Registered Nurse (RN) - ICU
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 noticed a patient was heading toward respiratory failure or sepsis before it was obvious to everyone else. What did you see and what did you do?
pattern recognition and clinical vigilance under real conditions, not textbook knowledge
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician or provider about a patient's plan of care. What happened?
whether the candidate can advocate for a patient respectfully without escalating conflict or staying silent
Describe a shift that went sideways with multiple competing priorities. How did you decide what got your attention first?
real-world triage judgment and composure, since this is a busy 16-bed unit with holiday and weekend rotations
What does health equity mean to you in the context of caring for patients on this unit, and can you give an example of where it showed up in your practice?
whether the candidate has genuine, specific understanding of equity rather than reciting a buzzword back from the posting
You're a newer nurse and a more senior teammate gives you feedback on something you did that you didn't realize was wrong. How do you take that?
coachability and ego management, important given the unit's emphasis on mentorship and residency support
Why this unit, and why nights with the weekend and holiday rotation that comes with it?
realistic motivation and whether the candidate understands the actual lifestyle demands of the schedule before committing
Technical
Walk me through how you'd assess a patient admitted with a COPD or CHF exacerbation in the first thirty minutes after they hit your unit.
whether the candidate has a real, ordered clinical assessment framework for the specific patient population on this unit
This is a med-respiratory ICU that also takes OB patients with hypertensive crisis or pulmonary hypertension. How comfortable are you managing an obstetric critical care patient, and what would you want backup on?
honesty about scope of practice and willingness to flag unfamiliar territory rather than bluff
How do you titrate vasopressors or manage a patient on a ventilator when you're waiting on orders and things are moving fast?
depth of critical care skill and comfort acting within protocol under time pressure
What's your approach to keeping a patient safe from things like falls, line infections, or pressure injuries during a 12-hour night shift when you're stretched thin?
grasp of core ICU safety bundles and whether safety practices hold up even when busy
Situational
Say you're on nights with a 1:2 ratio and one of your patients starts decompensating while the other needs an urgent med pass. Walk me through how you'd handle the next ten minutes.
prioritization and communication skills when two acute demands collide with limited staff
If a family member is at the bedside, upset and asking hard questions about their loved one's condition, how do you handle that conversation while still managing your other responsibilities?
communication skill and emotional presence balanced against clinical workload
Tell me about a time you had to speak up using something like an SBAR or chain of command because you weren't being heard.
whether the candidate knows structured escalation tools and will actually use them
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As published by Advocate Health.
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