Charge Nurse Interview Questions

How long have you been a charge nurse?

This interview question is designed to gauge whether you have enough experience to take on the job. Answering this question requires an understanding of the job itself and how much experience it takes to successfully complete it. As a result, the interviewer may ask you to describe your work history and, in particular, how long you have been a charge nurse.

Example answer: "I have been a charge nurse for three years. I began as an LPN, where I was responsible for administering medications to patients. I then became an RN, where my responsibilities expanded to include monitoring patients' vital signs, providing emotional support and managing a caseload of patients."

What is the most important thing a charge nurse does?

As a charge nurse, you are responsible for managing the ward and the staff. That involves assigning tasks, checking on patients and using your judgment and experience to make sure everyone is on task with their work. Your answer should be an explanation of your approach to this responsibility. You should describe your leadership style, your management style and also how you balance the needs of your staff with the needs of the patients.

Example answer: "I like to delegate tasks when possible, so that my staff can take ownership of their work. I prefer to spot check patients to get a better sense of how they are doing and what needs to be done. I am very good at coming up with a plan to meet the needs of the patients and my staff and then communicating that plan to make sure everyone is on the same page."

When you are hired as a charge nurse, you are given a team of nurses. What type of relationships do you cultivate with these nurses?

Charge nurses are responsible for supervising other nurses. They ensure all nurses are adequately trained and prepared. An ideal candidate should have strong relationships with their team members. Demonstrate your ability to manage a team and work in a team-based environment.

Example answer: "I have been working with the same group of nurses for over a year. Since I am the charge nurse, I am always the first to arrive at the hospital in the mornings. I like to chat with them before they start their shift and make sure they are prepared for patients. I also come to them with any questions I have about what I observe. I've found that if I'm proactive in my approach, my nurses are more likely to approach me with issues. It helps us maintain a strong working relationship."

What challenges do you face as a charge nurse?

A charge nurse is responsible for the smooth flow of work and the delivery of patient care. The interviewer wants to hear how you will deal with these issues and handle them. This is a chance to demonstrate your interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. Use specific examples to illustrate your ability to be flexible and deliver effective patient care.

Example answer: "There are many challenges as a charge nurse, but I focus on the patients and their needs and what's best for them. I am available to help coworkers resolve issues related to patient care. I am also available to ensure the rest of the staff is providing good patient care. I will always have open communication with patients and their families."

What are the three most important skills a charge nurse should possess?

A "charge nurse" is a senior nurse who is in charge of a unit or ward in a hospital. This person is a mentor to nurses who work under them, and is responsible for the operations of the unit. A good answer should draw on your clinical knowledge and experience. Your answer should be based on the fact that there are many administrative duties as well as clinical duties you will have to carry out. By emphasizing these points, you will highlight how capable you are.

Example answer: "A charge nurse must be able to do all of the following: assist in the clinical care of the patients, manage budgets, supervise junior staff and keep the work environment safe and healthy."

How would you handle a case where a patient's family does not respect your authority?

As a charge nurse, you will often have to balance a tightrope between keeping a family comfortable and standing up to them. There will be times where family members push your boundaries regarding care decisions or even physical boundaries. As such, the interviewer wants to know how you would handle such a situation. Make sure to communicate tactfully, but firmly, that you are in charge of the situation.

Example answer: "When I am working with a patient's family, I take my time to listen to their concerns and answer their questions. I also make sure to explain my decision making process and why I made the decisions I did. I do not allow the patient's family to overstep their boundaries. For instance, there was one patient who was having a lot of trouble breathing during his sleep. His mother insisted he be woken up to see if he needed help breathing. I explained that he needed his rest and that I was keeping an eye on him. I then offered to have her sleep in the room so she could be more involved."

What are the qualities of a good nurse leader?

The interviewer wants to see how well you can articulate your opinion of what a good nurse leader should be. This is a loaded question because there are a variety of qualities. A good leader must be respectful of all the individuals on the team. They must also be a good communicator who can listen as well as lead. A hospital leader also has some administrative duties that must be fulfilled.

Example answer: "A good nurse leader is an upstanding role model who works well with both staff and patients. They are respectful of all individuals and they understand the importance of good communication. They are also dedicated to their job and adjust their schedule to ensure that their patients are attended to. A good nurse leader also exhibits a strong work ethic, since they must perform administrative duties as well."

What job responsibilities do you have when you are on-shift?

This is a question that gets the candidate to talk about specific experiences. You should not direct your answer at just one aspect of your role, but attempt to create an overall picture of what your shift work entails.

Example answer: "I am responsible for a team of mental health technologists and social workers. I also assist in providing a safe environment for the patients. I coordinate with the team to make sure they have the tools to handle the patients and that there is a well-organized flow of all of the patients in a day. Outside of my team, I am responsible for the emergency patients, including those brought in by ambulance. I coordinate with the doctors and nurses to make sure the patient is stabilized and provide them with the best health care possible before they are transferred."

What are some of the challenges you face as a nurse leader?

This question is designed to identify your leadership skills and your ability to prioritize and solve problems. As you prepare for this question, think about the challenges you've faced as a nurse leader and how you've overcome them. Examples are useful here to make the answer more specific and memorable.

Example answer: "One of the biggest challenges I face as a nurse leader is knowing when to oversee and when to engage. I recently had a patient and his family ask for me specifically. I was already running late on my current assignment, but after talking to the patient and his family, I learned that he had just been released from a local cancer center. That family's experience touched me, and I began to invest more time in that patient. I checked on him frequently, encouraged his family to stay with him and listened to them when they needed someone to talk to. The patient's family has now become like family to me and have told me that they are very grateful for my support and encouragement."