Adventist Health Registered Nurse Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Adventist Health interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Table of Contents
- 1. Adaptability Questions
- 2. Behavioral Questions
- 3. Career Goals Questions
- 4. Common Questions
- 5. Communication Questions
- 6. Competency Questions
- 7. Conflict Questions
- 8. Diligence Questions
- 9. Direct Questions
- 10. Experience Questions
- 11. Job Satisfaction Questions
- 12. Leadership Questions
- 13. Problem Solving Questions
- 14. Registered Nurse Questions
- 15. Stress Questions
- 16. Teamwork Questions
Adaptability
1. At times at Adventist Health, you may be asked to work an addition shift to fill a short notice vacancy. What is your availability to work extra shifts on short notice?
How to Answer
Any nurse knows that one of the downsides to the career is the need for coverage on most units 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. There may be times during this work with Adventist Health when you are asked to alter your schedule or pick up additional shifts to fill for vacancies in the work schedule. Due to being shorthanded, you may also be asked to stay for longer hours on your current shift. Working as a cohesive team at Adventist Health is critical among fellow nurses in the department you are interviewing with, and they need to be willing to help each other out when needed. It is also important for you to be open and honest about your availability and ensure that the job you are interviewing for fits your schedule.
Answer Example
"I know that working as a labor and delivery nurse on 12-hour shifts requires teamwork, and helping cover for each other in times of need is critical. We have policies on notification for paid time off, shift swapping, and calling in sick in my current position. I have been open to help cover extra shifts when needed and staying over for some extra time on shifts as long as I have some notice because I need to make childcare arrangements for our little one."
Adaptability
2. Talk about a time that you had to deal with a significant change in your work procedures or in your workplace. How did you handle that change?
How to Answer
The healthcare industry is always in a constant state of change, which rings true at Adventist Health. Organizations merge, laws change, and new technology and processes are constantly emerging to better patient care. To succeed as a Registered Nurse, you need to demonstrate that you can navigate change with ease in the workplace, and this is your chance to give a specific change you have dealt with in the workplace with a positive outcome. By proving your ability to be flexible, open, and willing to change, your interviewer can be confident in your ability to adjust on the fly at Adventist Health.
Answer Example
"In my current job, my organization went through a buyout to become the current organization that it is. Upon the buyout, just about everything about my job changed. We were working on a new EMR, our pay structure changed, our benefits changed, our leadership structure changed, and some of our work processes did too. Knowing about the buyout ahead of time, I prepared myself to think that I can only control what I can control. In this instance of a total buyout, my attitude was under my control. As I saw other coworkers complain, cry, and even look for new jobs, I took this as an opportunity to embrace change and become a better organization. Learning a new EMR and learning new work processes did end up making me a better nurse in the end."
Behavioral
3. Tell me about a time when you committed an error in your nursing career. How did you handle it?
How to Answer
No matter the career or profession, mistakes happen in the workplace. In the medical field and nursing practice, mistakes are often medical errors that can adversely impact the patient. The repercussions of medical errors can range anywhere from minor to very severe and life-threatening. When a health professional commits a medical error, it is essential that they immediately report the error and do not attempt to cover it up. To successfully answer this question, you should take the time to explain a situation in your career when you committed a medical error and clearly explain how you took action to resolve and report the situation. A stronger answer to the question would include details of what you learned from the error and how learning from the situation will prevent them from making a similar mistake when employed at Adventist Health.
Answer Example
"Since I am a new nurse, I am very watchful in my practice. Earlier this year, I did make a serious medical error when I first started working on my own on the peds floor at the hospital. In pediatrics, weight is usually documented in kilograms since recommended medication doses are documented in kilograms. Upon intake, I entered the patient's weight in the system, and when it automatically converted to kilograms, I thought it was a mistake, so I adjusted it to reflect the patient's weight in pounds. This was a big mistake because it made it so the patient would be getting much more medication than they were supposed to. At first, I didn't realize what I had done, but later while I was entering history and physical on another patient, I realized my mistake. As soon as I was finished with this patient, I immediately informed my supervisor of my mistake. Luckily, the patient had not received medication yet, but an error was still documented, and I went through a training program to ensure I understood how to document weight properly."
