17 Emergency Department Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

Emergency nurses provide care to patients who are experiencing a medical emergency. They work in emergency departments in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Emergency nurses must be able to quickly assess a patient’s condition and provide care as needed.

If you’re looking for a job as an emergency nurse, you’ll likely face questions about your experience and how you would handle a variety of emergency situations. You’ll also need to be able to articulate the importance of emergency nursing care.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve gathered some of the most common emergency nurse interview questions and provided sample responses.

Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where you may have to multitask?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine how you handle working in a high-stress environment. In your answer, try to explain that you are comfortable with multitasking and can work quickly while maintaining quality care for patients.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in a fast-paced environment because I have experience doing so. At my previous job, we had a lot of patients come through the emergency department at once, which meant I would often have to multitask between different tasks. For example, if I was helping one patient, I would write down their information on a piece of paper and then put it into the computer later when I had time. This helped me keep up with all of the patients who were waiting.”

What are some of the most important skills for an emergency department nurse to have?

This question can help interviewers understand what you value as a nurse and how your skills align with the job. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list specific skills that are important for emergency department nurses and explain why they’re important.

Example: “I think some of the most important skills for an emergency department nurse include excellent communication skills, critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. These skills allow me to work well in a team setting while also making sure I’m able to make quick decisions when needed. In my previous role, I was often tasked with explaining medical procedures or diagnoses to patients and their families, so strong communication skills were essential.”

How would you handle a situation where you disagree with another member of the medical team?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to work as part of a team. Your answer should demonstrate that you can collaborate with others and respect the opinions of others while still maintaining your own opinion.

Example: “I would first try to understand why my colleague disagrees with me, and I would listen carefully to their perspective. If they have valid reasons for disagreeing with me, I would consider changing my mind. However, if I feel strongly about my position, I would explain my reasoning to them and offer to compromise by finding another solution.”

What is your process for handling a patient who is non-verbal or unable to communicate their symptoms?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to handle challenging patients. Use examples from past experiences in which you were able to communicate with non-verbal or uncooperative patients and still gather the information needed to provide quality care.

Example: “I have worked with many patients who are unable to speak due to a medical condition, such as a stroke or coma, or because they’re under anesthesia. In these situations, I rely on family members or other caregivers for information about their symptoms and medical history. I also use my skills as an active listener to glean important details from non-verbal patients by observing facial expressions and body language.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to administer a treatment that was unfamiliar to you. How did you handle the situation?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to learn new treatments and procedures. In your answer, try to highlight your willingness to take on challenges and seek out additional information when needed.

Example: “When I first started working in the emergency department, there was a patient who had ingested a large amount of poison sumac. The treatment for that is an antihistamine called meperidine, but I had never administered it before. However, I researched how to administer the drug and successfully treated the patient.”

If a patient was experiencing a severe allergic reaction, what treatment would you administer?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your knowledge of emergency procedures. In your answer, describe the steps you would take to treat the patient and how you would ensure that they received proper care.

Example: “If I noticed a patient experiencing an allergic reaction, I would immediately administer epinephrine through an injection or intramuscularly. If the patient was having trouble breathing, I would give them oxygen via a nebulizer or mask. After administering these treatments, I would monitor their vital signs until they stabilized.”

What would you do if you were working a shift and a patient came in with a condition you were unfamiliar with?

This question can help interviewers understand how you learn new information and apply it to your work. It can also show them that you are willing to ask for help when needed. In your answer, try to explain what steps you would take to find the information you need and who you would ask for help if you were unable to find it on your own.

Example: “If I was working a shift and a patient came in with a condition I had never seen before, I would first do my best to assess their symptoms and determine what they could be. Then, I would look up the conditions online or ask another nurse or doctor for help identifying the condition. If I still couldn’t figure out what it was after doing some research, I would call the hospital’s emergency department physician and ask for advice.”

How well do you think you perform under pressure?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to perform under pressure. This is an important skill for emergency department nurses because they often have a lot of patients and not much time to complete their tasks. In your answer, try to show that you can handle stress well and are able to prioritize tasks in order to meet deadlines.

Example: “I think I do quite well under pressure. Throughout my career as an ER nurse, I’ve had many hectic days where I’ve had multiple patients at once. I’m used to working quickly and efficiently so that I can get all of my tasks done before the end of my shift.”

