Registered Nurse - Brain Innovation Center

Tell me about a time a family was upset that their loved one's personality had changed after an injury. How did you help them?

What they are checking: Their ability to explain brain injury behavior to families with both empathy and honesty.

Describe a time you had to stay calm and gentle with a patient who was verbally aggressive toward you.

What they are checking: Emotional control and not taking injury-driven behavior personally.

What draws you to brain injury rehabilitation in particular?

What they are checking: Whether they have real interest in slow, uneven recovery and the patience that work requires.

A patient with a brain injury is pulling at their lines and trying to climb out of bed. What do you do?

What they are checking: Safe, low-restraint handling of agitation, which is common and expected during brain injury recovery.

How do you build a steady routine for a patient whose memory resets every few hours?

What they are checking: Practical use of structure, cues and consistency, which help brain injury patients more than reminders alone.

How do you teach about care at home when the patient may not remember the lesson?

What they are checking: Whether they aim teaching at the right caregiver and confirm understanding with teach-back.

How do you work with therapists and psychologists so the whole team responds to behavior the same way?

What they are checking: Commitment to a shared behavior plan, since mixed responses from staff tend to make agitation worse.

How do you assess a patient with a traumatic brain injury who can't reliably tell you how they feel?

What they are checking: Whether they can read behavior, vitals and small changes when the patient can't report symptoms.

What changes in a neuro exam would make you call the physician right away?

What they are checking: Knowing the warning signs of a worsening brain injury, such as pupil changes, new weakness or sudden drowsiness.

Stroke and brain injury patients often have trouble swallowing. How do you keep them safe at meals and with pills?

What they are checking: Aspiration awareness and following speech therapy diet and swallow recommendations exactly.

Seizures and falls are both risks on a brain injury unit. How do you set up a room for safety?

What they are checking: Proactive safety planning for the specific risks of this patient population.