Behavioral
4. Tell me about a time when you cared for a patient whose values or beliefs were different from your own. How did you handle the situation?
How to Answer
Your interviewer asks this question to assess your ability to set aside their biases and provide care for patients at Adventist Health whose values and beliefs are different from their own. At many points during your career as a Registered Nurse, you will encounter patients from all walks of life and all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds as well as genders, religions, and other belief systems. To provide the best care to all their patients, you should always be aware of any conscious or unconscious biases you may have and set them aside while providing care. To successfully answer this question, think about giving a specific example of when you recognized a patient's values and beliefs different from your own and talk about how you handled that situation with ease.
Answer Example
"I am very active in my church, and I consider myself a very devout Christian. At the hospital where I currently work, I often care for patients with different religious beliefs than my own, as I work in a culturally diverse area. While some people in my church family have asked me if it is 'weird' for me to care for these people, for me, it isn't weird at all. I enjoy taking care of all people and feel like it is my calling, no matter who they are or what religion they practice. I strive to give the best care possible to all my patients, despite how different their beliefs, religious or otherwise, may be from mine."
Career Goals
5. What are your professional goals as a Registered Nurse?
How to Answer
Of course, your immediate goal is to get this job with Adventist Health, but your interviewer also wants to know where you would like to go from here. These questions are gold mines of information for the interviewer, and unfortunately, it's often not clear what they are mining for. However, answer the question authentically and with some forethought. Your interviewer is likely not to believe the candidate who says that their goal is to retire from this job unless they are an older candidate established in the community. Interviewers want motivated candidates, but they also do not want to be a farm club for other hospitals where new nurses get a year's worth of training somewhere to improve their skills so they can seek employment elsewhere. It should be a nice balance of ambition and stability, and your answer should reflect this. In the end, be sure to be open and honest with your career ambitions and try to show an interest in making these dreams come through with Adventist Health.
Answer Example
"If hired at Adventist Health, I would definitely want to take advantage of the tuition reimbursement program so that I can add value to the nursing team. I eventually want to pursue my MSN and would like to talk about advancement opportunities here for me when I'm able to achieve that goal."
Career Goals
6. What attracted you to a Registered Nurse position with Adventist Health?
How to Answer
Before interviewing or even applying for this position at Adventist Health, you must find a connection to the organization to prove to your interviewer that you have a personal connection and commitment to the organization. You also might be facing stiff competition for this position, so it's worth being prepared to advocate why your resume should rise to the top of the pile. Before your interviewer, be sure to check out the Adventist Health mission and values so you can speak to the values that are near and dear to your heart. Nurses sometimes don't stay long in fast-paced environments. Still, the interviewer will be more interested in the candidate who promises longevity and competence for this role.
Answer Example
"As I embarked on a job search as my family looks to relocate to the west coast in pursuit of my husband's career, I was attracted to the values of Adventist Health. As a person of strong faith, it is refreshing to see a healthcare organization like Adventist Health truly living by god's love and inspiration. I would love to help inspire this mission as your next Registered Nurse in the ICU. I am a nurse that was drawn into this career because of my innate desire to help, serve and love others, and I can't think of a better place to do that than here."
Common
7. In looking to join the Adventist Health team, what is your work availability? Are you able to work nights? Weekends?
How to Answer
Heading into the interview with Adventist Health, you should have a pretty good idea of the work expectations of the position through the job posting that you read or the advertisement you saw. In truthfulness to yourself and your interviewer, you should be as honest as possible in your availability regarding evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts. If you applied for a position with 24/7 coverage, you must reiterate your open availability while also explaining any scheduling commitments outside of work.
Answer Example
"I am open to working any shift on any day as long as the schedule for particular shifts is out at least two weeks ahead of time. With my husband having a full-time job, I need to be able to plan for childcare should the need arise."