Do you have experience working with children? If so, how do you handle their unique needs?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your experience working with patients of all ages. If you have worked with children in the past, describe a situation where you helped calm a child’s fears or made them feel comfortable.

Example: “I’ve worked with many pediatric patients throughout my career as an emergency department nurse. I find that it’s important to make sure they’re comfortable and understand what’s happening during their treatment. For example, when treating a young patient who was experiencing stomach pain, I explained everything we were doing and why. This allowed the child to relax and focus on getting better.”

When is it appropriate to call a code blue?

Code blue is a term used in the medical field to describe an emergency situation. Interviewers ask this question to make sure you know when it’s appropriate to call one and how to handle it if you need to. In your answer, explain what code blue means and give examples of when you’ve called one in the past.

Example: “Code blue is a term we use to indicate that someone has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating. It’s important to only call a code blue when necessary because it alerts everyone on staff to respond immediately. At my last hospital, I had to call a code blue once when a patient suddenly stopped breathing. The doctor and other nurses responded right away and were able to revive the patient before any lasting damage occurred.”

We want to improve our infection control procedures. How would you implement a new hand-washing policy?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to implement change. In an emergency department, it’s important that staff members follow strict infection control procedures to protect patients from spreading infections and ensure the safety of their colleagues. Your answer should show that you’re willing to support any changes in policy that improve patient care or hospital operations.

Example: “I would first make sure I understood why we needed to change our current hand-washing policies. Then, I’d talk with my team about the new procedure and how it could benefit them as well as patients. I’d also make sure there were enough sinks available for everyone to wash their hands before entering the treatment area.”

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 the patient their name, date of birth and any allergies they have. I then record all of this information in my charting software so that it’s easy to find later. Next, I ask them about their current symptoms and what brought them into the emergency room. I also ask if there is anything else they want me to know about their health history or personal preferences. I write down everything they tell me in my notes so that I can refer back to it when needed.”

What makes you an excellent candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Focus on highlighting your soft skills such as communication and teamwork abilities along with any certifications or education credentials.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others in need, which is why I became a nurse in the first place. Throughout my career, I have developed excellent time management and critical thinking skills that help me assess patients quickly and efficiently. My ability to remain calm under pressure also makes me an excellent emergency department nurse because I can stay focused during stressful situations.”

Which medical software programs have you used in the past and how were they beneficial to your job?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with medical software programs. They want to know if you have any experience using the specific program they use in their facility and how it helped you do your job. In your answer, explain which software programs you’ve used in the past and what benefits you gained from them.

Example: “I’ve worked at two different hospitals that both used a similar medical software program. I found these programs beneficial because they allowed me to quickly find information on patients when needed. For example, if I was looking for a patient’s blood type or allergies, I could easily access this information through the software program. This saved time when working with multiple patients each day.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of patient care?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your values as a nurse. They want to know that you value patient care above all else and are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their patients receive the best possible treatment. When answering this question, make sure to emphasize how much you care about your patients’ well-being.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of patient care is making sure my patients feel safe and cared for. I always try to put myself in their shoes and imagine what they’re going through. This helps me be empathetic toward them and treat them with respect. It also makes me work harder to provide them with the best care possible.”

How often do you perform patient assessments?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with patient assessments. This is an important skill for emergency department nurses because they often need to assess patients quickly and accurately. Your answer should show that you have the skills necessary to perform a thorough assessment in a short amount of time.

Example: “I perform patient assessments every time I meet a new patient or when there are any changes in their condition. For example, if a patient’s vital signs change, I will perform another assessment to ensure that I am providing them with the right treatment. In my previous role as an ER nurse, I performed at least one patient assessment per shift.”

There is a high volume of patients in the emergency room and you have a new patient who doesn’t have a lot of information about their condition. How do you start your diagnosis?

The interviewer wants to know how you prioritize your tasks and manage the high volume of patients in an emergency room. Use examples from previous experiences where you had to work under pressure and still deliver quality care to patients.

Example: “I would start by asking them about their symptoms, what brought them to the hospital and if they have any allergies or conditions that I should be aware of. Then, I would perform a physical examination and order diagnostic tests as needed. If there is more than one patient waiting for me, I would make sure to complete my diagnosis before moving on to other patients so I can provide the best care possible.”