17 Urgent Care Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

Urgent care centers provide medical attention for patients with non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Urgent care nurses work in fast-paced environments and need to be able to think on their feet. If you’re looking for an exciting nursing job, an interview at an urgent care center may be in your future.

To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of the most common urgent care nurse interview questions and answers. These questions will assess your clinical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle challenging situations.

Are you comfortable working with a wide range of patients, including those who are nervous, upset or in pain?

Urgent care nurses often work with patients who are in pain or distress. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the emotional intelligence and compassion to handle these situations well. In your answer, share a story about how you helped a nervous or upset patient feel more comfortable. Explain what steps you took to help them relax or calm down.

Example: “I am very empathetic, so I understand that many of my patients are nervous when they come into urgent care. When I meet new patients, I try to be as friendly and welcoming as possible. This helps put them at ease. If they’re upset or crying, I try to comfort them by putting my hand on their shoulder or arm. Sometimes just having someone touch them can help them feel better.”

What are some of the most important qualities an urgent care nurse should have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you possess the qualities they look for in their employees. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few of your own personal traits that make you an effective nurse and highlight how these skills benefit the patients you care for.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities an urgent care nurse should have are compassion, patience and dedication. These three characteristics allow me to provide excellent patient care while also maintaining my emotional health throughout the day. I am able to empathize with patients who may be experiencing pain or discomfort and offer them reassurance and support. I also take pride in being a highly motivated individual who is dedicated to providing quality care.”

How would you help a patient who is nervous about receiving care outside of a hospital setting?

Urgent care facilities often treat patients who are nervous about receiving medical treatment outside of a hospital setting. The interviewer wants to know how you would help these patients feel more comfortable and confident in your abilities as a nurse. Use examples from previous experiences where you helped anxious or scared patients feel more at ease.

Example: “I have worked with many patients who were nervous about receiving urgent care treatment, especially those who had never been to an urgent care facility before. I always try to make sure they understand that we are highly trained professionals who can provide them with the same level of quality care as a hospital. I also explain what each step of their treatment will be so they know exactly what to expect.”

What is your process for gathering a patient’s medical history and current health information?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you gather information from patients and what methods you use to ensure that you have all the necessary details about a patient’s medical history. Your answer should include an example of how you conduct your initial assessment with each new patient.

Example: “When I first meet a patient, I always start by asking them questions about their current health status. I also like to get as much information as possible from family members or other caregivers who are present at the time of the appointment. I find it helpful to take notes during our conversation so that I can refer back to important details later on in my assessment.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to administer emergency care to a patient.

This question is an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to assess the patient’s condition and how you helped them recover.

Example: “When I was working as a nurse at a hospital, one of my patients had a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting. The patient began experiencing difficulty breathing and their skin turned red. I immediately administered epinephrine through an IV to help reduce swelling in the throat and tongue. After administering the medication, I monitored the patient for any changes in their condition. Fortunately, after about 20 minutes, the patient started to feel better and their symptoms subsided.”

If a patient needed to be transferred to a hospital for further care, how would you make sure that happened?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your critical thinking skills and how well you communicate with other medical professionals. In your answer, try to highlight your ability to collaborate with others and make decisions that are in the best interest of patients.

Example: “If I felt a patient needed more advanced care than what we could provide at urgent care, I would first speak with them about their symptoms and discuss all treatment options available to them. If they agreed to be transferred to the hospital, I would call ahead to let the emergency department know we were coming so they could prepare for our arrival. This helps ensure that the patient receives the same level of care from multiple providers.”

What would you do if you were working a night shift and a patient came in with a severe case of flu during peak season?

This question is a great way to test your ability to work under pressure and make quick decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you would handle the situation while also highlighting your critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.

Example: “If I was working a night shift and a patient came in with flu symptoms during peak season, I would first assess their condition and determine if they needed immediate attention or could wait until morning. If they were experiencing severe symptoms that required immediate care, I would call my manager to inform them of the situation so they could send another nurse to cover me. Then, I would help the patient as best I could before handing over care to the other nurse.”

How well can you perform physical tasks, such as lifting or moving patients, when you are already busy caring for patients?

Urgent care nurses often need to perform physical tasks, such as lifting or moving patients. Employers ask this question to make sure you are physically capable of performing these tasks and that you have the proper training for them. In your answer, explain that you understand what is required of you in this role and can complete all necessary tasks with ease.

Example: “I am very fit and healthy, which allows me to lift or move patients without any issues. I also regularly practice my lifting techniques so that I can do it quickly and efficiently when needed.”

