Operating Room Nurse

Operating Room Nurse interview questions:

Operating room nurses, also known as perioperative nurses, play a crucial role in providing patient care services before, during, and after surgical procedures. These nurses typically have two distinct roles: scrub nurses who work within the sterile field and circulating nurses who operate outside of it. It’s essential to recognize this distinction and assess a candidate’s skills in both roles during the interview process.

Perioperative nurses are often registered nurses who transition into the operating room after gaining experience in other nursing roles. It’s important to determine whether you are looking for a registered nurse looking to shift into the OR or an experienced scrub or circulating nurse, as the requirements for each may differ.

The following questions can help you assess whether candidates possess the specialized skills necessary for this position, including knowledge of aseptic techniques and patient assessment. By using situational and behavioral questions, you can also gauge other critical abilities such as critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.

Role-specific questions:

• How has your prior experience equipped you for the responsibilities of this position?
• Could you describe the types of surgical procedures you’ve been involved in as a perioperative nurse?
• Please provide an example of a situation where there was a breach in sterile technique.
• What is meant by a “time out” in the context of surgical procedures?
• Can you explain the legal aspects and considerations associated with the role of a perioperative nurse?
• Describe the purpose and use of a surgical safety checklist in the operating room.
• Why is surgical skin preparation important, and what is your approach to carrying it out effectively?
• What aspects of working in the operating room do you find most fulfilling and satisfying?

Operational and Situational questions:

• What steps would you take if you observed that the sterile field had been compromised?
• Can you identify three essential questions you should always ask a patient before surgery?
• How would you go about preparing a patient for a tracheotomy or another surgical procedure?
• In the event that you noticed irregularities in a patient’s vital signs during surgery, how would you respond?
• Suppose you were responsible for preparing the operating room for a patient with a latex allergy. How would you approach this task to ensure their safety?
• If you were tasked with preparing for an operation that you lacked prior experience with, how would you handle the situation?

Behavioral questions:

• Can you share an experience when a patient exhibited anxiety or panic before surgery? What actions did you take to help calm them?
• Describe an instance when you identified an operational inefficiency in the operating room. What was the issue, and what steps did you take to address and rectify it?
• Recall a situation where you encountered a conflict with a surgeon or another nurse. How did you go about resolving the conflict?
• Please discuss the most significant challenge you’ve encountered in your nursing career.
• Provide an example of a time when you faced high levels of stress in your workplace. How did you manage and cope with the stress during that situation?