17 Pediatric Nurse Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

A pediatric nurse assistant, or PNA, is a vital member of a healthcare team that provides care to infants, children, and adolescents. As a PNA, you will be responsible for tasks such as taking vital signs, administering medications, and providing emotional support to families.

To become a PNA, you will need to complete an accredited training program and pass a certification exam. Once you have your certification, you will be able to apply for PNA jobs. To increase your chances of getting hired, you should prepare for your job interview by knowing how to answer common PNA interview questions.

In this guide, we will provide you with a list of PNA interview questions and answers that you can use to prepare for your next job interview.

Are you CPR certified?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you have the necessary skills and training to work in a pediatric setting. If you are not CPR certified, consider taking a course or enrolling in an online program that offers certification. You can also mention any other certifications you have earned.

Example: “I am currently enrolled in a CPR certification class through my local community college. I plan on completing the course by the end of the month. In addition to this, I have completed several courses on infection control and safety procedures for working with children.”

What are some of the most important skills for a pediatric nurse assistant to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills and how they relate to working with children.

Example: “I think one of the most important skills for a pediatric nurse assistant is patience. Working with kids means that sometimes they may not understand what we’re saying or doing, so I always try my best to explain things clearly and calmly. Another skill I find useful is creativity. Sometimes there are situations where I need to come up with an alternative way to do something, so I like to think outside the box when needed.”

How would you handle a situation where a child is refusing to take their medication?

As a pediatric nurse assistant, you may be responsible for administering medications to children. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience with this task and how you would handle it if the child refused to take their medication. In your answer, explain that you would try to talk to the child about why they need to take their medication. If they still refuse, you would contact the parents or doctor to see what else you can do.

Example: “I’ve had to administer medicine to children who don’t want to take it before, so I know how important it is to get them to take it. When I first give the medication, I always tell the child why they need to take it. Then, if they still refuse, I will call the parent or doctor to see if there’s anything else we can do.”

What is your experience working with children?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience level and how you feel about working with children. If you have previous experience, describe what you did in that role to show the interviewer that you are qualified for this position. If you do not have any experience, you can talk about why you want to work with children and what you hope to accomplish if you get this job.

Example: “I worked as a pediatric nurse assistant at my local hospital for two years before I moved here. In that role, I helped doctors and nurses care for patients by getting them food and drinks, changing their sheets and assisting with medical procedures. I also talked with parents and children to make sure they were comfortable and understood everything we were doing.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help a child or their family through a difficult time.

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you interact with patients and their families. It can also show them what kind of experience you have working in this field. When answering, try to choose an example that shows your compassion for others and your ability to work through difficult situations.

Example: “When I was working as a pediatric nurse assistant at my previous hospital, I had a patient who was diagnosed with leukemia. The child’s family was understandably very upset about this diagnosis, but they were so grateful when I helped them understand everything that would happen next. They appreciated all of the information I gave them and asked me many questions throughout the process. I tried to answer every one of them thoroughly and patiently.”

If a child was experiencing pain, how would you determine the severity?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your critical thinking skills and ability to prioritize tasks. In your answer, demonstrate how you would use your problem-solving skills to determine the severity of pain in a child and what steps you would take to address it.

Example: “If a child was experiencing pain, I would first try to determine the cause of their discomfort. If they were having trouble breathing or had an injury that caused them pain, I would call for help from my supervisor immediately. For other types of pain, such as fever or stomach aches, I would perform a physical exam to see if there are any red flags indicating more serious issues. After determining the severity of the situation, I would notify the parents and provide comfort measures until our team could get the child into the care of a physician.”

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

This question can help the interviewer assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team. In your answer, try to demonstrate that you value teamwork and collaboration and are willing to offer constructive feedback to your coworker.

Example: “If I noticed my coworker was having a negative impact on a child’s mood, I would first approach them privately to discuss how their behavior might be affecting the patient. If they were aware of their actions but unable to change them, I would ask if there was anything I could do to assist them in caring for the patient. If they were unaware of their actions, I would let my manager know so they could address the issue with the employee.”

How well do you communicate with children and their parents?

As a pediatric nurse assistant, you’ll need to communicate with patients and their parents. Employers ask this question to make sure you can do so effectively. In your answer, show that you have strong communication skills. Explain how you use these skills to help children and their families feel comfortable in the hospital setting.

Example: “I find it easy to talk to both children and their parents. I am very empathetic and compassionate when speaking with them. I try to explain procedures and treatments in terms they understand. For example, if a child needs an injection, I tell them what will happen before we start. This helps them feel more at ease and calms any fears they may have. It also makes it easier for me to administer treatment.”

