Behavioral Nursing Mock Interview
Practice 35 Behavioral Nursing interview questions covering de-escalation, crisis response, and therapeutic communication.
Question 31 of 35
Describe a time where you needed to get crucial information from someone who wasn't helpful or responsive and how you handled that.
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Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
Nurses need information to assess the patient and devise a plan of care. Even the smallest of details may be relevant, and while the nurse needs to be succinct and organized with their queries, they also need to be able to access the necessary information. From patients reluctant to disclose details, to calling to see if someone can open the kitchen and get a late-night tray, a nurse needs to be able to figure out quickly how to get the right information from the right person at the right time. A delay in any information or action may result in less than optimal outcomes, so the nurse needs to communicate clearly, efficiently, assertively, and respectfully to the correct individual. Nursing has been described as both art and science, and the importance of effective communication cannot be underestimated.
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
"I received a late night transfer from the ICU. We were very busy, and the nurses brought the patient down, put her in the room, and told me they called report to the other nurse on the floor. It was close to 11 PM and while I was working a 12-hour shift, I knew the ICU nurses were probably leaving. I called up to the floor and asked to speak with the nurse who was caring for the patient. The unit secretary was brusque and stated that she was leaving, and that I had all the information and orders I needed and I was a nurse and could figure it out. I was upset, but I took a second to compose myself and stated directly and plainly that I needed to speak to the discharging nurse, per protocol and excellent patient care, but if she wasn't available I would speak to the charge nurse. Before I spoke, I worked it out in my head that this was the professional and right request, and I dismissed my initial feelings of annoyance and dismissal. When the nurse answered the phone, she was clearly annoyed. The first thing I did was to acknowledge that I knew it was time for her to leave, and that I really appreciated her coming back to talk with me to provide excellent patient care. Her voice softened and I got a great report. I was really proud of the way I handled myself professionally, and that I advocated for the patient."
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