Do you have experience working with children?

Urgent care facilities often treat children, so employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with them. If you don’t have direct experience, you can talk about how you would approach treating a child in an urgent care facility.

Example: “I do not have any specific experience working with children, but I am very comfortable around them. I think it’s important to be calm and reassuring when they’re in the emergency room. I also believe that if I can get them to trust me, then they’ll be more likely to follow my instructions. I’ve worked with many adults who were scared of doctors or nurses, so I know what it takes to help people overcome their fears.”

When is it appropriate to call a patient’s primary care physician instead of providing care yourself?

Urgent care facilities often have a relationship with the primary care physicians of their patients. This is because they may refer urgent care patients to them for more complex medical needs that require a higher level of expertise than what an urgent care nurse can provide. An employer wants to know that you understand when it’s appropriate to call a patient’s primary care physician and how to handle this situation professionally.

Example: “I would only call a patient’s primary care physician if I felt like there was something beyond my scope of practice or experience. For example, if a patient came in with a serious injury, I would want to ensure that we were doing everything possible to help them before calling their primary care physician. However, I would also make sure to communicate clearly to the primary care physician exactly what happened so they could prepare for the patient’s arrival.”

We want to improve our response time. How would you streamline your process for seeing patients, taking their information and performing tests?

Urgent care facilities often have a high volume of patients, so it’s important that the staff can work efficiently. An interviewer may ask you this question to see how you would improve their current process and ensure your team is working as quickly as possible. In your answer, try to highlight your organizational skills and ability to multitask.

Example: “I think one way we could streamline our process for seeing patients, taking their information and performing tests is by using an electronic medical record system. This would allow us to enter all patient information into the same database, which would make it easier to access when needed. I also think it would be beneficial to use barcode scanning technology on each piece of equipment in the exam room. This would help us move through tasks more quickly.”

Describe your process for calming a nervous patient.

When working with patients who are nervous or anxious, it’s important to have a process for calming them down. Employers ask this question to make sure you know how to handle these situations and ensure the patient is comfortable. In your answer, explain what steps you take to help calm the patient. Explain that you do this by being empathetic and reassuring.

Example: “I understand that many people come into urgent care because they’re in pain or feeling ill. When I see a nervous patient, I try to put myself in their shoes. I think about what would make me feel better if I were in their situation. Then, I use my voice and body language to show empathy and compassion. I reassure them that we will take good care of them and everything will be okay.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for an urgent care nurse position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel you would fit in with their team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight a few of your most important skills and abilities that make you an ideal candidate for the role.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others, especially when they are experiencing pain or discomfort. I have excellent communication skills, which is why I enjoy working as an urgent care nurse. I also love being able to work independently while still having access to my colleagues if I need help. These skills make me an ideal candidate for this position.”

Which urgent care services have you had experience providing?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience in urgent care nursing. It can also allow them to see if you have any specialized skills or training that would be beneficial for their facility. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list all of the services you’ve provided and what kind of training you received to perform those services.

Example: “In my previous role as an urgent care nurse, I performed physical exams, took vital signs, administered medications and treated minor injuries and illnesses. I also had a lot of opportunities to work with patients who were experiencing behavioral health issues, which helped me develop my crisis intervention skills.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of being an urgent care nurse?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your values as an urgent care nurse. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on one or two specific skills that you feel are most important in this role.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of being an urgent care nurse is having excellent communication skills. In my experience, I have found that patients often come into urgent care with many questions and concerns. It’s our job as nurses to answer these questions and provide reassurance to patients. If they don’t understand something, we should take the time to explain it to them until they do.”

How often have you performed first aid?

Urgent care nurses often need to perform first aid on patients. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills and experience needed to help their patients in an emergency situation. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you performed first aid successfully.

Example: “In my previous role as an urgent care nurse, I had to perform first aid quite frequently. One time, a patient came into our clinic with a deep cut on his arm. He was nervous about getting stitches, so I talked him through the process and helped him feel more comfortable. After he left, he told me that I made the whole experience much less scary for him.”

There is a patient who is refusing to provide information about their health. How do you approach the situation?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations. In your answer, try to show that you are empathetic and willing to work with patients who may be hesitant to provide information about their health.

Example: “I have encountered this situation before in my previous role as an urgent care nurse. I would first ask the patient why they were reluctant to give me information. If it is a matter of privacy, I will explain that all medical records are confidential and only accessible by the patient or their legal guardian. If the patient still refuses to provide information, I will document what I know about them and move forward with treating them.”