Communication
8. How do you approach providing patient discharge instructions or patient education?
How to Answer
At some point during your interview, your interviewer will be looking to assess your ability and skill level in providing patient education. Providing patient education and/or discharge instructions cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach, as patients have varying capacities for comprehending the information and discharge instructions. If Registered Nurses do not adjust their delivery of patient education and/or discharge instructions so that patients and their family members understand what to do, the consequences could be dire. To answer this question effectively, you should explain how you deliver education and/or discharge instructions to patients. A stronger answer to this question would include a specific example of how you adjusted the delivery of educational information or discharge instructions to ensure the patient understood what was being communicated.
Answer Example
"Currently working on a busy med/surg unit, giving patients their discharge instructions is a big part of my job. Each time I assist with a patient's discharge at the hospital, I review the written discharge instructions with both the patient and any family members or other advocates they have present. Sometimes, the patients cannot understand and comprehend their aftercare instructions since they have been receiving inpatient care, so I ensure whoever is there with them fully understands the instructions. I do this because I know how important aftercare instructions are, especially when patients take medications and manage their ongoing conditions. I want to be sure someone understands how they should be cared for. I walk step by step through everything to help the patient get back to a full and normal life. I find it important to walk through why the discharged patient needs to take these steps as well."
Communication
9. Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news to a patient. How did you effectively communicate that news and what was the outcome?
How to Answer
As a Registered Nurse with Adventist Health, the need to communicate effectively to a patient is vital, and this is no more evident than when delivering bad news. Your interviewer will be looking to see how you handled yourself in a particular instance by showing empathy and composure where most individuals wouldn't be able to. Think of a time when you had to do this and talk about an instance that had a great outcome to prove that you can handle this situation easily at Adventist Health.
Answer Example
"As a pediatric nurse early in my career, my physician received lab results from a young patient found to have a brain tumor. When the patient and family were called in for their consult, the physician and I were in the room when the news was delivered. In that situation, it was hard not to break down with the family in tears, but I knew that they were looking at me to be the person with strength and have answers to their questions. The physician and I were able to walk them through their next steps and options moving forward with their child's diagnosis, and they truly appreciated that. During checkups with their pediatrician in the coming years, they were a family that I grew close with and built a great relationship with. It was extraordinary to monitor the patient's progress through his battle."
Competency
10. How many patients is a full workload for you?
How to Answer
Before your interview with Adventist Health, you must research the department you will be interviewing with and relate your past experiences handling patient loads to this new department. This is a question where you can open up and be honest with your past experiences and what you feel comfortable working with. This is an excellent time to emphasize how you keep yourself organized and let the interviewer know that you can take on any workload that comes your way.
Answer Example
"During my career as a Registered Nurse, I have found out that the number of patients that I'm comfortable handling is relative to the unit that I'm working on. In a highly acute ICU, I've worked with as a high as eight patients on a shift and felt this was overwhelming. On a Med/Surg unit, eight patients on a unit that I'm responsible for is low. No matter the unit that I work on, I have a great method in place for prioritizing the needs of my patients and make sure that all of my patient's needs are met on time."
Competency
11. Are you able to handle the physical requirements of a Registered Nurse in this role with Adventist Health?
How to Answer
The nursing profession can be physically demanding. Standing and walking for long stretches, assisting in lifting patients, and staying awake for odd hours and long periods of time are some of the job's physical demands. For the position you are interviewing for at Adventist Health, make sure to research the physical demands for the job and point out how you can handle those tasks. It can also be beneficial to discuss your self-care methods and how you take care of yourself outside of the workplace to prove your ability to report to work refreshed and ready to go daily.
Answer Example
"Throughout my career as a Registered Nurse, I have spent many long hours on my feet and working shifts at non-traditional times. To do this with ease, I have worked hard to be in the best physical shape that I can be by jogging regularly, eating healthy, and getting ample amounts of sleep every night. If hired at Adventist Health, you wouldn't need to have any worries about my ability to handle the physical aspects of this role."
