29 Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions (with Answers)

1.

Why do you think you are a good pediatric nurse?

This is a chance for you to 'sell yourself' to the interviewer. Share what you think sets you apart from other pediatric nurses who may be applying. Remember, be positive. Make sure to mention some of your personal qualities, such as compassion, rather than only your hard skills.

Heather's Answer

"I am a very committed and dedicated to my job and helping those I am responsible for giving care to. I feel I will bring a great sense of passion for critical care to this job and look forward to being a part of such a great team of critical care nurses."

Darby's Answer

"I am passionate about being a good nurse and doing all I can to make a difference in the lives of my patients. I am a hard worker and believe in teamwork. I believe I could be an asset to the team of pediatric nurses you already have here."

View answer examples for this question >

Anonymous Answer

"I am passionate about being the best CNA that I can be and have a strong drive to make a difference in the lives of my patients. I am a hard worker, and I work well with others to get the job done."

Rachelle's Answer

Try to dig a bit deeper, even looking into the characteristics listed in the job description. You could also refer to how your core values align with the values of the interviewing facility. Statements that include passion, drive, and hard work are ones that most interviewers hear all the time. To stand out, be sure to craft and memorize something memorable :)

"I am a good pediatric nurse because respect, sensitivity, and empathy are at the core of my values. These values align very well with the mission of {hospital}, making me an excellent choice for your facility. In addition to these values, I am flexible, can prioritize under pressure, and am responsible for my actions."

Was this answer helpful? Yes (1) or No (0)

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

Anonymous Answer

"I am very dedicated and committed to helping others. I look forward to waking up each day to come to work."

Lauren's Answer

Your interviewer is receiving an authentic sense for who you are based on your responses. You provide a sense of empathy that translates well through your answers. Great job!

"I am a great pediatric nurse because I am intrinsically connected to this work; I am dedicated and committed to helping others. I look forward to coming to work each day."

Was this answer helpful? Yes (1) or No (0)

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

2.

If you were offered a position that requires travel, would you accept it?

Some people jump at the chance to have a great job with the benefit of travel. If you are one of those people, a simple 'yes' answer is great. If you would prefer not to travel, say so, but offer a reason why that option is not appealing to you. Just remember, if you are not 100% sure you are willing to travel, don't say 'yes' just to try and land a job. Your resistance to travel later could be detrimental to continued employment.

Heather's Answer

"I would definitely accept a position that requires travel. I enjoy going to new places and meeting new people. Having an opportunity to work in a field that I love while being able to experience new people and work at different facilities would be great!"

Darby's Answer

"While I would not disagree to travel at times, I have small children and would prefer a position that offers more time at home."

View answer examples for this question >

Anonymous Answer

"I would be willing to travel at times. However, my husband has a position where he travels often and I would like the flexibility of being able to be home a majority of the time."

Rachelle's Answer

Your preference is clear while still offering some flexibility, which is good.

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

Anonymous Answer

"Do to my family and caring for my special needs sister, I would prefer a position for sable."

Lauren's Answer

I assisted with grammatical edits.

"Due to familial responsibilities and caring for my special needs sister, I would prefer a position that does not require travel."

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

3.

Have you ever been in a situation in which a co-worker put a patient in jeopardy? If so, how did you handle it?

If you have ever been faced with a situation that resulted in you having to make a judgment call that may have affected the job of a friend or co-worker, you know how disheartening it can be. However, nurses are bound by law to protect patients and other co-workers by reporting anything in appropriate or dangerous. The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of identifying and reporting a situation if needed.

Heather's Answer

"I actually have experienced a time that I had to report a co-worker to my supervisor. One of my peers had a diabetic patient who had insulin order per sliding scale. The nurse gave insulin to the patient without checking his blood sugar level first. She told me and asked me not to tell anyone. However, I knew that patient safety the responsibility of everyone. So, I did notify the supervisor."

Darby's Answer

"I have never been in a situation that required me to report a co-worker. Honestly, I hope I never experience a situation like that."

View answer examples for this question >

Anonymous Answer

"I have never been in a situation that required me to report a co-worker. I hope I never experience such a situation, but if I did, I would like to think that I would handle said situation per the protocol and work professionally."

Rachelle's Answer

Good! To the point and very clear.

Was this answer helpful? Yes (1) or No (0)

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

4.

Is there a particular story about a pediatric patient that was personally moving for you?

Nursing, although rewarding, can be very stressful at times. It is important to recognize the things that make you feel stressed, but it is just as important to be able to remember events that brought you satisfaction or happiness within the job. These are the things that keep a nurse motivated. The interviewer wants to see that you are able to balance the negatives with positives.

