A Pediatric Nurse is responsible for looking after the medical needs of young patients. Specifically, they evaluate children for signs of diseases and provide interventions.
A pediatric nurse interview will require you to be prepared beforehand. Therefore, you will need to see some possible questions and answers before appearing in a Pediatric Nurse Interview.
Related: Pediatric Nurse Resume
Take a look at the following to get an idea about likely interview questions.
14 Common Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions and Answers
1. What made you decide to work as a pediatric nurse?
During my training, I was stationed in many departments. I felt most comfortable in handling young patients. Since this is where my skills lay, I decided to train as a pediatric nurse.
2. Tell us in detail about your experience as a pediatric nurse.
I have been working as a pediatric nurse for four years. I started right after I graduated from nursing school. My work includes working with young patients to help them manage their symptoms and medical conditions.
A run-through of my duties included:
• Assessed children in order to determine their conditions
• Checked care plans to figure out ongoing care
• Took and recorded vitals
• Identified changes in patients’ conditions
• Provided interventions as necessary
• Determined patients’ needs as they relate to pain management
• Administered medication
• Offered education to family to help them understand diseases
• Served as a child advocate
• Assisted with tests and evaluations
• Responded to emergency situations according to the protocol
• Wrote reports and updated records
3. What skills do you possess, which make you an excellent person to hire?
I am well-versed in all areas of pediatric nursing. Specifically, I am competent in:
- assessing and observing patients and developing plans
- preparing patients for procedures such as surgeries and examinations
- explaining treatments and procedure to patients’ families in order to help them handle in-home care
- administering medication orally, as well as intravenously.
4. Tell us of a time that you did something as a pediatric nurse and came out shining.
Recently, a 7-year-old patient was assigned to me, who was suffering from an unknown condition. While the doctors and nurses concentrated on diagnosis, I felt that they were going in the wrong direction. The poor child was tested for everything, including cancer, but all his tests came out negative.
A thought struck me one day, and I asked the doctor to prescribe an ANA test, to rule out chronic illness. The results showed that he had rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. While it was a shock for everyone involved, the diagnosis made it clear why the child was suffering as he was.
Not only did I receive praise from my nurse manager, but also the child’s family hugged me with relief (as they thought that he had some uncertain disease). This appreciation made my day.
5. How do you feel about the emotional attachment of working as a pediatric nurse?
To be perfectly honest, it was quite a difficult thing to handle when I started working as a pediatric nurse initially. I would unintentionally attach myself to my patients, and the end was not so positive.
But now I have learned how to keep a distance, while still remaining empathetic. This way, my judgment is not clouded, and I can easily provide assistance to my patients.
6. In your opinion, what is the most difficult part of working as a pediatric nurse?
I am aware that I said that I keep myself emotionally detached, but the loss of a young life always hits me hard.
7. Don’t you think that it is best to remain professional when such an event occurs?
You are right. However, if one stops feeling about these things, it is not easy to be compassionate for patients who need your empathy. The trick is to keep a balance, which I strive for each day. I am almost always successful.
8. In your opinion, how important is patient education? Why?
Patient education is the single most important part of working as a pediatric nurse. It is important for patients and their families to know what they have to deal with so that they can effectively handle it. And it is the job of nurses and doctors to ensure that patient education is prioritized.
9. Have you ever worked in a supervisory role?
Yes, I have. I am presently in charge of training 13 student nurses.
10. Tell us of a time when you successfully handled an emergency.
I was on a night shift when one of my patients started having breathing trouble. This was a baby with respiratory issues. Recognizing the early signs of heart failure, I quickly took action and saved her life. She is now a healthy 4-year-old.
11. As far as personality traits are concerned, which ones do you advocate?
I believe that emotional stability should be the prime trait of all pediatric nurses. Empathy comes next, followed by physical endurance. Also, a sense of responsibility is essential when working in this position.
12. What is the one administrative task that you feel is most important while working as a pediatric nurse?
I believe that handling patients’ charts is most important. Most of the information is there, based on which a nurse makes critical decisions. Any problems in this area can lead to terrible circumstances.
13. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest), where do you rate your skills as a pediatric nurse?
I would give myself a realistic 8. While I feel that I know the work inside out, there is always room for learning. And I strive hard to learn more each day.
14. What are your 5-year plans?
At the moment, I am still learning the ropes. Soon, I want to work as a nurse manager within a pediatric department.