Competency
12. What level of supervision would you require in this Registered Nurse position with Adventist Health?
How to Answer
While your interviewer can tell a lot about your work experience by looking at your resume, they'll look to hear firsthand from you how you would have the ability to work independently in this role with Adventist Health. This can be a difficult question to answer, so think it through and be prepared to give an answer that illustrates that you are 'coachable' without being too dependent or needy. It also shows that you are confident and competent without being arrogant or a management nightmare. In the end, Adventist Health wants the best of both worlds, so be prepared to describe your competency, initiative, and willingness to both ask for and receive supervision and direction.
Answer Example
"I think it depends on the length of orientation I receive for the position. I am confident that I bring a level of competency to the position with my experience, but every unit is different. I can be a self-starter with minimal supervision with regular cardiac catheter patients but would like supervision with more complicated patients. And I always appreciate supervision and critique from nursing leadership to learn and be better."
Conflict
13. Tell me about a time in which you had to handle an irate physician, colleague, or patient. How did you handle this situation and what were the results?
How to Answer
Daily, nurses deal with patients, family members, and co-workers during very stressful times. These stressful times can lead to emotional outbursts like rage or sadness. In dealing with angry people, it is important to demonstrate your listening skills, problem-solving skills, and ability to remain calm and collected not to escalate the situation. No matter how you answer this question, be sure to give an example that proves your ability to handle an irate person easily to sell your ability to do this if hired on the Adventist Health nursing team.
Answer Example
"During my time working in a newly established pain clinic a few years back, we had a patient in one day that was demanding more narcotics for her pain. She had walked into the clinic without an appointment to demand another prescription. As the only nurse in a small clinic that day, I sat the patient down to talk to them. I used a calm voice and listened to what they were asking for. After listening, I explained that I would need to check their records for their last prescription and speak with the attending physician in the clinic that day. After seeing that their last prescription was written many months ago and the patient had missed their last appointment, I was able to talk to the physician to get another prescription written. Once prescribed, I explained to the patient how it was important for them to keep their regularly scheduled appointments, and she walked away happy."
Diligence
14. How do you approach the documentation of patient records? Do you have specific strategies that you use?
How to Answer
Documentation of clinical encounters in patient records is vital, and much of this responsibility rests on the shoulders of the Registered Nurses at Adventist Health. If clinical encounters, medications, procedures, vital signs, and other information are not documented properly, unintended consequences could occur, some being dire. The interviewer asks this question to determine how seriously you take documentation and determine if you use any methods to improve efficiencies for documentation. To effectively answer this question, be sure to talk about how you approach documentation from beginning to end and give examples of any strategies you use to improve efficiency.
Answer Example
"Having worked within two different EMR systems over the past eight years, I've found that creating templates helps me be the most efficient in my charting. I fully understand the importance of timely and accurate charting, and I always ensure that my notes are entered quickly following my encounters with patients. Early in my career, I was guilty of waiting too long a few times, which led to a difficult time recalling certain aspects of my time with patients. If for some reason I don't have the time to chart right away, I keep a notepad on me to write down quick notes that I can reference later when in the system."
Direct
15. What professional organizations do you belong to and which ones would you like to join in the future?
How to Answer
Your interviewer is posting this question to you to get a sense of your drive and motivation to become a better and more educated Registered Nurse at Adventist Health. If you belong to any professional nursing organization, talk about which ones you belong to and speak to the benefits they provide you. If you don't belong to any nursing organizations, maybe the first question to ask yourself is why not. If you desire a job as a critical care nurse, then join the organization before the interview. It's worth it, and it may tip the balance in your favor. Belonging to organizations brings access to other members and cutting-edge information. There are lots of nursing organizations to join, depending on your interests and career trajectory.
Answer Example
"I belong to the ANA and the California nurses association. I really like staying current with new information and networking with other nurses. I think that membership is invaluable, and one of my goals is to attend the state conference!"
