Registered Nurse (RN) - Day Surgery
Posted Sep 17, 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
Tell me about a time a patient's condition changed quickly right before or after a procedure. What did you do?
What they are checking: clinical judgment and calm decision-making under pressure without relying on a rapid response team nearby
Tell me about a time you caught an error or a near-miss before it reached the patient.
What they are checking: attention to detail and speaking up in a high-throughput, fast-turnover environment
Describe a time you had to give a patient or family member difficult news or manage their anxiety before a procedure.
What they are checking: bedside manner and ability to keep patient experience high, which the posting flags as a unit strength
Tell me about a time you worked closely with surgeons, anesthesia, and OR staff to keep a schedule on track. What was your role in that teamwork?
What they are checking: collaboration skills in a highly interdependent, team-oriented unit as described in the posting
What would you do
A patient is scheduled for discharge but you're not confident they're ready to go home. The surgeon and the schedule both say it's time. What do you do?
What they are checking: willingness to advocate for patient safety even when it creates friction with the schedule or the surgical team
Two patients are ready for the OR at the same time and you're the only nurse free to prep. How do you decide what to do first?
What they are checking: prioritization skills in a unit that runs on tight scheduling with no slack for delays
You come from inpatient nursing. What do you expect to be different about day surgery, and what are you doing to prepare for that shift?
What they are checking: self-awareness about the transition from inpatient to a faster, outpatient-focused pace
How do you keep yourself organized when the day's schedule shifts around, cases run long, or add-ons come in?
What they are checking: adaptability and time management in an environment with variable hours and no fixed downtime
About the work
Walk me through how you would prep a patient the morning of same-day surgery, from the time they arrive to the time they go back to the OR.
What they are checking: whether the candidate has a solid, efficient pre-op workflow given the fast pace and early start times of this unit
This unit sees patients from pediatric to geriatric. How do you adjust your assessment and communication style across that age range?
What they are checking: comfort and competence caring for a wide age spectrum, since this isn't a single-population unit
How do you use ACLS and PALS in your day-to-day work here, even on days when nothing goes wrong?
What they are checking: whether certifications are treated as real working knowledge rather than just a box checked for compliance
What does a good handoff look like to you when a patient moves from pre-op to the OR team, and then from PACU back to you or to discharge?
What they are checking: understanding of communication standards that prevent gaps in a multi-step surgical day
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Advocate Health.