RN Inpatient- Surgical Services- FT
Posted Jul 13, 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 saw a break in sterile technique. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: Speaking up about sterility breaks, which protects patients from infection.
How do you advocate for a patient who is under anesthesia and cannot speak for themselves?
What they are checking: Understanding the special advocacy duty of the surgical nurse.
Tell me about a tense moment with a surgeon. How did you keep the case safe and the team working?
What they are checking: Professional communication under stress in a high-pressure environment.
What would you do
How do you lead a time out, and what would make you stop a case before it starts?
What they are checking: Willingness to stop the line for safety, regardless of who is in the room.
The count is off at the end of a procedure. What do you do?
What they are checking: Following retained-item procedures exactly, even under pressure to close.
This role includes weekend and holiday call. How do you handle being called in for an emergency case?
What they are checking: Readiness and calm for urgent cases with a smaller team.
How do you handle a patient who is very anxious in pre-op right before surgery?
What they are checking: Compassionate care and clear explanation that helps patients feel safe.
About the work
Walk me through how you prepare the room and the patient as a circulating nurse before the first incision.
What they are checking: Thorough preparation and safety checks that set up the case for success.
How do you protect a patient's skin and nerves during positioning for a long procedure?
What they are checking: Knowledge of positioning injuries and how to prevent them.
What do you check and document when handling a specimen or an implant?
What they are checking: Accuracy in labeling and tracking, since errors here can harm patients.
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As published by Sanford Health.