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Critical Care Nurse Mock Interview

Question 28 of 30 for our Critical Care Nurse Mock Interview

Critical Care Nurse was updated by on January 31st, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 28 of 30

Working in the ICU can be very stressful. What are some ways you manage stress on the job?

"I have always taken time to examine how I feel after a shift and healthily deal with my emotions. I like to write, so I use that as an outlet for any feelings that need to be resolved."

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How to Answer: Working in the ICU can be very stressful. What are some ways you manage stress on the job?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Critical Care Nurse job interview.

  • 28. Working in the ICU can be very stressful. What are some ways you manage stress on the job?

      How to Answer

      Providing care for critically ill patients is inherently stressful. Each shift presents what could be a life-or-death situation. A hiring official needs to know that you can handle stress. Moreover, how you handle it speaks volumes. In a critical care nursing interview, be prepared to provide examples of how stress impacts you.

      Written by Heather Douglass

      Entry Level Example

      "I have always taken time to examine how I feel after a shift and healthily deal with my emotions. I like to write, so I use that as an outlet for any feelings that need to be resolved."

      Written by Darby Faubion

      Answer Example

      "As a critical care nurse, I realize my care is crucial in patient outcomes. This is stressful, but I always try to compartmentalize my stress and channel it healthily. I have a strong support network, and yoga is my go-to stress reliever after a shift."

      Written by Heather Douglass

      Experienced Example

      "Any job can be stressful at times. Working in critical care is especially stressful because we handle some of the most delicate patient care situations. I have learned that if I am working on an especially stressful case that it is ok to reach out to co-workers within the unit and ask for help when needed."

      Written by Darby Faubion

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "How I manage stress on the job is to listen attentively to the previous nurse's report, make cheat sheets with patient information on them for each of my patients (room, name, diagnosis, previous med history, interventions done, and plan). If I am stressed I make sure to take some nice deep breaths and do one thing at a time. I only have two hands and don't want to rush as this can result in errors that can be harmful to patients. Also, I make sure that I prioritize the most unstable and sickest patients first using the ABC framework. Delegation and using the available resources to help with my patient care. For instance, calling in RT for assistance with a patient with respiratory concerns."

      Cindy's Feedback

      Good. You're reflecting a process that you apply under all circumstances. To enhance your answer, tell the interviewer why you listen attentively to relieve stress? I assume that it helps you have confidence that you're managing care properly, but explain it more explicitly.

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