Top 7 Operating Room (OR) Nurse Interview Questions to Ask

Operating room (OR) nurses are trained to deliver care to patients before, during, and after surgery. They play a vital role in keeping patients safe and assisting the entire surgical team to ensure that each procedure goes smoothly. OR nursing requires a fairly different set of skills than other clinical specialties, so it’s important to ask the right OR nurse interview questions when hiring for this role.

To help you narrow down the best candidate, we’ll outline seven of the top interview questions for OR nurses and key points to listen for in your candidate’s answers. You can find qualified candidates to interview by preparing a targeted job description. Seeking real-time insights? Learn what qualities other facilities are looking for by exploring current OR nurse job openings.

OR Nursing Interview Questions

The OR is a fast-paced environment that requires ongoing communication and attentiveness. It’s important to ask a mix of behavioral, situational, and knowledge-based OR nurse interview questions, and answers should demonstrate confidence in facing a range of scenarios. The following seven questions will help you get the most out of your next interview.

Keep in mind that these questions are generalized for all aspects of nursing care in the OR. If you’re looking to more specifically hire a circulating nurse or scrub nurse, feel free to tailor these questions so that they’re reflective of these dedicated OR roles.

1. Why do you want to be an OR nurse?

This question is a great way to start the interview, since it’s open-ended enough for the candidate to share more about who they are and what brought them to OR nursing. The OR is a unique clinical setting, and nurses who pursue this specialty often have specific motivations or inspirations for doing so.

What to listen for:

• Genuine interest and passion for working in surgical environments
• Dedication and commitment to keeping patients safe in the operating room

Potential follow-up questions:

• What qualities do you think an OR nurse should have?
• What do you find most fulfilling as an OR nurse?

2. How does the scrub nurse and circulating nurse complement one another?

This question assesses a candidate’s knowledge of the team dynamics in the operating room. Every staff member in the OR has distinct duties, and it’s crucial for nurses to understand the general workflow in order to support their team efficiently and effectively. OR nurses may also be rotating in and out of both the scrub and circulating role, so they should have knowledge of how these positions work together.

What to listen for:

• Understanding of how tasks differ between the scrub and circulating nurse
• Knowledge of how to communicate and coordinate care effectively in the OR

Potential follow-up questions:

• How does the scrub nurse role differ from the surgical tech role?
• How would you relay issues up the chain of command?

3. What steps do you take to prepare a patient and their family for pre- and post-operation?

OR nurses have many responsibilities leading up to and following a procedure. When answering OR interview questions, nurse candidates should have a strong understanding of their duties outside of the actual operating room.

What to listen for:

• Knowledge of essential pre- and post-operative nursing checklist items
• Understanding of varying patient needs and how to tailor care/communication as necessary

Potential follow-up questions:

• What steps do you take to prepare the OR before a procedure?
• What are three things you should verify with a patient before a procedure?

4. What would you do if the sterile field was contaminated?

This is one of the best OR nurse interview questions to ask if you want to assess a candidate’s ability to address common safety issues. OR nurses play a critical role in maintaining a sterile environment, and strong candidates will have the knowledge or experience to answer this question confidently.

What to listen for:

• Knowledge of evidence-based techniques to address contamination
• Ability to speak up and keep team informed of situations that threaten patient safety

Potential follow-up questions:

• Walk me through how you would perform a surgical scrub before a procedure.
• Why is it important for the entire surgical team to wear PPE?

5. Tell me about a time you had to advocate for a patient’s needs when they were unable to do so themselves.

When patients go under anesthesia, they entrust the surgical team with their care and safety. They’re unable to speak up for themselves, and nurses have a responsibility to advocate for their needs when necessary.

What to listen for:

• Commitment to respecting and upholding patient needs
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and relay issues up/down the chain of command

Potential follow-up questions:

• What steps do you take to involve the patient in their education pre- and post-surgery?
• How do you advocate for a patient’s needs to their own family members?

6. What strategies do you use to stay calm under high-pressure situations?

The OR can be a stressful environment to work in. Nurses must be prepared to be on their feet for long hours and juggle many different responsibilities at a time. Asking OR nurse interview questions like this will help you assess whether candidates are prepared for the nature of this work, and have sound strategies to stay on task.

What to listen for:

• Understanding of the unpredictable nature of the operating room
• Ability to stay focused even when things don’t go as planned

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you prepare yourself for long hours in the operating room?
• What’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an OR nurse and how did you handle it?

7. What would you do if you noticed the surgeon was breaking protocol?

As an OR nurse, speaking up to the surgeon and other team members when protocol is broken is crucial for keeping patients safe. This question assesses a candidate’s comfort in addressing more difficult team-based situations in a professional and respectful manner.

What to listen for:

• Ability to speak directly, openly, and honestly with the surgeon
• Understanding of how to communicate assertively and respectfully

Potential follow-up questions:

• Tell me about a time you had to resolve a disagreement with a team member.
• What steps do you take to ensure that the entire team is maintaining the sterile field?

Find Qualified Candidates to Interview Faster

Struggling to find nurses who have the skills and experience to answer your OR nurse interview questions? IntelyCare can help you reach the right candidates faster. Post to our nursing-only job board today and get access to a nationwide network of nurses who are ready to work.