Certified Nursing Assistant Med Surg jobs in Chicago, IL

Tell me about a time you noticed something off with a patient, like a change in skin color or breathing, and what you did next.

whether the candidate reports observations promptly rather than deciding on their own what's significant

Walk me through how you'd handle a patient on the oncology unit who is too fatigued or nauseated to eat much, but the RN needs you to get an accurate intake recorded.

whether the candidate understands accurate documentation matters even when a patient's condition makes data collection hard, and knows to escalate concerns to the RN

This unit is med/surg oncology, so you'll be working with patients who may be immunocompromised or in isolation. What steps do you take before and after entering an isolation room?

actual working knowledge of infection prevention protocol, not just familiarity with the term

Say you're doing purposeful rounding and a patient's family member is upset and wants answers about the treatment plan that you're not able to give. What do you do?

whether the candidate knows their scope of practice and can de-escalate without overstepping into clinical answers that belong to the RN or physician

How do you approach a sliding transfer or repositioning a patient who weighs close to 150 pounds and can't assist much, especially when cancer treatment has left them fragile or in pain?

knowledge of safe body mechanics, use of assistive devices, and awareness of the need for a second person

Describe a time you had to prioritize between several tasks at once, like a call light, a specimen pickup, and a scheduled vital signs round.

organizational skill and ability to triage tasks safely on a busy 12-hour shift

What is your process for collecting and labeling a specimen, say a stool or urine sample, to make sure it's matched to the right patient?

attention to detail on identification and labeling, since a mislabeled oncology specimen can have serious consequences

Tell me about a time a patient or family member was frustrated or difficult with you. How did you handle it?

emotional regulation and communication skill, since oncology patients and families are often under high stress