Registered Nurse (RN) - Intensive Care
Posted Sep 14, 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 had a patient whose condition changed fast in the ICU. What did you notice first, and what did you do?
whether the candidate can recognize subtle deterioration cues and act quickly under pressure
Tell me about a code you were part of. What was your role and how did the team communicate?
experience with ACLS-level emergencies and ability to function within a team during a crisis
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician's plan for a patient. What did you do?
willingness to advocate for the patient while still working within the care team structure
Tell me about a time a new nurse or CNA on your team needed help and you had to step in without dropping your own patient load.
mentorship instinct and teamwork given the unit's mix of experience levels
Describe a time you had to deliver hard news or support a family through a loved one's critical illness.
emotional steadiness and communication skill with families in high-stress moments
Technical
Walk me through how you'd manage a patient on multiple vasoactive drips who also needs to be turned and repositioned.
comfort with hemodynamic monitoring and titration alongside basic nursing care in a critical care setting
A patient comes in with signs of an acute stroke. What are you watching for and how would the NIHSS come into play?
working knowledge of stroke assessment tools even if certification is still pending
What's your experience with trauma, surgical, cardiac, or neuro patients specifically, since this unit covers all four?
breadth of critical care exposure against this unit's actual patient mix
Situational
Say you have a patient who is agitated and pulling at lines, and verbal de-escalation isn't working. What do you do next?
judgment around safety interventions like restraints and knowing when to escalate versus wait
How do you prioritize when you're assigned two critical patients and one suddenly needs immediate attention while the other's family is asking for an update?
triage instincts and ability to manage competing demands without dropping either patient
How do you handle the physical demands of the job, like assisting with a 150-pound sliding transfer or being on your feet all night?
realistic self-awareness about the physical toll of night-shift ICU work
How do you keep yourself sharp and alert working 7p to 7a, especially every third weekend?
honesty about managing fatigue and consistency on night shift
What would you do if you noticed the unit was short-staffed during a shift and patient acuity was rising?
understanding of escalation channels and staffing awareness in a unit that reviews staffing every four hours
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As published by Advocate Health.
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