Experience
16. Are you specialized in a particular area or specialty of nursing that can help benefit you in this position at Adventist Health?
How to Answer
If your interviewer asks this question during your interview, they are looking to hear from you where your passions fall in the nursing field and if you have any specific certification or training. They can tell where your experience comes from in your resume, and now it is time to showcase your passion for the job you are interviewing for. If you are interviewing for a specialty area within nursing that you have worked in the past, talk about your interests in that area and why the job is important to you. If you are interviewing for a new specialty area of care, look to point out similarities of your past duties and experiences and how they will translate to this potential new job. New graduates in the nursing field should talk about their clinical experiences and why they see this job as the best fit for their careers.
Answer Example
"Having worked in Family Practice as a nurse for my entire career, I've had the joy of working with mothers and their newborn children for their care when they were sick. I've provided care for newborns that have had a wide array of sicknesses and have always loved that aspect of my job. With my career goal to always be working on a labor and delivery unit, my experience working with newborns will translate well to the labor and delivery team at Adventist Health."
Experience
17. What IV skills would you bring as a Registered Nurse to the Adventist Health team?
How to Answer
One of many skills that Registered Nurses at Adventist Health will be expected to have is starting intravenous lines (IVs). IVs can be used for many purposes, including administering fluids, blood transfusions, and medications. The proper delivery of IV therapy is critical because if the treatment is delivered incorrectly, the patient's life could be put in danger. For IV therapy to be properly administered, the IV must be inserted into the vein properly, which requires a specific skill-set and the ability to follow protocols. To successfully answer this question, you should elaborate on your ability and experience in starting and managing IVs. A more successful answer would include an example of when you successfully handled a difficult circumstance while starting and/or managing and IV.
Answer Example
"The RN position I held before my current job in pediatrics was at an infusion center, so I spent most of my days starting and managing patient IVs as they received their infusion medications. Because I worked in the infusion center for so long and started so many IVs, starting them is almost second nature to me. I often find that patients are anxious about getting IVs, even in an infusion center environment, when they come in every so many weeks to get their medication. Since anxiety and stress can cause vasoconstriction, I explain the procedure and help the patient feel comfortable. I also take additional measures to make starting IVs easier on myself and the patient, such as placing a warm compress on the site to dilate the veins and, if possible, offering the patient water to help them hydrate. All these interventions help make the IV process easier for me, but it also helps patients relax and become more comfortable."
Job Satisfaction
18. What motivates you to provide top-of-the-line nursing care when you join Adventist Health?
How to Answer
Most people who go into the nursing profession are naturally attracted to helping those most in need of help. They thrive on helping patients through tough times by providing both medical care and emotional support. No matter how many years of experience a nurse has, they must stay motivated to provide top-of-the-line nursing care.
While often a gratifying career, nursing can be exhausting and emotionally draining, so nurses need to stay motivated in their current work environments. Your interviewer is asking this question to determine what motivates you and determine if you would be the right fit for the environment and culture at Adventist Health. To successfully answer this question, you should put some thought into what motivates you in your work and provide details about what motivates you to become a better nurse. A more successful answer would include a specific example of a situation that motivated you to continue or better your nursing practice.
Answer Example
"When I began my pursuit of a nursing career in college, I knew that I was born to help people when they are at their most vulnerable. In any environment, whether it be outpatient, inpatient, or skilled nursing, making a positive difference in the day of each of my patients is what drives me to become a better nurse, and it makes all the hard and emotional days worth it. Looking to dive into emergency medicine at Adventist Health, I would be motivated to master this craft and use my critical care and urgent care experience to my advantage. I know that working with patients in the emergency setting will keep me on my toes and motivated daily."
