Registered Nurse (RN) Medical Surgical Ortho
Posted Sep 16, 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 cared for a post-op patient who developed a complication, like a DVT or excessive bleeding, and what you did in the first few minutes you noticed something was wrong.
What they are checking: recognition of post-surgical red flags and ability to escalate quickly and calmly
Tell me about a time you had a patient going through alcohol withdrawal. What did you watch for and how did that change your plan of care?
What they are checking: comfort managing a population outside pure ortho, since the unit description names this specifically
Describe a shift where you had to coordinate care with physical therapy, case management, and a surgeon all in the same day for one patient.
What they are checking: ability to coordinate across disciplines, which is central to this role's description
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician's order or plan of care. What did you do?
What they are checking: advocacy skills and whether the candidate escalates concerns appropriately rather than staying silent
Tell me about a time a patient or family member was upset with their care. How did you handle the conversation?
What they are checking: communication skill and composure with the compassionate care and patient experience the posting emphasizes
What would you do
Walk me through how you'd prioritize care for four patients on your unit, one is a fresh total knee replacement from this morning, one is a DKA patient whose blood sugar just came back high, one is stable but due for pain meds, and one is being worked up for discharge.
What they are checking: whether the candidate can triage acuity and time-manage across a genuinely mixed ortho and medical caseload
How would you approach pain management for a patient recovering from a bowel resection who says their pain is a 9 out of 10 but seems to be resting comfortably when you walk in?
What they are checking: clinical judgment around pain assessment and avoiding both under-treatment and blind compliance
This unit takes stable pediatric patients aged 16 and up alongside adult ortho and medical patients. How do you adjust your communication or care approach when your patient is a teenager instead of an adult?
What they are checking: flexibility across age groups and comfort with atypical patient mix for a med-surg unit
You're managing a patient with an amputation who is showing early signs of depression or difficulty coping with their new reality. What do you do?
What they are checking: emotional and psychosocial awareness beyond the physical wound care
This is a 33-bed unit working PM shift with a weekend rotation. How do you keep yourself and your team organized when the unit is full and short-staffed?
What they are checking: realistic expectations about workload and teamwork under the specific staffing pattern of this job
If you're new to bedside nursing, walk me through how you'd handle your first rapid response or code on this floor.
What they are checking: realistic self-awareness for new grads about emergency response and when to ask for help
About the work
What do you look for in the first 24 hours after a total knee or hip replacement, and what would make you call the surgeon instead of just documenting and monitoring?
What they are checking: depth of actual ortho post-op clinical knowledge versus generic med-surg knowledge
What's your approach to wound care and infection prevention for a fresh surgical incision, and how do you know when something looks off?
What they are checking: baseline surgical wound assessment competence expected on a primary surgical unit
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Advocate Health.