you go for, be prepared to give examples that illustrate this particular skill.
3. Tell us when a patient passes, how do you respond when family members arrive?
Ask them to come to the quiet area of the waiting room and let them know what happened using therapeutic communication.
4. Explain me what was your least favorite patient? What was the situation?
I had a patient who's pain control was unmanageable. I notified the charge nurse and we notified the physician to get a different medication or dose that would be more therapeutic, but the physician declined the request. Still advocating for my patient we tried different non pharma interventions but his painw as still unmanageable. I didn't like that we couldn't make him pain free.
5. How would you describe your communication style?
The prior nurse forgot to inform me about a patients condition. We reviewed the miss communication the following day.
6. Explain your typical relationship with physicians you work with?
I have continuously worked in a multi-disciplinary environment with physicians, social workers, and nurse aides. It is important to maintain a strong relationship with physicians because they also work closely with patients. Especially when advocating for a patient it is important to have a relationship with physicians who respect you.
7. Explain me why do you want to work as Operating room nurse for this organisation?
Being unfamiliar with the organisation will spoil your chances with 75% of interviewers, according to one survey, so take this chance to show you have done your preparation and know the company inside and out. You will now have the chance to demonstrate that you've done your research, so reply mentioning all the positive things you have found out about the organisation and its sector etc. This means you'll have an enjoyable work environment and stability of employment etc – everything that brings out the best in you.
8. Please explain me what are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.”
9. What Are Your Career Goals as Operating Room Nurse?
Here's a question you need to be very prepared to answer. And your answer better be flawless. Employers want to know you're ambitious, but not so ambitious that you'll leave in 6 months to pursue an advanced degree in English Literature or study naturopathic medicine in the jungles of Thailand. Hiring a new employee is a big investment, and an interview wants to know they are investing their time and money wisely.
10. Tell me what challenges have you faced as a CNA and how did you overcome them?
The interviewer wants to determine how you deal with various challenges associated with the job. Tell them about any past experience that you faced in your pervious job as a CNA.
11. Why should I recruit you for this position as Operating Room Nurse?
The best way to answer this question is to recapitulate your qualifications and experience. Do not forget to mention what makes you different from the competition.
12. Tell me why do you believe you are the best suited person for this nursing job?
This is not a trick question. This question gives you the opportunity to share your talents, experiences, and qualifications with your future employer. Make sure to reference briefly your professional past when answering this question. This will allow the employer to learn more about you as a person and as a professional. Explain how you're training and past experience has helped qualify you for this specific job. When reviewing your resume ahead of time pay close attention to the key job requirements and relevant skills and abilities you may have gained over your past jobs. Be prepared to provide specific examples of these skills you have portrayed when answering this form of question.
13. Explain me what skills do you have that make you a good RN to work with in an OR?
I am a very professional individual. And I can go from being businesslike to compassionate within a second, depending on the situation. This makes it easy for surgical teams to work with me. And patients love it! I have demonstrated expertise in creating and implementing core nursing care plans – both pre and postoperative. I can develop educational materials to assist patients and their families understand what to expect before and after surgeries. And my meticulousness while preparing surgical rooms is quite widely talked about!
14. Why did you leave your last job as Operating Room Nurse?
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.
15. Explain how do you stay current on the latest health research?
Only nursing journals i have read are the scholarly, peer-reviewed journals that we need for research papers and class exercises.
16. Tell us how do you make seamless transitions on shift changes?
Tell the oncoming nurse about the most high risk patients that day. Talk to them not only about patients but also the most that happened to staff that day.
17. Explain me what would you do if a patient falls?
Patients (especially the elderly) do fall down and as a nursing assistant it is your responsibility to help them and assess the situation to determine whether or not to call for help.
18. Explain me why are you interested in this particular nursing job as Operating Room Nurse?
Again prepare for this by finding out as much as possible about the job and the facility. Demonstrate why this job is the one you particularly want using this background research. For example:”I am specifically looking for a position in a facility like this because of it's excellent emergency care …..”
19. Tell me what do you consider your strengths and weaknesses as a nursing professional?
Think carefully about your answer to this question well in advance. A good plan is to have two or three key strengths that you plan to provide. Make sure that these strengths relate closely to the position that you are applying for. When providing your strengths, provide a concrete example as well.
Share in your interview one or two weaknesses. Be honest with your future employer; show that you have the maturity and insight needed to recognize your weaknesses and areas needing improvement. When sharing a weakness also discuss how you are making positive steps toward improvement.
Being a nursing assistant, you have to follow the orders of your superiors as quickly as possible in emergency situations.
If it does not affect how i can perform my duties I do not mind to help out. If it is going to put me behind on my schedule i will probably still do it even though i may be a annoyed.
22. Tell me in detail how you would appropriately transfer a resident from a bed to a wheel chair?
It would depend on the patients neurological status, ability to ambulate, and if they were on fall precautions. If the patient was at risk for falls they may require one person, or two person assist. The most important aspect of transferring is to make sure that the wheel chair is locked, the bed is locked and in the lowest position, the head of the bed is raised, and their are no cords that would cause a patient to trip. Then I would move the legs to the edge of the bed, allowing time for the patient to adjust to the position change. This is because a patient may suffer from orthostatic hypotension. Next I would provide support under the arms for a patient and instruct them that I am going to help them into a wheel chair.
While it is not my place to hold anyone accountable directly, I will make sure that the right person knows what is going on. Hospitals, particularly operating rooms are sensitive places and cannot allow nefarious activities to take place.
Nursing is a challenge on the whole. There is so much at stake when you are working as an RN. However, working as one in an operating room environment is especially challenging because of the tense atmosphere that ORs carry. Over the years, I have learnt to manage my stress by disassociating myself emotionally. When one is not emotionally involved in a situation, things become easier to manage.
As a graduate nurse, I am yet to work in a specialty area. However, I have had a placement at a neurosurgical ward.
