How much supervision do you feel you would need in your initial months on the job as a perioperative nurse?
As a perioperative nurse, you will be working among a harmonious team of medical professionals that includes surgeons, anesthetists, surgical techs, and other nurses. But you will also have your autonomy in responding to patient care needs in pre-op and post-op states. In asking this question, your interviewer is looking for your honest assessment of where you will stand coming into the job based on your training needs and timeline for getting up and running on the job. As you prepare an answer, keep in mind that they have a really good feel for your experience based on your resume. Be as honest as you can when you answer, your interviewer will appreciate it.
"I feel very comfortable in my preoperative assessment skills and knowing my way around many different surgeries in the OR, particularly orthopedic surgeries and general surgeries. Over the last four years in my current role as an OR nurse, the skills I've developed and the experiences I've gained will help me greatly as part of your team. With that said, I would take my time during the orientation process to get to know my colleagues and the surgeons I would be working with so I can ensure that workflows are never disrupted. Learning the patient flow and documentation processes would also be a top priority for me. I would foresee myself having direct supervision for the first month or two, and then be up and running on my own in no time."