Heather's Answer

"I once had a patient with a seizure disorder come onto our unit. This child had a service dog, and we were able to draft new regulations allowing service animals to be accommodated. The presence of her dog made the child much more relaxed while receiving care on the medical unit. A comfortable patient heals faster. It was very moving to see how she interacted with her pet and what a difference it made for her having him there."

Darby's Answer

"I remember a patient who had leukemia and whose wish was to live through the Christmas holiday season. We were able to arrange a private room for her and we brought in decorations and a tree. She was able to have Christmas in her room with her family. I will never forget her."

View answer examples for this question >

Anonymous Answer

"I have not yet worked with a pediatric patient, but do have a story of an adult patient who was personally moving for me. He had a major fall and traumatic brain injury; his doctors thought he would never walk or talk again. A couple of months later he was non-verbally responding with smiles and actions, then he was sitting in his chair, then taking his first steps and going to rehab. I got to see that patient walk out of the hospital. It was so touching."

Rachelle's Answer

What an amazing example! A story like this will make you a memorable candidate that stands out. Nicely done.

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

Anonymous Answer

"I had a family that would come in for a visit as a group. It was a mother and a father and three siblings. The youngest was only a month old. His mother passed unexpectedly at the age of 22. The next visit that we saw them it was only dad and the youngest sibling. The other two have been taken from dad because they were not biological. Between my doctor and me, we pulled together to get them as many resources as we could; gave them free samples of everything. By the end of the visit you could see the dad's mood change to relief."

Lauren's Answer

This is a deeply moving response (that the interviewer will appreciate). You demonstrated empathy and professionalism with the family. I encourage you to create a more well-rounded response by explaining what the experience did for you; the interviewer will get to know you even more by doing so.

"I once worked with a family who always attended visits as a group. The family was comprised of a mother, father, and three children. Tragically, the mother passed away unexpectedly at the age of 22. As a result, the two older children were removed and placed with the biological family. Consequently, the father and youngest child (who was one month old), came in for a visit. The doctor and I collaborated to connect and refer them to as many resources as we could as well as free samples. By the end of the visit, we could visually see the relief on the father’s face. Patients like this will remain in my heart and memory. There is no better feeling than helping patients, and I cannot imagine myself in any other field or industry."

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

5.

What advice would you give to a nurse who is about to begin a career in pediatrics?

View All 29 Pediatric Nurse Answers

Sign up to access our library of 50,000+ Answers,
plus coaches for one-on-one support, so you can interview more confidently.

Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions

Why do you think you are a good pediatric nurse?

Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions

Why do you think you are a good pediatric nurse?

If you were offered a position that requires travel, would you accept it?

Have you ever been in a situation in which a co-worker put a patient in jeopardy? If so, how did you handle it?

Is there a particular story about a pediatric patient that was personally moving for you?

What advice would you give to a nurse who is about to begin a career in pediatrics?

What about your job as a pediatric nurse gives you the most satisfaction?

What would you say is your greatest strength as a pediatric nurse?

Nurses at our facility often work on rotation. Are you willing to work, nights,weekends, holidays, or overtime if needed?

If you could choose a specific schedule or shift, what would it be?

Why do you think nurses often report experiencing 'burn out' and what do you do to help try to prevent that?

How do you respond to an emergency situation at work?

Have you ever worked in an environment where your co-workers were from diverse backgrounds?

What fuels your passion for your work as a pediatric nurse?

If you were the person responsible for hiring new employees, what qualities would you look for in a candidate? Do you think you possess those qualities?

What are some things you would like for people to notice about your personality?

Has there ever been a time that you had a disagreement with a coworker? If so, how was it resolved?

In addition to providing care to seriously ill children, pediatric nurses must attend to stressed out family members. How do you approach offering support to family members?

What is a challenge you face being a pediatric nurse?

Have you had any special patient or experience that you could share with me that would tell me what it's like to be a pediatric nurse?

Tell me about a time you had to deal with a distraught family member and how you handled it.

Has there ever been a time when you received negative feedback, and how did you handle it?

What changes have you seen in terms of children's chronic health issues since you became a pediatric nurse?

What about your work feeds your spirit?

Working in a pediatric unit requires a great deal of attention to detail and often multi-tasking. What do you do to help keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed?

Have you ever done wellness exams or given immunizations to pediatric patients?

Have you ever cared for children with autism, and can you share your knowledge of one of the disorders within the Autism spectrum?

Have you ever had a disagreement with a coworker? If so, how was it resolved?

What made you choose to become a pediatric nurse?

What characteristics do you think are important for healthcare professionals to have?