Registered Nurse (RN) - Operating Room
Posted Sep 13, 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
Walk me through a time you were circulating or scrubbed in on a case that went sideways fast, like an unexpected bleed or an equipment failure. What did you do first?
how the candidate reacts under acute pressure and prioritizes patient safety over process
Describe a time you had to speak up to a surgeon about something you thought was unsafe, like a break in sterile technique or a site marking issue.
comfort exercising stop-the-line authority with physicians despite hierarchy
Tell me about a time you cared for a patient at either end of the age spectrum, a neonate or a frail geriatric patient, in the perioperative setting. What did you adjust?
ability to handle the wide population range from neonates to geriatric patients this OR serves
How do you keep yourself current on new instrumentation or procedures for specialties you don't scrub as often, like cardiothoracic or plastics?
self-directed learning habits needed to stay competent across nine listed specialties
Describe a time you gave feedback about a process on your unit, whether it was about scheduling, supplies, or workflow, and what came of it.
fit with the stated culture of valuing nurse voice and willingness to engage rather than just comply
Technical
How do you run a surgical count, and what do you do if the count doesn't reconcile at the end of a case?
knowledge of AORN standards and willingness to hold up a case despite time pressure
Tell me about the specialties you've circulated or scrubbed for, whether that's ortho, ENT, robotics, neuro, or general surgery. Which ones are you strongest in and where would you need ramp-up time?
actual breadth of OR experience against the range of specialties this unit covers
How do you set up and manage instrumentation for robotic cases, and what's your experience level with robotic platforms specifically?
whether they can support the robotics specialty listed without heavy training investment
What's your approach to a preoperative time-out, and have you ever had to stop one because something didn't line up?
consistency in following safety protocols rather than treating them as routine box-checking
Situational
You're on call and get paged for an emergent case with a 30 minute response window. Walk me through what you do from the moment your phone rings to walking into the OR.
understanding of call expectations and personal reliability under the response-time requirement
If you're scrubbed into a case and notice the anesthesia tech or EVS team is behind on turnover for the next room, how do you handle that without dropping your own responsibilities?
teamwork across the OR ecosystem and ability to manage competing demands without losing focus on the patient in front of them
Tell me about a shift where multiple rooms needed you at once, or you had a case running long while another was starting. How did you decide where to be?
prioritization skill in a 19-room OR environment with overlapping demands
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As published by Advocate Health.
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