Leadership
19. Tell me about your experience supervising or mentoring other nurses.
How to Answer
As a Registered Nurse, there is ample opportunity for you to mentor peers or advance into leadership positions where you will supervise their colleagues. The interviewer asks this question to assess your experience in mentorship and/or supervision to determine how these skills could potentially be utilized in this role with Adventist Health. To successfully answer this question, try to provide an example of when you supervised your colleagues or mentored another nursing professional. If you don't have experience supervising or mentoring other nurses, supervision or mentorship experience in another setting would suffice.
Answer Example
"I just recently finished nursing school, so I have not yet had the opportunity to supervise or mentor other nurses in a professional position formally. However, since I was a career changer and went back to nursing school after I had an established career, many of my peers in school were younger than me, and they looked up to me for advice. Because I believe in helping others, I helped these academic colleagues and mentored them while in school and doing our clinical rotations. While this mentorship experience is not directly connected to a job, I feel like I will put this experience to use at Adventist. I've always been a natural leader and would look forward to potentially precepting rotating nursing students in the future."
Problem Solving
20. How do you prioritize things when multiple patients and procedures demand your attention at once?
How to Answer
Working in any patient unit or clinic at Adventist Health comes with times where the patient load can be overwhelming. During these times, nurses are often the glue that holds everything together to ensure that things run smoothly. With this question, your interview is looking to determine how you will manage these types of situations at Adventist Health. To successfully answer this question, talk about a particular situation where you prioritized multiple patients at once, explain how you handled the situation, and carefully describe the outcome.
Answer Example
"As a current nurse in a busy emergency department, there are times when the action is crazy with patients presenting. During these times, I always remember that the patient's needs come first, so my triage skills come into use to prioritize which patients are the highest priority and which ones can wait. When I am triaging multiple patients, communication is essential for patients. If they will have a time period to wait, I communicate that to them and check in with them when I can. During these busy times, it is equally important for our nurses and physicians to stay in communication. From there, I stay calm and handle patients with quality care one at a time."
Registered Nurse
21. If you were working as a Registered Nurse here at Adventist Health and didn't know the answer to something, what resources would you use to find the right answer?
How to Answer
Your interviewer fully understands that Registered Nurses are often the go-to for questions from patients and their families. They also know it's impossible for even the best and most experienced RN to know the answers to every question that comes their way. What they are looking to hear is that you can be resourceful in finding a solution. As you answer, talk about your willingness to tap into physicians, colleagues, policies, or any other materials to best help answer questions that may come your way. If you have an example of a time where you had to be creative in your resourcefulness to answer a question, don't hesitate to talk about it.
Answer Example
"To be as prepared as possible for any situation I would encounter here at Adventist Health, it would be vital for me to know all on-staff experts. I would take the time to get to know who the charge nurses, nurse educators, and physician staff are and their areas of expertise so I could tap into them when needed. I would also get to know my colleagues and their experiences to ensure that we can work with each other's strengths daily. If an issue that came up needed further research into policies or procedures, I wouldn't hesitate to do what is necessary by way of research to seek resolutions."
Registered Nurse
22. Describe a recent issue you had with a doctor or co-worker's decision. How did you handle it?
How to Answer
In the fast-paced world that a Registered Nurse lives in daily at Adventist Health, you won't always agree with the decisions that are made by your co-workers and physicians that you work closely with. When a disagreement happens, you have to decide whether to take issue with or leave alone. Show your interviewer that you trusted your final decision and the situation's outcome was acceptable in the example you gave.
Answer Example
"Recently at the skilled nursing facility I am employed at, we were short-staffed one evening during medication passing. Our standard operating procedure was to pass medications to patients in teams of two to ensure that proper medications were being given to each resident. My co-worker told me to do two of the wings alone to save time, and I immediately told her that I was uncomfortable going against policy for the safety of the patients. Another co-worker and I teamed up to complete the pass in the entire facility in a timely fashion with no incidents."
Registered Nurse
23. If I were to talk with some recent patients that you interacted with, how would they describe you?
How to Answer
Because the interactions that Registered Nurses have with their patients at Adventist Health are vitally important, your interviewer is looking to hear how you value your interactions with patients. As you answer this question, talk openly and honestly about your strengths in your interactions with patients by speaking from the perspective of the patients you work with. This is an excellent question for you to do some self-reflection as well. If you have examples of direct feedback that you've received from patients or survey data, don't hesitate to talk about the positive feedback that you've received.
