RN, Outpatient- PACU- FT Day
Posted Jul 24, 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 an outpatient needed to be admitted unexpectedly. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: Judgment to escalate and coordinate when an outpatient case does not go as planned.
Tell me about a time you made a recovering patient feel safe and cared for.
What they are checking: Patient experience skills in a short but important part of the surgical stay.
What would you do
A patient is ready for discharge but their ride has not shown up. What do you do?
What they are checking: Following safety rules about sedation and transportation even when it slows things down.
How do you teach patients and families about home care when the patient is still groggy?
What they are checking: Teaching the caregiver well when the patient may not remember instructions.
When several patients come out of surgery at once, how do you prioritize?
What they are checking: Prioritization by acuity during busy periods in recovery.
About the work
An outpatient arrives in PACU drowsy with oxygen levels drifting down. What do you do first?
What they are checking: Airway and breathing response, the top safety priority in post-anesthesia recovery.
How do you decide when a same-day surgery patient is ready to go home?
What they are checking: Discharge criteria judgment, including stable vitals, pain control and a responsible adult driver.
What do you need from the anesthesia and surgical handoff to recover a patient safely?
What they are checking: Knowing which details matter most for safe recovery and early problem detection.
How do you manage post-op nausea in a patient who needs to go home today?
What they are checking: Practical symptom management that supports safe same-day discharge.
What post-op complications would make you call the surgeon before discharge?
What they are checking: Recognizing bleeding, uncontrolled pain or other signs that discharge is not safe.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Sanford Health.