Many times, we require our nurses to cross-train in other departments so they can be available to float when needed. How do you feel about the potential of cross-training and floating on short notice?

Oftentimes, in facilities with multiple medical specialties or sub-specialty departments, nurses are cross-trained so they can be available to float during staffing shortages. This allows management to fill nursing gaps when needed. Since nursing among specialties is not created equal, cross-training and floating can sometimes cause stress for nurses, if they are unable to quickly adapt to the varying requirements for caring for patients in the different specialty departments. The interviewer is asking this question to determine how adaptable you would be in such situations, and how willing you would be to cross-train and float to other departments. To effectively answer this question, you should indicate that you would be excited to expand your nursing skills by cross-training and that floating at a moment's notice would not be an issue for you. A more successful answer to this question would include an example of how you successfully cross-trained and floated to other departments within your nursing career.