Answer Example
"During my career, my patients have always loved my kind-hearted demeanor and my approachability. This feedback has been given to me directly from patients, my managers, and through patient survey data. As well, I've also been commended for my ability to provide excellent education to patients to help them live a healthier lifestyle, and this is one aspect of my work as an RN that I would look forward to bringing to the Adventist Health team."
Registered Nurse
24. If you noticed a colleague here at Adventist Health not taking proper safety precautions on the job here, how would you handle that situation?
How to Answer
Safety is of the utmost importance at Adventist Health, and when it comes to patient safety, RN's are at the frontline of providing a safe environment for both patients and staff. By proposing this question during your interview, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you will be an advocate for safety at all times. Whether you notice a colleague not washing their hands before and after seeing a patient or about to administer an improper dose of a medicine, reiterate to your interviewer that you wouldn't hesitate to intervene immediately. As you answer, make sure to stress that you understand why a focus on safety is important in the role that you would play with this organization.
Answer Example
"In the healthcare field, the safety of everyone in a hospital or clinic comes down to simple and easy actions consistently. When I see my coworkers not taking precautions seriously, I make sure to talk with them immediately and in a positive frame, reminding them of the importance of safe work habits. If I notice a colleague even skip handwashing, I would talk to them privately and explain the importance of hand hygiene in keeping all patients and staff safe. If it came to continued blatant disregard, I would take the issue to my supervisor as quickly as possible."
Registered Nurse
25. How do you stay current on the latest news, breakthroughs and education in the field of nursing?
How to Answer
The healthcare field is continually changing with new technology, new patient care techniques, and up-to-date research methods. Due to this, Adventist Health requires its RN staff to attend continuing education courses. On top of required education, many nurses stay up to speed in their field by attending training, reading publications, or participating in workshops. To successfully answer this question, be ready to talk about one of the most recent training sessions you attended and expand on your particular interests in learning more in the nursing field and how you educate yourself regularly.
Answer Example
"As part of my continuing education requirements, I recently attended a Child Maltreatment training. Working in a family practice clinic, this training was beneficial as it educated me on how to spot potential child abuse in patients that I see. As well, I learned new changes in law about mandatory reporting of child abuse was suspected. I am also a subscriber of the 'Journal of Pediatric Nursing' and enjoy reading and learning about new research in the field. If I were fortunate enough to join Adventist Health, I would look forward to taking advantage of any training and CME I could in the future."
Registered Nurse
26. Have you ever had a time where you were proud of your healthcare team? What role did you play in that effort?
How to Answer
By asking this question, your interviewer is ideally looking to hear that you would come to the Adventist Health team with a sense of pride in the work you do both yourself and as part of a larger team. Before you interview, think of a time when you felt a sense of pride and accomplishment in a team effort during your career as a Registered Nurse. Try to paint a clear picture for your interviewer on the situation, who was involved in making it a great team effort, and the outcome. If you can relate your answer to a direct patient care situation, that is even better. In the end, make sure that your interviewer walks away knowing that you would take pride in what you do on the job at their organization.
Answer Example
"Working on a large rehab unit currently, there have been many proud moments that we enjoyed as a team over the last five years that I have been a part of it. But the one that comes to mind first was this young patient who was in our unit following a car accident. With his original diagnosis being paralyzation from the waist down, our team of therapists, physicians, and doctors worked with him for over three months on our inpatient unit. I felt so grateful to be working the day he took his first steps unassisted after four months on our unit. Many tears were shed that day, both by his family and our staff."
Stress
27. Tell me about the most stressful situation you've had to deal with in the workplace. What did you learn from that situation that you can bring to the Adventist Health team?
