17 Admission Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

Admission nurses are responsible for the initial assessment of patients when they are admitted to the hospital. They collect patient information and history, as well as vital signs. Admission nurses also provide patient education and answer any questions the patient or family may have.

If you’re an RN or LPN interested in an admission nurse job, you may be asked to interview for the position. An interview for an admission nurse job is your chance to show that you have the skills and experience needed for the job. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate your bedside manner and ability to build rapport with patients and families.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of common admission nurse interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with people who are in pain or who are experiencing high levels of stress?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with patients who are experiencing challenging situations. Your answer should show that you understand how to work with these types of patients and provide them with comfort and support.

Example: “I’ve worked in a hospital setting for five years, so I am very comfortable working with people who are experiencing pain or stress. In my current role as an ER nurse, I regularly work with patients who are experiencing high levels of pain or stress. For example, I recently cared for a patient who was involved in a car accident. The patient had multiple injuries but was able to communicate clearly with me about their symptoms. I helped calm the patient by speaking calmly and asking questions about their condition.”

What are some of the most important qualities for an admission nurse to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few qualities that are important for admission nurses and how they helped you perform your job well.

Example: “The most important quality for an admission nurse is compassion. I think it’s essential to care about patients and their families and treat them with respect. Another important quality is communication. It’s crucial to clearly communicate information to doctors, other nurses and family members so everyone understands what’s happening with the patient. Finally, I think patience is another important quality because there are often many people involved in each admission process.”

How would you deal with a patient who is upset about being admitted to the hospital?

This question can give the interviewer insight into how you interact with patients and their families. It also helps them understand your communication skills, empathy and problem-solving abilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you helped calm an upset patient or family member.

Example: “When working with a patient who is upset about being admitted to the hospital, I try to listen to what they are saying and acknowledge their feelings. Sometimes, just letting them know that I understand why they’re upset can help them feel more comfortable. If they have questions about their treatment plan, I make sure to answer them as thoroughly as possible so they feel confident in our care.”

What is your experience with administering medical treatments and procedures?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with administering treatments and procedures. This can include injections, blood draws, wound care or other medical tasks that you might perform as an admission nurse. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any specific certifications you have in administering these types of treatment and procedures.

Example: “I am certified in administering IVs and blood draws. I also completed a course on how to administer medications through injection. In my previous role, I administered all three of these regularly. I was responsible for checking patients’ vital signs before administering the medication, making sure they were comfortable and ensuring that they understood what I was doing.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help a patient who was confused or upset.

Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle challenging situations. They want to know that you can remain calm and compassionate when a patient is upset or confused, so they can feel safe in your care. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you have strong communication skills and empathy for others.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, I had a patient who came into the hospital with severe stomach pains. The doctor ordered some tests, but before we could get them done, the patient left the hospital without telling anyone. When he returned two days later, he was very confused about why he was there. He didn’t remember leaving the hospital, and he became quite agitated when I told him what happened.

I remained calm and explained everything to him slowly. After talking to him for a few minutes, he remembered being at the hospital and understood why he was back. I helped him understand his situation by asking questions and listening carefully to his answers.”

If a patient needed to be transferred to another department, how would you prepare them for the move?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your communication skills and how well you can prepare patients for changes in their care. In your answer, try to highlight your ability to communicate clearly with patients and provide them with information about the transfer process.

Example: “If I needed to refer a patient to another department, I would first speak with the patient to learn more about what they expect from their healthcare experience. Then, I would contact the new department to let them know that we were sending over a patient and discuss any special needs or requirements they might have. Finally, I would meet with the patient one last time before transferring them to ensure they understood everything I told them.”

What would you do if you noticed a coworker was having a negative impact on a patient’s experience?

This question can help interviewers assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example from a previous experience where you helped resolve conflict with a coworker or helped another employee improve their performance.

Example: “In my last role, I worked with a colleague who was very direct in the way they spoke to patients. While this is sometimes necessary when communicating with patients, I noticed that some of our patients were becoming upset by how he communicated with them. I approached him privately and explained that his communication style may have been upsetting some patients. He apologized and promised to try to communicate more compassionately with patients moving forward.”

How well do you perform under pressure?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work well under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you had to perform under pressure and how you handled the situation successfully.

Example: “I have experience working in a high-pressure environment as an emergency room nurse. In my current position, I am responsible for assessing patients who come into the ER and making sure they receive the care they need. There are often many patients that arrive at once, so I have to prioritize which ones require immediate attention and which ones can wait until later. This requires me to make quick decisions while also remaining calm and collected.”

