CNA Nursing Assistant - Medical Surgical Ortho Unit Sinai
Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
Behavioral
Tell me about a time you cared for a patient who had just had hip or knee surgery. What did that care actually involve day to day?
whether the candidate has real hands-on experience with post-surgical ortho patients, not just general CNA duties
Tell me about a time a patient or family member was upset or difficult with you. What did you do?
composure and communication skills under stress, since ortho patients are often in pain and irritable
Describe a time you had to tell the nurse something wasn't right with a patient. How did you bring it to their attention?
ability to communicate clearly and appropriately within the chain of care under RN supervision
What does treating a patient with dignity and respect look like to you in practice, maybe when you're helping with something private like toileting or bathing?
whether the candidate genuinely internalizes patient-centered, holistic care rather than reciting a value statement
What made you want to work specifically on a medical surgical orthopedic unit, rather than another type of floor?
genuine motivation and fit for the specific patient population, since ortho patients need heavy physical assistance and pain management support
Technical
How do you safely help a patient who just had joint replacement surgery get out of bed or walk to the bathroom?
knowledge of proper transfer technique, weight-bearing restrictions, and fall prevention for ortho patients
Walk me through how you take and record vital signs, and what you'd do if you got a reading that seemed off, like a low oxygen level or high heart rate.
basic clinical competency and whether they know to escalate to the RN rather than sit on concerning numbers
If you noticed a patient's skin looked red or broken down while you were helping them bathe, what would you do?
understanding of pressure injury prevention and reporting protocol, a key CNA responsibility
Have you worked with electronic health records or documentation systems before? What did you record as part of your CNA duties?
comfort with documentation tools and understanding of what falls within CNA scope to chart
Situational
This unit requires weekend and holiday shifts every other week, plus the 3 to 11:30 shift. How does that fit with your life right now?
honest readiness to commit to the actual schedule, since turnover often comes from schedule mismatch
How do you decide what to do first when you've got several patients who all need something at the same time, like one needs help to the bathroom and another's call light is going off?
prioritization and time management on a busy med surg floor
If a post-surgical patient tells you they're in too much pain to do the exercises or walking the therapy team asked for, what would you do?
how they balance patient comfort with the medical plan and know when to loop in the RN or therapy team
Tell me about a time you found a patient on the floor or noticed a fall risk situation. What happened and what did you do?
awareness of fall prevention protocols, a major safety concern on an ortho unit
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