How to Answer
During their career, Registered Nurses can find themselves in very stressful working conditions from time to time due to various reasons. Here, your interviewer is looking to see how you manage those stressful situations. Think of a specific time you had to manage a stressful work situation, discuss how you handled it, describe what tools or resources you used, and explain the situation's outcome.
Answer Example
"As an emergency nurse, I was working a night shift during the winter where a bus accident brought in 10 critically injured patients on top of the standard winter visits to an ER. When we received the call that the ambulances would show up, I went into immediate triage mode with our current patients. This mode continued when the accident victims arrived, and I prioritized those with the most traumatic injuries first and worked down the line. A great piece of advice I got early in my career was that I am only one person who can only focus on one thing at a time. In these situations, this sage advice keeps me focused on the patient in front of me and not letting my mind wander to the other patients."
Teamwork
28. Talk about the types of working relationships you have had with physicians in the past . What did you learn in those experiences that you can bring to Adventist Health?
How to Answer
As a nurse interviewing with Adventist Health, you are bringing the experience of having close working relationships with many physicians. This question will enable you to showcase your relationship with the physicians you have worked with and your communication style. Your interviewer knows that building trust with physicians is important, so some examples of how you've built that trust can be beneficial as you answer this question.
Answer Example
"During my career, I've taken great pride in being able to communicate and relate to the physicians that I have worked with. Together, we ultimately work as a team to provide the best care that we can for each patient, and our working relationship is key in accomplishing this goal. In my current role in an intensive care unit, I am in constant communication with the critical care physicians, surgeons, and primary care physicians. I don't hesitate to pick up the phone and call a physician when needed, and I frequently use our internal messaging system as well. I've learned over time with physicians who prefer me to be forthright with information with no fluff and who like to make small talk and have a little fun on the job. I always try to adapt my style to their preference."
Teamwork
29. If hired as a Registered Nurse at Adventist Health, how open and willing are you to participate in various project teams?
How to Answer
Adventist Health hires many nurses who provide excellent patient care daily but struggle with the required administrative duties. While most nursing careers focus on patient care, administrative duties are often a part of the job, especially if a nurse chooses to transition into management positions. This can lead to on-the-job performance issues. The interviewer asks this question to assess your ability to complete administrative duties and tasks and determine which software programs they may be proficient in. To successfully answer this question, the candidate should describe, in detail, an administrative task or project that they have worked on in the past, including details on how they used software programs to organize their work. A stronger answer to this question would include an example of when the candidate led or spearheaded an administrative project.
Answer Example
"Two years ago, when the organization I was working for was undergoing their EHR upgrade, my manager put me in charge of ensuring that all clinicians, nurses, and staff on my unit were trained on the upgraded product. Since there were three separate required training classes, each offered multiple times and dates. It wasn't easy to keep up with who had attended which session. To make it easy for me to track who had attended the training sessions, I created a tracking spreadsheet on Excel with validations and dropdown boxes to easily visualize who had completed each training and who had not. I posted this spreadsheet on my unit's share drive so each employee could update it accordingly, and weekly, I would verify the information with the training office's records."
Teamwork
30. How do you make seamless transitions on shift changes?
How to Answer
In this department at Adventist Health, handing off at shift change time in a smooth fashion is extremely important. Your interviewer is looking to see how you handle the hand-offs to and from your colleagues during the shift changes. As you answer this question, you need to showcase your communication and listening skills and how you take information and put it to work. Walking step by step through your previous employers' handoffs can also be beneficial because it will reassure the interviewer that you are familiar with step-by-step processes in these situations.
Answer Example
"In my current position on a busy med/surg unit, we have a process for transitioning at shift change. To start, the nurses coming off shift and those coming on have a huddle led by the unit supervisor at each shift change. Here, any significant issues with patients are discussed. Next, if any work remains to be done with a patient, we communicate to each other one on one to ensure that the needs of our patients are met. As an RN on the unit, I am required to complete all patient charting before I leave for the day, so both nursing and physician staff are up to date on each patient's chart."