Interviewing candidates for different nursing roles is already tricky. But when it comes to staffing your emergency room, you’ll want to make sure you’re extra careful during the interview process to ensure that you pick the professionals who are best able to perform in high-pressure situations. Below you’ll find our list of the best interview questions for ER nurses.

ER Nurse Interview Questions

When looking at the best interview questions for hiring emergency room nurses, you’ll need to focus on competency, behavioral questions, and experience dealing with fast-paced, high-pressure situations. Reviewing how they handled past situations will give you enough information to quickly make the right hire. [Read More: ER Nurse Job Description]

ER Nurse Interview Questions for Dealing With Patients

  • Describe a time when you encountered a difficult patient. How did you deal with them? What was the outcome?
  • Tell us about a time you went above and beyond for a patient?
  • Describe a situation where a patient was not responding to standard treatment. What action did you take?
  • How do you handle a patient who complains?
  • Tell me about a time when a patient’s family was dissatisfied with your care. How did you handle that situation?
  • Describe a time you were faced with a patient who chose not to communicate or disclose important information. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome? 

ER Nurse Interview Questions for Teamwork

  • How do you get along with staff at your current position?
  • Tell me about how typically work with your team. What is your role in the team? What does everyone else do?
  • Describe a situation when you had to work closely with a difficult coworker. How did you handle the situation? Were you able to build a relationship with this person?

ER Nurse Interview Questions for Dealing With Conflict

  • Talk about a conflict within your healthcare team. What was the conflict and how did you handle it?
  • Describe a time where you’ve had a disagreement with a senior member of your staff. What was the outcome? Would you do anything differently?
  • How would you handle a doctor who is rude?

ER Nurse Interview Questions for Culture and Workplace

  • What can you bring to our ER staff?
  • Tell me about a time where you worked somewhere where the culture was not the best fit for you. Why was it a bad fit and what would you have changed to make it better?
  • “If you can’t be an ER nurse what is the second choice and why?”
  • Tell me about a time where you worked in an unmotivating environment. How did you motivate yourself to continue your responsibilities?
  • Tell me about a time where you knew something at your hospital/facility needed to change. Did you do anything to drive the change? How did your team/company react?

ER Nurse Behavioral Interview Questions 

  • Tell me about a time where you made a mistake. What would you have done differently?
  • Describe an experience in managing an emergency situation. How did you manage it?
  • Tell us about a mistake you made in dealing with a crisis. How did you overcome it?
  • What approach do you take in communicating with people who do not know medical jargon? Give an example of a time you explained medical terminology to someone who is not medically trained.
  • Tell me about a time where you worked in a fast-paced, emergency setting. How did you prioritize various tasks while maintaining high quality care?
  • Describe a time where you felt overwhelmed with your work or patient-load. How did you overcome this?

ER Nursing Questions About Experience / Adaptability / Organization

  • What Previous Nursing Experience Do You Have?
  • How do you work as a nurse under pressure?
  • Why did you decide to become a nurse?
  • What is your greatest strength/weakness as a nurse?
  • Why are you leaving your current nursing position?
  • What would you do if your replacement didn’t arrive?
  • Tell me about a time where you were under a lot of pressure. What was happening? How did you get through it? What was the outcome?
  • Tell me about a time where you weren’t sure of an answer. What did you do to find out the necessary information?
  • Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems with a patient and initiated preventative measures. 

Final Thoughts: interview questions for ER nurses

Staffing ER nurses for full-time, per diem, or short-term/long-term assignments can be difficult. By leveraging the above ER nurse interview questions, as well as general interview questions about their processes and tools, you’ll be able to discover which nurse candidates will be the best fit for your company. Don’t forget to signup for Medely to instantly book per-diem or other assignments, or to instantly request nurses for open roles. Click here to signup.