Registered Nurse - Medical Respiratory
Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.
About your past
This is a new graduate role in the Nurse Residency Program on a medical respiratory intermediate care unit. Why this unit?
What they are checking: Whether they have a real reason for choosing this specialty and understand what intermediate care involves.
Tell me about a time in clinicals when you realized you didn't know something. What did you do?
What they are checking: Whether they ask for help and learn, which matters most for a safe new graduate.
How do you plan to manage your time with several patients when you're still learning?
What they are checking: Whether they have realistic strategies for organizing their work as a new nurse.
How would you handle feedback from a preceptor that felt harsh?
What they are checking: Whether they can take criticism and use it to improve during the residency.
How will you look after yourself while working nights in your first year?
What they are checking: Whether they have a plan to manage fatigue and stress, which affects new nurse retention.
What would you do
Your patient with COPD is on BiPAP and becoming more confused and drowsy. What are you worried about?
What they are checking: Whether they recognize rising carbon dioxide and know to escalate before respiratory failure.
It's 3 a.m. on your night shift and you're unsure whether to call the provider about a change. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they would rather call and be safe, and know to use their charge nurse or preceptor.
About the work
How do you tell the difference between a patient who is anxious and one who is truly struggling to breathe?
What they are checking: Whether they use objective signs like work of breathing and oxygen levels instead of assuming anxiety.
How would you give oxygen to a COPD patient, and what would you watch for?
What they are checking: Whether they understand oxygen targets for COPD and the risk of giving too much.
What would you look for when assessing a patient with pneumonia?
What they are checking: Whether they know the key signs of worsening infection and respiratory distress.
Practice this interview out loud.
Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at SSM Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.
Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by SSM Health.