Registered Nurse (RN) Operating Room
Posted Aug 31, 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 the surgical count didn't reconcile at the end of a case. What did you do?
knowledge of and commitment to count procedures and how they handle a retained-item risk under pressure
Describe a time you caught a break in sterile technique, either your own or someone else's, during a procedure. What did you do in that moment?
willingness to speak up in real time and prioritize patient safety over social friction with surgeons or peers
Tell me about a time you had to manage a rapidly changing situation in the OR, like sudden hemorrhage or a patient decompensating. What was your role and what did you do?
composure and clinical judgment under acute crisis conditions in surgery
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague or surgeon about how something should be handled in the room. How did you raise it and what happened?
communication style and ability to advocate for patient safety without becoming combative
This is a Level 1 trauma center. Tell me about a time you had to jump into an unplanned or trauma case with little notice. How did you prepare the room and yourself?
adaptability and readiness for the unpredictable trauma caseload beyond scheduled elective surgeries
Technical
Walk me through how you'd set up and run a case as the scrub or circulating nurse for something like an open heart or neuro procedure. What are you double-checking before the surgeon even walks in?
whether the candidate has real hands-on experience with high-acuity specialty surgeries, not just general OR familiarity
What's your experience level with specialty trays and equipment for cardiovascular, neuro, or orthopedic cases specifically? Which of those are you strongest in and which would need ramp-up?
honest self-assessment of specialty exposure against the range of services this OR covers
How do you approach positioning and skin prep for a patient going in for a long procedure, say a multi-hour ortho or thoracic case?
attention to pressure injury and nerve injury prevention protocols for extended surgeries
What does a good handoff look like to you when a patient moves from pre-op to your OR, and then from your OR to PACU?
understanding of continuity of care and standardized handoff communication to prevent errors
How do you keep yourself current on evidence-based practice changes in surgical care, and can you give an example of when you changed how you did something because of new evidence or a new policy?
commitment to evidence-based practice as emphasized in the posting, not just rote habit
Situational
You're on call and get paged for an emergent case with a 30-minute response window. Walk me through what happens from the moment your phone rings.
whether they understand the practical demands of call coverage and can mobilize quickly without cutting corners
A surgeon wants to proceed on a case where you have a concern about consent, site marking, or the surgical timeout. What do you do?
how they handle authority gradient issues and whether they'll actually stop the line when something is wrong
If you're circulating and the anesthesia provider, the surgeon, and the scrub tech all need something from you at the same time, how do you decide what comes first?
prioritization and multitasking ability specific to the circulator role
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As published by Advocate Health.
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