17 MDS Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

Medical device sales (MDS) nurses represent a vital link between medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers. They work with hospitals and other healthcare facilities to identify and assess the needs of medical staff with respect to medical devices and then provide product demonstrations and education to meet those needs.

If you’re looking for a job in this growing field, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some common MDS nurse interview questions. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to answer questions about your experience, your knowledge of medical devices and the healthcare industry, and your ability to build relationships with healthcare providers.

Are you comfortable working with patients who are in pain or who are experiencing a high level of stress?

This question can help interviewers determine how you react to challenging situations and whether you have the skills necessary to work in a hospital setting. In your answer, try to show that you are empathetic and compassionate when working with patients who are experiencing pain or stress.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with patients who are in pain or who are stressed out. I find that my calm demeanor helps ease their anxiety and makes them feel more at ease. When I was working as an MDS nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital, I had a patient who was experiencing severe back pain. The patient was quite anxious about his condition, but after I talked to him for a few minutes, he seemed much calmer. He even told me that talking to me made him feel better.”

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

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your values as a nurse. It’s important to show that you value compassion, empathy and dedication in your answer. You can also mention some of the qualities that are specific to MDS nursing.

Example: “I believe that the most important quality for a nurse to have is empathy. As an MDS nurse, I am often working with patients who are going through difficult times. Having empathy allows me to understand their feelings and provide them with the best care possible. Another quality that is essential for MDS nurses is patience. Working with patients who are dealing with chronic illnesses requires a lot of patience. Finally, I think it’s important to be dedicated to my job because it takes a lot of hard work to become an expert in this field.”

How do you handle a patient who is uncooperative or who disagrees with your treatment plan?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle challenging situations and whether you have strategies for overcoming them. In your answer, try to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.

Example: “I understand that patients may disagree with their treatment plans or feel frustrated when they’re in pain. I always make sure to explain my diagnosis and treatment plan thoroughly so that patients know what to expect. If a patient is still unhappy with their care after I’ve explained it, I will do everything I can to find another solution that works for them.”

What is your process for documenting your interactions with patients and your observations about their condition?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and organize information. Your answer should include a specific example of how you document patient interactions and observations, as well as what benefits this process has for you and your patients.

Example: “I use an electronic medical record system to keep track of my notes about each interaction with a patient. I find that using this method allows me to quickly access important details about a patient’s condition when needed. For instance, if a patient is experiencing pain or discomfort, I can refer back to my notes to see what interventions I have already performed to relieve their symptoms.”

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

This question can allow you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills and ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation where you had to use your own judgment to determine what was most beneficial for the patient.

Example: “In my previous role as an MDS nurse, I worked with many elderly patients who were often on multiple medications. One day, I noticed one of my patients seemed more confused than usual. After checking their medication list, I realized they were missing one of their daily doses of blood pressure medication. I immediately contacted the doctor, who advised me to administer half of the dose. The next morning, the patient felt much better and was able to resume taking their full dosage.”

If a patient was experiencing a symptom that was outside of your area of expertise, how would you seek outside help?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you collaborate with other members of a healthcare team. Your answer should show that you are willing to ask for assistance when needed and that you trust your colleagues’ expertise.

Example: “If I had a patient who was experiencing symptoms outside my area of expertise, I would first try to find out what the patient’s primary care physician thought about their condition. If they didn’t have one or if their doctor wasn’t sure how to treat the symptom, I would call in another nurse who specializes in that particular symptom. For example, if a patient came in with chest pain but it wasn’t related to a heart attack, I would consult with an MDS nurse who has experience diagnosing chest pain.”

What would you do if you noticed a nurse colleague making a mistake while administering care?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your ability to communicate effectively. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation in which you noticed a colleague making a mistake and what steps you took to address the issue.

Example: “When I was working as an MDS nurse at a hospital, I noticed one of my colleagues administering medication to a patient who had allergies. The patient’s chart clearly stated that they were allergic to the medication being administered, but my colleague didn’t notice this information on their computer screen. I immediately informed my colleague about the allergy and helped them administer the correct medication.”

How well do you work with physicians and other medical professionals?

MDS nurses often work with other medical professionals, including physicians and surgeons. An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you collaborate with others. In your answer, try to explain that you enjoy working with a team of healthcare providers. You can also mention specific examples of times when you worked well with others in the past.

