Addiction Nurse Mock Interview

Excel in 40 Addiction Nurse interview questions covering trauma-informed care, relapse prevention, and crisis intervention.

WRITTEN BY RACHELLE ENNS
QUESTION 2 OF 40

Has there ever been a time when you felt threatened by a patient? If so, how did you handle the situation?

Healthcare providers work with risks daily. Whether it's the risk of being exposed to an illness, possible injury from lifting heavy patients or equipment, or the risk of being hurt by a patient who is angry or aggressive. For nurses and other healthcare providers who work with patients who suffer from addictions, this risk is increased, especially during the detox period when patients are agitated and feel more 'on edge.' The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of handling a stressful, potentially threatening situation. Remember to exhibit signs of professionalism, even in the most tense situation.

"There have been a few times that I have felt threatened. Unfortunately, drugs make people act completely out of character at times. I have learned when I feel threatened to try to remain calm and talk with a level tone. Screaming and shouting does nothing but makes a situation worse. If a patient acts aggressive or threatening, I ask him to calm down so that we both are safe and so that I can help him. Usually, once boundaries are established, most patients will calm down. However, as a precaution, I still make sure that a supervisor is aware of the threatening behavior. We can't take care of our patients if we are being threatened or are hurt by an aggressive patient."

"So far, I am thankful to say that I have never been threatened by a patient. There are times when tensions are high, especially when a client is going through the detoxification period. I always try to stay aware of my surroundings and if I do feel like things are getting tense, I like to notify my team leader so that we can work together to make sure patients and staff are all safe."

"I believe that I am the best fit for this position because I bring a dual degree in nursing as well as addiction counseling. My specialty in both areas makes me an expert in your area of focus."

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.

Anonymous Answer

Calmly.

Jaymie's Feedback

With these types of situational questions, interviewers are seeking a story. Try to give an example of a specific time that you felt threatened by a patient. What caused the situation to escalate, what role did you play in the situation, (were you part of the initial care or treatment or were you brought into the situation for support, etc.) how did you handle the situation and what was the outcome? By giving these details, interviewers are able to gain insight into your communication and interpersonal skills.

Create a free account to add your own answer →
Previous Question Next Question
FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SAT IT

Been through this interview recently?

Write what they asked you. Nothing else is required to start — no account, and the month only if you feel like it.

What did they actually ask you?
START TYPING · WE’LL ASK FOR THE REST AFTERWARDS

40 Addiction Nurse Interview Questions & Answers

Jump to any question in the set.

01 What made you choose a career as an Addiction Nurse? ~CAREER GOALS 02 Has there ever been a time when you felt threatened by a patient? If so, how did you handle the situation? ~ADDICTION NURSE 03 Have you or a loved one ever been directly affected by an addiction? ~ADDICTION NURSE 04 What would you do if a patient complained to you about a coworker's conduct toward him/her? ~ADDICTION NURSE 05 What is something that is rewarding to you about being an addiction nurse? ~ADDICTION NURSE 06 What are some major factors that may cause a patient to relapse, and how do you approach preparing clients to cope with or avoid these risk factors? ~ADDICTION NURSE 07 If you were to teach new nurses regarding signs to observe for that may indicate drug abuse, what would you tell them? ~ADDICTION NURSE 08 Is there a type of patient or specific diagnosis that you find it more difficult to work with? ~ADDICTION NURSE 09 Give me an example of a workplace challenge you encountered, and how you handled it? ~BEHAVIORAL 10 Being an addiction care nurse can be very stressful. What are some ways you manage stress on the job? ~ADDICTION NURSE 11 What are some aspects of being an addiction nurse that make the career different from other nursing careers? ~CAREER GOALS 12 If, during shift change, the nurse you are replacing told you to expect the narcotics count to be off because it was off when she began her shift, how would you handle the situation? ~ADDICTION NURSE 13 If you suspected that one of your co-workers was abusing drugs, how would you handle the situation? ~ADDICTION NURSE 14 If you felt threatened by a patient, what would your response be? ~ADDICTION NURSE 15 If you had a client who told you he was only in drug rehab because he was ordered to by a judge and that he had no intention of quitting drugs, how would you handle the situation? ~ADDICTION NURSE 16 Many times, when people hear the word 'addiction' they think of the abuse of prescription drugs. What are some other addictions you have worked with? ~ADDICTION NURSE 17 What would your response be if your 15 yr old patient asked you to withhold the results of a positive drug screen from her parents? ~ADDICTION NURSE 18 One common recommendation for people in addiction recovery is to avoid an intimate relationship with someone else in recovery. How would you explain the importance of this to a patient? ~ADDICTION NURSE 19 If a patient were to exhibit feelings of affection or infatuation with you, how would you address the situation? ~ADDICTION NURSE 20 Tell me about a time you may have had a disagreement with a team member and how you handled it. ~BEHAVIORAL 21 If you begin to feel overwhelmed with a situation at work, how do you handle it? ~ADDICTION NURSE 22 Have you ever been the intake nurse for addiction patients, and what is something common that you find among patients entering treatment? ~ADDICTION NURSE 23 Tell me about a time you had to deal with significant changes in your workplace. How did you manage those changes? ~BEHAVIORAL 24 What is one of your weaknesses and what do you do to help address/resolve it? ~ADDICTION NURSE 25 What are some characteristics that you think an addiction nurse should have, and why? ~ADDICTION NURSE 26 Do you anticipate any significant changes in your life within the next 2-3 years that would impact your employment? May prevent you from continuing employment here if you are offered a position here? ~ADDICTION NURSE 27 How important is it for an addiction nurse to be a patient person? ~ADDICTION NURSE 28 Have you ever discovered patients acting in a behavior that is against facility regulations, and if so, how did you/would you handle that? ~ADDICTION NURSE 29 How do you approach dealing with an angry patient, and why? ~COMPETENCY 30 What advice would you give to a nurse looking to enter your field of nursing? ~ADDICTION NURSE 31 What are some strategies you use to combat stress and burnout? ~ADDICTION NURSE 32 What are some withdrawal symptoms patients might experience? ~ADDICTION NURSE 33 Tell me about the day-to-day responsibilities of your shift. ~ADDICTION NURSE 34 How do you demonstrate professionalism in the workplace? ~COMPETENCY 35 How do you build relationships and gain trust with patients? ~COMPETENCY 36 What techniques do you use to treat a patient who is refusing treatment or medication? ~ADDICTION NURSE 37 How do you maintain patient privacy and confidentiality in the workplace? ~COMPETENCY 38 Describe how you address concerns or complaints from a patient or their caregiver. ~ADDICTION NURSE 39 Tell me about your experience using computers and other forms of technology in the workplace. ~ADDICTION NURSE 40 Why do you want to work for our organization? ~ADDICTION NURSE
RELATED SETS
CAREER
Addiction Counselor
CAREER
Addiction Psychiatrist
CAREER
Addiction Therapist
Rachelle Enns
Written by Rachelle Enns
40 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · ADDICTION NURSE
See membership