Do you have experience working with patients who speak a different language?

If the hospital you’re interviewing for has a large population of patients who speak a different language, an interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with non-English speakers. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any specific skills or techniques you have that help you communicate effectively with non-English speaking patients.

Example: “I’ve worked in hospitals where many patients spoke Spanish and I’ve found that my ability to speak Spanish helps me connect with these patients. For example, when a patient is nervous or scared, I find that being able to speak their native language can make them feel more comfortable. In addition to speaking Spanish, I also use hand gestures and body language to show patients that I’m trying to understand them.”

When is it appropriate to call a patient’s family?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to make important decisions and communicate with patients’ families. Use examples from your experience where you called a patient’s family for updates or when the patient was in critical condition.

Example: “I have had several experiences where I needed to call a patient’s family because they were not present during their hospital stay. In one instance, I called the patient’s family after he experienced an allergic reaction that required him to be placed on life support. The family appreciated my call as it gave them peace of mind knowing what was happening with their loved one. Another time, I called the family of a patient who was experiencing seizures due to low blood sugar levels. They also appreciated the update and arrived at the hospital shortly after receiving the call.”

We want to improve our patient satisfaction scores. What would you do to improve communication between patients and staff?

The interviewer may ask you this question to see how you can improve the overall experience of patients in their hospital. Your answer should include a specific example from your previous work experience that shows how you helped increase patient satisfaction scores.

Example: “I once worked at a hospital where we had low patient satisfaction scores, and I noticed it was because our staff wasn’t communicating with each other or the patients well enough. We started having weekly meetings between all departments so everyone could share what they were working on and any challenges they were facing. This allowed us to solve problems before they became major issues and improved communication among staff members.”

Describe your process for documenting a patient’s medical history.

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your organizational skills and attention to detail. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for documenting patient information, including the tools you use to keep track of medical histories.

Example: “I start by asking patients about their current health conditions and medications they are taking. I then record all of this information in my electronic medical records system. Next, I review any previous medical history that the patient has already documented in their file. If there is no prior documentation, I will ask the patient to describe their medical history as thoroughly as possible so I can document it accurately.”

What makes you an effective team member?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you interact with others. This is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are a team player who can work well with others. You can answer this question by describing a time when you worked as part of a team to achieve a goal or solve a problem.

Example: “I am very good at communicating with my colleagues, which makes me an effective team member. In my previous role, I was working with another admission nurse on a patient’s case. The patient had multiple medical conditions, so we needed to communicate frequently to ensure we were both providing the best care for the patient. We also used our communication skills to collaborate on treatment plans and discuss any concerns we had about the patient.”

Which medical software programs have you used in the past?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with medical software programs. If you have not used any, explain which ones you would like to learn and why.

Example: “I’ve worked in a hospital setting for the past five years, so I am familiar with most of the common medical software programs. However, I’m always open to learning new systems that can help me do my job better. In fact, I recently took an online course on how to use the latest version of our hospital’s patient management system. This helped me understand the program more thoroughly and apply it to my daily work.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of your job as an admission nurse?

This question can help the interviewer determine your priorities and how you would approach this role. Your answer should reflect a commitment to patient care, empathy and compassion for others and an ability to work as part of a team.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of my job is ensuring that patients feel safe and cared for during their hospital stay. I am committed to providing them with compassionate support throughout their treatment and helping them understand what they need to do to get better. I also believe it’s essential to work well with other members of the healthcare team so we can all provide our patients with the best possible care.”

How often have you had to admit a patient to the hospital?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with this type of work. It can also allow them to learn more about how you handle these situations and what types of patients you’ve admitted in the past. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation or two that helped you develop your skills as an admission nurse.

Example: “In my previous role, I had to admit patients quite often. One patient I remember was a young girl who came into the emergency room complaining of stomach pains. After speaking with her for a while, she told me that she hadn’t been able to eat anything all day because she was nervous about taking a test at school later that day. She ended up being fine after we talked through her anxiety.”

There is a disagreement between two members of your team. How do you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and disagreements. It can also show them your leadership skills, communication skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you helped two team members resolve their differences.

Example: “In my last role as an admission nurse, I had two nurses who disagreed on how to treat a patient’s symptoms. One nurse thought we should give the patient medication while the other nurse believed they should only provide comfort care. I listened to both sides of the disagreement and then asked each nurse what they would do if they were in charge of the patient’s treatment plan. They both agreed that providing comfort care was best for the patient at that time. We discussed our reasoning with the doctor, who agreed with our decision.”