Example: “I have always enjoyed collaborating with my fellow MDS nurses. We are all passionate about helping our patients, so it’s easy to get along with everyone on the team. I’ve also had great experiences working with physicians and surgeons. I think it’s important to communicate openly with these individuals because they know what is best for their patients. I once worked with a surgeon who was very particular about his procedures. I learned how to adapt my care to meet his needs while still providing excellent patient care.”

Do you have experience working with patients who speak a language other than English?

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to communicate with patients who speak a different language. If you have experience working with non-English speaking patients, describe the steps you took to ensure they understood what you were saying and how it helped them during their treatment.

Example: “I worked at my previous hospital for two years as an MDS nurse. During that time, I had several patients who spoke Spanish or another foreign language. To make sure they understood me, I would ask if they preferred to use a translator or if they could read English well enough to follow along. In either case, I would explain everything in simple terms so they could understand. When using a translator, I would repeat myself multiple times to be sure the information was relayed accurately.”

When performing a physical examination, what areas do you focus on?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience and expertise. It also helps them understand how you prioritize your work to ensure that patients receive the best care possible. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list the specific areas you examine when performing a physical exam.

Example: “When performing a physical examination, I focus on all major body systems. This includes checking for any abnormalities in the patient’s skin, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, throat, lungs, heart, abdomen, extremities and nervous system. I also check their blood pressure, temperature, weight and height.”

We want to improve our infection prevention practices. How would you go about doing this?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of infection prevention practices and how you can implement them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your ability to work as a team member and communicate with others about changes that need to be made.

Example: “I would first start by educating my colleagues on what we should do to prevent infections. I would also make sure everyone was aware of the proper hand-washing techniques and when they should use gloves or other protective equipment. In addition, I would ensure all staff members were using sanitary supplies like clean linens and towels for each patient.”

Describe your process for teaching a patient about their diagnosis and treatment plan.

As a medical diagnostic sonographer, you may be responsible for educating patients about their diagnosis and treatment plan. Employers ask this question to make sure that you have experience doing so. In your answer, explain how you would prepare yourself before the conversation and what steps you would take during it.

Example: “I always try to find out as much information about my patient’s situation as I can before our meeting. This way, I can come into the conversation prepared with an overview of their condition and any questions they might have. Then, I will go over the details of their diagnosis and treatment plan with them. If they have any questions or concerns, I am happy to address them.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. When answering, it’s important to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention something that is relevant to the job description.

Example: “I have extensive knowledge of medical terminology and I am always eager to learn new things. In my previous position as an RN, I was responsible for training new nurses on our floor. This helped me develop my teaching skills and gave me confidence in my ability to mentor others. I would love to use these skills at your hospital.”

Which computer programs or software have you used in the past and how were they beneficial to your work?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your computer skills and how you apply them to your work. You can answer by naming the programs or software you’ve used in the past and describing what they do, then explaining how you applied them to your job.

Example: “I have experience using several different types of software for my previous jobs. I started out working with a basic database program that helped me organize patient information and track their progress over time. Later on, I learned how to use an electronic medical record system that allowed me to enter all of my patients’ data into one place so it was easy to access later. These two programs were very beneficial to my work because they made it easier to keep track of important information.”

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

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your priorities as a nurse. It’s important to show that you value patient care and understand what it takes to provide quality treatment. In your answer, try to emphasize how much you enjoy caring for patients and helping them feel better.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of patient care is making sure they’re comfortable and well-informed about their diagnosis and treatment plan. I always make sure to explain everything thoroughly so my patients know exactly what’s going on and can ask me any questions they have. This helps them feel more confident in their recovery process and gives them peace of mind.”

How often do you perform physical examinations on your patients?

This question can help the interviewer determine how comfortable you are with physical examinations and whether you have experience performing them. You can answer honestly about your comfort level, but if you’re not as familiar with physical exams, you can explain that you’re willing to learn more about them.

Example: “In my previous role, I performed physical exams on patients every day. However, in my current position, I perform physical exams only when necessary or requested by a patient. I’m happy to do so because it’s an important part of assessing a patient’s health. If I were hired for this position, I would be happy to perform physical exams regularly.”

There is a new treatment for a disease you commonly see in your patients. How would you respond?

This question is a great way to test your critical thinking skills and how you would apply them in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what steps you would take to learn more about the treatment and decide if it’s something that could benefit your patients.

Example: “If I were presented with a new treatment for a disease I commonly treat, I would first do some research on the treatment itself. I would then look at my patient records to see who may be a good candidate for the treatment. After looking through all of the information, I would discuss the treatment with my team and make sure everyone was comfortable with administering it.”