Registered Nurse (RN) - Emergency Department
Posted Sep 15, 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 you had a pediatric patient in the ED whose condition changed quickly. What did you notice first and what did you do?
What they are checking: comfort and competence caring for pediatric patients in a mixed adult-pediatric ED, and recognition of early deterioration
Tell me about a patient or family member who became agitated or aggressive. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: skill with verbal de-escalation and judgment about when restraints or additional support are needed
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician's plan of care for a patient. What did you do?
What they are checking: whether the candidate can advocate for patients while maintaining professional teamwork
Tell me about a time a family member wanted more information or reassurance than you could immediately give during a critical situation. How did you handle that conversation?
What they are checking: communication skill and composure with families during high-stress, uncertain moments
Describe a mistake or near-miss you had in the ED. What happened and what did you change afterward?
What they are checking: honesty, self-reflection, and commitment to patient safety practices
What would you do
Walk me through how you triage patients when your ED has multiple high-acuity cases coming in at once, say a trauma activation and a chest pain patient arriving within minutes of each other.
What they are checking: whether the candidate can apply structured triage judgment and prioritize under pressure in a Level 2 trauma setting
Tell me about a shift where you were assigned more patients than felt safe to manage well. What did you do?
What they are checking: how the candidate advocates for safe staffing and communicates with charge nurses or leadership
Walk me through how you'd handle a trauma patient who needs the cath lab, when the on-call team hasn't arrived yet.
What they are checking: understanding of interdisciplinary coordination and stabilization steps before specialist arrival
About the work
A patient comes in with stroke-like symptoms. Walk me through what you'd do in the first ten minutes, given this is a Primary Stroke Center.
What they are checking: knowledge of stroke protocol timelines and the candidate's ability to move fast within a defined clinical pathway
Describe your experience running a code or assisting during a cardiac arrest. What was your specific role?
What they are checking: hands-on ACLS competency and clarity about scope within a resuscitation team
How do you assess and manage pain and confusion differently in an elderly patient compared to a younger adult, especially given the geriatric emergency care focus here?
What they are checking: awareness of geriatric-specific risk factors like delirium, falls, and polypharmacy
How do you keep track of multiple patients' status and priorities during a busy PM to overnight shift, especially near shift change?
What they are checking: organizational systems and handoff communication skills, given the 1300-0130 and 1100-2330 shift structure
Where are you in obtaining or renewing your ACLS, PALS, and TNCC certifications, and how have you kept those skills sharp between renewals?
What they are checking: whether the candidate meets or is on track to meet required certifications and takes ownership of maintaining them
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As published by Advocate Health.