7 Key Dialysis Nurse Interview Questions to Ask

Dialysis nurses are specialized in administering treatments to patients with impaired kidney functioning. Beyond needing to understand how dialysis machines work, these nurses must be adept at monitoring for adverse reactions and educating patients and families about their health. When hiring for this role, it’s important to ask thoughtful dialysis nurse interview questions that evaluate these key skills.

To help you narrow down potential candidates and find the best nurse for your team, we’ll outline seven essential dialysis nursing interview questions. Find candidates to interview by preparing a targeted job description. Need more insights? Explore dialysis nurse job openings at other facilities to learn what top qualities to look for.

Below you’ll find a free, downloadable dialysis nurse evaluation form that can help you stay organized during your next hiring cycle.

Questions to Ask for Dialysis Nurse Interview

It’s important to note that either Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Registered Nurses (RNs) can work in dialysis — and this is a specialty that can appeal to both new grads and seasoned nurses. With this in mind, here are seven common dialysis nurse interview questions that can apply to candidates with all types of backgrounds.

1. Why do you want to be a dialysis nurse?

Interviews are a great opportunity for you to get to know candidates on a more personal level. This question allows you to get a sense of the candidate’s motivations and values, which can also show you what type of attitude they’ll bring to the role and the team.

What to listen for:

• Genuine passion and interest in helping patients with kidney disease
• Understanding of what dialysis nursing entails and commitment to the field

Potential follow-up questions:

• Can you describe your prior experiences working with dialysis patients?
• What do you think are the top qualities that every dialysis nurse should have?

2. How would you explain the difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis to a patient?

While you shouldn’t expect all your candidates to be experts in dialysis, they should know the basics. This question allows you to assess a candidate’s understanding of dialysis treatments and their approach to patient education — which is also an important skill for the role.

What to listen for:

• Ability to translate complex medical information into simple and understandable terms
• General knowledge of the different types of dialysis treatments

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you adapt your care process to the type of dialysis you’re administering?
• How do you keep up with new advancements in dialysis nursing?

3. What would you do if a patient was non-compliant with their treatment?

It’s not uncommon for patients to skip or miss dialysis sessions, and candidates will need to feel comfortable handling these situations. Non-compliance should be addressed in your dialysis nurse interview questions, and answers should reflect a candidate’s ability to work collaboratively with a patient to resolve issues.

What to listen for:

• Empathy and ability to unpack a patient’s personal barriers to care
• Ability to provide proper education and encouragement to patients

Potential follow-up questions:

• What would you do if a patient expressed a desire to discontinue treatment?
• How would you comfort a patient who was nervous about starting dialysis treatment?

4. What steps would you take to prevent infection in patients receiving dialysis treatment?

Infection control is extremely important when delivering dialysis treatment. This question evaluates whether candidates have an understanding of basic hygiene protocols and more specific infection control techniques that apply to dialysis care.

What to listen for:

• Understanding of basic infection control protocols and sterile techniques
• Strong attention to detail and ability to consider infection risks specific to dialysis

Potential follow-up questions:

• How would you assess signs of infection in a dialysis patient?
• Tell me about a time that you had to deal with a patient emergency.

5. Tell me about a time that you had to learn a new technology to deliver care.

Technology in dialysis care is constantly evolving, and nurses must remain adaptable to new advancements in the field. This question evaluates a candidate’s flexibility and their approach to learning new skills.

What to listen for:

• Openness and adaptability to evolving technologies in healthcare
• Ability to pick up and learn new skills efficiently

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you double check that the dialysis machine is working properly before use?
• How do you ensure accurate documentation of patient information in the EHR?

6. Have you ever had a disagreement with a coworker? How did you resolve it?

As a dialysis nurse, communication and teamwork are crucial. Asking dialysis nurse interview questions like this will help you get a sense of their conflict resolution skills and evaluate whether the candidate can get along with other team members.

What to listen for:

• Ability to maintain professionalism and respectfully resolve conflicts with coworkers
• Ability to prioritize teamwork and communicate effectively, even in difficult situations

Potential follow-up questions:

• What would you do if you noticed a coworker was breaking infection control protocol?
• How do you handle feedback from supervisors?

7. Walk me through your process of prioritizing care tasks when you have multiple patients at a time.

On busier days, it’s common for dialysis nurses to care for several patients at a time. As such, candidates must have strong prioritization skills and know how to manage their time efficiently. This question assesses whether candidates can handle heavier workloads and still ensure that each patient receives the care they need.

What to listen for:

• Ability to stay calm and set priorities under pressure
• Ability to consider key aspects of a patient’s condition and balance routine care with emergencies

Potential follow-up questions:

• Have you ever had to deliver difficult news to patients and family members? How did you handle the situation?
• How do you ensure you’re staying within your scope of practice when delegating tasks?

Find the Best Dialysis Nurse for Your Team

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