Registered Nurse, SDS/PACU
Posted Sep 29, 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
The posting talks about relationship-based care. How do you build a real connection with a patient and family in the short time you have them?
What they are checking: Whether they can make brief encounters feel personal and calm in a fast-moving setting.
Tell me about a time you caught something in pre-op that stopped or delayed a surgery.
What they are checking: Willingness to speak up for patient safety even when it slows the schedule.
What PACU or perioperative experience do you have, and are you ACLS and PALS certified?
What they are checking: Readiness for the phase I and phase II recovery work this unit needs.
What would you do
You are on call and get paged after hours for an emergency case. How do you handle that?
What they are checking: Reliability on the required call rotation and readiness to function well when called in.
A family member is upset because they have not heard anything for two hours during surgery. What do you do?
What they are checking: Compassion and communication that keeps families informed and reduces anxiety.
About the work
Your patient in PACU is drowsy, breathing shallowly, and their oxygen saturation is dropping. Walk me through what you do.
What they are checking: Fast airway assessment and management after anesthesia, including when to call anesthesia.
How do you prepare an older adult for surgery in same-day surgery so nothing gets missed?
What they are checking: Thorough pre-op checks like NPO status, consent, meds and fall risk for geriatric patients.
How do you assess and manage post-op pain for a patient who was already on opioids for cancer pain?
What they are checking: Skill in managing pain for opioid-tolerant oncology patients without oversedation.
What discharge criteria do you use before sending a same-day patient home, and how do you teach the caregiver?
What they are checking: Safe discharge judgment and clear teaching for the people caring for the patient at home.
How do you build an individualized plan of care for a geriatric patient who has some confusion after surgery?
What they are checking: Recognition of post-op delirium risk and tailoring care to the older adult.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by City of Hope Chicago.