Registered Nurse (RN) - Inpatient Surgical
Posted Aug 18, 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
New grads are welcome here. Tell me about a clinical moment in school or a past job when you knew you needed help and asked for it.
What they are checking: Whether they know the limits of their skill and will ask rather than guess on a busy surgical floor.
Tell me about a time a family member was upset with the care their loved one was getting. What did you do?
What they are checking: Whether they can stay calm, listen and solve the real concern without getting defensive.
This is a 12-hour day shift with every third weekend. Tell me how you keep your focus and energy steady late in a long shift.
What they are checking: Whether they have realistic habits for staying safe and sharp on long shifts in a fast-paced unit.
HSHS talks about respect, care, competence and joy. Tell me about a time you showed one of those to a patient when it was hard to do.
What they are checking: Whether their idea of patient-focused care shows up in actions, not just words.
What would you do
You get report on five post-op patients at 7 a.m. How do you decide who to see first?
What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize by risk, such as fresh post-ops and unstable vitals, instead of by room number.
A patient's incision looks red and there is new drainage. What do you do next?
What they are checking: Whether they assess, document and escalate a possible surgical site infection in the right order.
A patient is going home tomorrow and seems confused about their wound care and medications. How do you handle discharge teaching?
What they are checking: Whether they check real understanding, such as through teach-back, instead of just handing over papers.
About the work
What are the first signs that tell you a post-op patient is starting to go downhill?
What they are checking: Whether they know the early, subtle cues of sepsis, bleeding or respiratory decline before a crisis.
How do you manage pain for a patient after major abdominal surgery while watching for oversedation?
What they are checking: Whether they balance comfort with safety and know how to assess sedation alongside pain scores.
How do you help prevent blood clots and pneumonia in patients who do not want to get out of bed?
What they are checking: Whether they understand post-op complication prevention and can motivate a reluctant patient.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by HSHS.