Do you have any experience working with special needs children?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with children who have special needs. If you do, explain how your previous experiences helped you develop skills that will be beneficial in this role.

Example: “I worked as a pediatric nurse assistant for two years at a hospital where I assisted doctors and nurses with patients of all ages. One of my favorite parts of the job was helping parents care for their children with special needs. In one instance, I helped a mother change her child’s diaper while she fed her baby. She had limited mobility due to her pregnancy, so I changed the diaper for her and made sure it was clean and dry before handing it back to her.”

When caring for a child, how do you maintain a positive attitude?

A positive attitude is an important part of being a pediatric nurse assistant. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the right personality for working with children. In your answer, explain that you are naturally upbeat and energetic. Explain that you enjoy making kids laugh and smile. Show them that you can be a fun person to work with.

Example: “I love working with kids because they always bring me joy. I am naturally very cheerful and energetic, so it’s easy for me to maintain a positive attitude when caring for children. I find that if I’m in a good mood, the kids respond well to me. I try to make each child feel special by talking to them and getting to know their interests.”

We want to promote a fun and positive environment for our patients. How would you encourage other staff members to do the same?

A fun and positive environment is important for pediatric patients. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of creating a fun atmosphere in the hospital or clinic. In your answer, explain how you would encourage other staff members to create a fun and positive environment for patients.

Example: “I think it’s so important to have a fun and positive environment for our patients. I would start by asking my colleagues what they enjoy doing with their patients. For example, if someone likes to play games with kids, I would suggest we do that as a team-building exercise. This way, everyone can learn more about each other and find out ways to connect with patients.”

Describe your process for cleaning and sanitizing your work area and equipment.

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your attention to detail and organizational skills. In your answer, describe how you clean and sanitize equipment and surfaces in a way that ensures the safety of patients.

Example: “I always start by cleaning my work area before I leave for the day. This helps me ensure that all supplies are organized and ready for the next shift. When it comes to sanitizing equipment, I use an alcohol-based solution to wipe down any surfaces or tools that come into contact with patients. For reusable equipment, I also sterilize them using an autoclave.”

What makes you an ideal candidate to work with children?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with children and how your previous experiences may be beneficial to their facility. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight any specific skills or qualities that make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I think I would be an ideal candidate because of my patience and ability to work well under pressure. In my last position, I worked in a pediatric emergency room where we saw patients of all ages who were experiencing different medical emergencies. I learned how to remain calm when seeing some very sick children and developed strategies to keep them distracted while they waited for treatment.”

Which pediatric care areas have you worked in?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn about your experience level. They want to know if you have worked in the same type of care setting before and how much responsibility you had. When answering, consider what skills you developed working in each role.

Example: “I’ve worked as a pediatric nurse assistant for three years now. I started out working in a hospital where I assisted with basic patient care like administering medications and changing bandages. As I gained more experience, I was able to work on more complex procedures like inserting IVs and starting blood draws. Now, I am comfortable assisting with all aspects of patient care.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of being a pediatric nurse assistant?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the role of a pediatric nurse assistant and how it can benefit children. When answering this question, consider what skills or qualities you have that make you a good candidate for the position.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of being a pediatric nurse assistant is having patience. Working with children requires a lot of patience because they are often unpredictable. I am always prepared to handle any situation that may arise during my shift, whether it’s helping calm a child who is upset or assisting them with their needs. I also believe compassion is another important quality in a pediatric nurse assistant. We work with some of the most vulnerable patients, so it’s important to be compassionate and empathetic when working with them.”

How often do you perform general cleaning tasks?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with cleaning tasks and how you prioritize them. If the role requires you to perform general cleaning tasks, explain that you are comfortable doing so and provide an example of a time when you did so in the past.

Example: “In my current role as a pediatric nurse assistant, I clean patient rooms after each child leaves and before new patients arrive. This helps me ensure that all equipment is ready for use and that the room is sanitary at all times. In previous roles, I have performed similar duties on a smaller scale, such as wiping down surfaces or organizing supplies.”

There is a shortage of pediatric nurses in the area. How would you promote this job to your friends and family?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the job and how you can help others find employment. When answering this question, make sure to highlight the benefits of working in pediatrics and why it’s such an important role.

Example: “I would definitely promote this job because I love working with children. It’s so rewarding to see them grow and learn every day. In my last position, I worked alongside some amazing pediatric nurses who were always willing to answer questions or provide support. They really helped me feel confident in my abilities as a nurse assistant.”