Top 7 Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions to Ask
Pediatric nurses are highly specialized care providers who treat sick and injured children. Recruiting an experienced and capable nurse ready for the job can be challenging. By crafting well-written pediatric nurse interview questions, you can find the candidate you’re looking for.
In this article, we’ll start by explaining the role of a pediatric nurse and review seven unique interview questions and responses that can indicate whether an individual has what it takes to succeed. By structuring interviews appropriately, you’ll be able to fill your open position in no time.
If you’re still looking for candidates to interview, start by creating a well-written job description. You can also explore current pediatric nurse job openings in your area and get insight on how to make your facility stand out from the rest.
What Is the Role of a Pediatric Nurse?
Pediatric nurses care for children from infancy into young adulthood and practice in a variety of clinical settings. Many nurses work in outpatient clinics providing routine care to healthy children, while others work in acute care, home health, and long-term care settings. They administer medications, assist with wound care, and help educate patients and their families.
Caring for children can be incredibly challenging and there’s a very small margin of error for mistakes. It’s important that these nurses have the prioritization and assessment skills necessary for safe patient care. Asking pediatric nurse interview questions that reveal behavior traits and relevant experience can help hiring managers ensure that a nurse candidate is fit for the job. Here’s a list of key questions to ask as well as a downloadable candidate evaluation form that you can use to help you assess their responses.
7 Interview Questions for a Pediatric Nurse
When developing nurse interview questions, it’s important to include a mix of personal background, career trajectory, and pediatric scenario questions to get a complete picture of an employee’s skills and abilities. Here are seven example interview questions facilities can ask to choose the right candidate.
1. What made you want to become a pediatric nurse?
Nearly every nursing interview will start off with an introductory question to reveal personality traits and professional experience. Encourage the nurse to share personal details and stories if they feel comfortable. Demonstrating a warm and welcoming tone is important for pediatric nurses and helps establish trust with patients and their families.
Starting out with general pediatric nurse interview questions helps hiring managers get an understanding of the nurse’s patience, compassion, and temperament. Establish a light-hearted, conversational tone to show the nurse candidate that you care about them as a whole person and want them to feel comfortable talking to nurse leaders.
What to listen for:
- Ability to articulate how personal or past experiences have brought them to the specialty
- Genuine passion and interest in working with pediatric patients
Potential follow-up questions:
- What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about being a pediatric nurse?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
2. Why are you interested in working as a nurse at our facility?
Before diving into pediatric nursing interview scenario questions, it’s important to get a general sense of the nurse’s interests and motivations for joining your team. Maybe the nurse just purchased a home close to your facility, or maybe they’re looking for new professional experiences and relationships.
What to listen for:
- Indication that candidate has done their homework and researched both the job description and your facility
- Alignment in mission, vision, values, or logistical expectations
Potential follow-up questions:
- What do you value most in a workplace?
- Do you have any questions about our team’s culture and workflow?
3. What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a pediatric nurse, and how do you work through them?
The nursing profession requires tenacity in the face of adversity. Excellent answers will demonstrate a nurse’s understanding of the complexity of pediatric nursing and reveal decision-making skills that help them through tough times. Knowing that a nurse candidate can overcome clinical obstacles puts you one step closer to hiring a top-tier employee.
What to listen for:
- Realistic view of what challenges the specialty can bring and how to cope with them
- Strong stress-management skills (e.g., self-care, work-life balance, and team debriefing)
Potential follow-up questions:
- Tell me about a time that you had to resolve a patient emergency.
- Have you ever cared for a pediatric patient who was resistant to taking their medications or treatment? How did you handle the situation?
4. How are you able to help parents and other caregivers cope with anxiety or grief?
Asking pediatric nurse interview questions like this one can help you evaluate how a candidate prioritizes and delegates tasks, which are two essential skills for all healthcare providers. Nurses must be able to calmly communicate and assist parents through difficult times while juggling clinical duties and long work shifts.
What to listen for:
- Understanding of strategies that empower parents (e.g., involving parents in bathing and line dressing changes)
- Empathy, compassion, and ability to teach and train family members about their child’s care
Potential follow-up questions:
- What would you do if a parent was upset about the way their child received care?
- How do you build rapport with pediatric patients?
5. Talk about a time when you had to advocate for your patient and explain how the situation was resolved.
Children are vulnerable and are often unable to communicate discomfort or pain. Pediatric nurses are responsible for recognizing and communicating concerning symptoms to physicians and other members of the care team.
What to listen for:
- Ability to apply timely clinical decision-making skills while putting the patients needs first
- Understanding of how to follow the chain of command and prioritize teamwork and communication
Potential follow-up questions:
- Have you ever had a disagreement with a coworker? How did you resolve it?
- What is the nurse’s role in mandatory reporting?
6. What leadership roles have you served in previous positions, and how have they made you a better nurse?
Leadership is a desirable quality that many hiring managers seek in nurse candidates. Nurses who step up for leadership roles show ambition, initiative, and a dedication to improving patient care. Pediatric nurse interview questions like this assess a candidate’s willingness to guide and teach others.
What to listen for:
- Past leadership experiences (.e.g, mentoring new nurses or chairing council meetings)
- Clear understanding of why leadership is important across all levels of nursing
Potential follow-up questions:
- Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond to help a colleague.
- How would you describe your leadership and teaching style?
7. What strengths will you bring to our pediatric care team, and why are you the perfect fit for this position?
Wrapping up with this question allows nurse candidates to boast about their achievements and share any last-minute anecdotes or comments. Whether the candidate is a new graduate or an experienced nurse, provide them the opportunity to show what makes them the best candidate for the job. Be sure to thank them for their time and provide guidance for next steps.
What to listen for:
- Self-confidence and the ability to articulate why they’re a good fit for the role
- Realistic answers that reflect past experiences and the key responsibilities of the job
Potential follow-up questions:
- What new skills are you interested in learning or developing on the job?
- Do you have any other questions for me?
Start Meeting With Qualified Nurses Today
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