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NICU Nurse Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top NICU Nurse interview questions and answers.

  1. As a neonatal nurse, how do you stay informed about the latest medical research and information in your field? See answer
  2. What certifications do you have that equip you to provide excellent neonatal care? See answer
  3. What would you do if the neonatal intensive care unit is very busy and you notice that a coworker is not completing their duties? See answer
  4. How do you remain calm during high-pressure or stressful medical situations? See answer
  5. Why did you choose to establish a career in neonatal intensive care? See answer
  6. What is an example of a time that you had to make a tough choice in a stressful situation? How did you decide? See answer
  7. What diagnostic procedures are you familiar with? See answer
  8. What treatment would you recommend for an infant who was experiencing breathing complications? See answer
  9. What would you say to comfort an upset family of a newborn? See answer
  10. How do you prioritise tasks in the intensive care unit each day? See answer
  11. Has there been a time when you have made a mistake that had to be corrected? See answer
  12. What would you do to process through a challenging day at work? See answer
  13. How would you respond if you had a parent who was distraught about their child’s condition and consistently broke hospital regulation to hold their baby?
  14. What do you do if you disagree with a coworker’s method of administering care?
  15. Why do you believe it’s important to work as a team in a medical setting?
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Hire your next NICU Nurse today.

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Hire your next NICU Nurse today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 NICU Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

As a neonatal nurse, how do you stay informed about the latest medical research and information in your field?

This question aims to understand more about the candidate's educational background. Employees who are committed to remaining current with innovative research studies, even after receiving their education, are a great asset to any medical facility. Their answer helps you see where their passions lie while letting you know if they are current on new information and regulations in the field. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in learning more
  • Understanding of the importance of learning new procedures
  • Enthusiasm about the field

Example:

"Each week, I reference neonatal academic journals, and being a member of the National Nurse Association helps me stay updated with changes in the profession."

How would you respond if you had a parent who was distraught about their child's condition and consistently broke hospital regulation to hold their baby?

Use this question to determine how the applicant would respond in an emotionally tense situation. This answer might help you assess their interpersonal skills and emotional stability. It also informs you of the applicant's tendency to adhere to medical guidelines. What to look for in an answer:

  • Desire to implement hospital policies
  • Empathy and graciousness towards parents
  • A focus on the health of the patient

Example:

"I would gently remind the parent of the hospital's rules and regulations, explaining that they are in place to get the best possible care for their child. If they continue to break regulations, I would kindly ask them to leave."

What certifications do you have that equip you to provide excellent neonatal care?

This question is important since it determines if the applicant is qualified to complete the job. Not all nurses have the same set of certifications, so you can ask this question to make sure that they meet your facility's requirements. Their answer also tells you if they have an interest in continued learning. What to look for in an answer:

  • Proper qualifications required by your healthcare facility
  • Desire to continue education
  • Understanding of the training a neonatal nurse needs

Example:

"I received my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I am registered with the Association of Registered Nurses. I completed a neonatal care certification programme last year as my speciality."

What would you do if the neonatal intensive care unit is very busy and you notice that a coworker is not completing their duties?

This question aims to assess how the applicant gets along with their coworkers. Their answer also shows their ability to prioritise tasks and tactfully encourage their coworkers to get more work done. Asking this question might reveal if they can stay calm and manage their time wisely. What to look for in an answer:

  • Politeness and thoughtfulness when communicating with coworkers
  • Ability to prioritise tasks in a busy NICU
  • Time-management skills

Example:

"I'd assess the NICU and determine which tasks were of the highest priority. As I began working on those, I'd ask the idle coworker politely if they could assist with some of the other available tasks."

How do you remain calm during high-pressure or stressful medical situations?

Since NICU nurses work with critical patients, they often deal with emergencies that require an immediate response. This question aims to understand the nurse's ability to make medical decisions calmly in a high-pressure environment. What to look for in an answer:

  •  Ability to think and act quickly
  •  Knowledge of emergency procedures
  •  Ability to remain calm under pressure

Example:

"In a high-pressure situation, I speak calmly to avoid escalating the tension in the room. Then, I take a deep breath to clear my mind. Once a course of action is determined, I move through each step while trying to maintain a positive attitude for the sake of both the infant and the parents."

Why did you choose to establish a career in neonatal intensive care?

Ask this question to determine the applicant's motivations for pursuing this career. Their answer shows where their passions lie and how they plan to remain motivated to keep doing the work even when it becomes challenging. What to look for in an answer:

  • Dedication to the field itself
  • Passion for serving infants
  • Desire to work in medicine

Example:

"I pursued a career in neonatology because I have a deep passion to provide care to infants. The medical field has been an interest of mine for a long time, and in my undergraduate studies, I realised I had a specific passion for neonatal medicine. I want to help as many infants and parents as I can."

What is an example of a time that you had to make a tough choice in a stressful situation? How did you decide?

In the NICU, nurses may have to make challenging decisions when providing care. This question assesses the applicant's medical knowledge, their understanding of seniority in a medical scenario, and how they process through a hard decision. What to look for in an answer:

  • Diplomatic reasoning skills
  • Understanding of operations in a medical facility
  • Ability to act quickly

Example:

"At my last position, I was an intern in the paediatrics unit of the hospital. An infant was having trouble breathing. I thought about the best course of action and then moved the infant to the NICU, with expedited permission from the lead nurse."

What diagnostic procedures are you familiar with?

This question aims to understand the scope of the applicant's experience in a medical setting. Their answer shows how much experience they have in diagnosing patients and what procedures they are familiar with. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of specific diagnostic procedures
  • Knowledge of different medical tests
  • Ability to complete X-rays

Example:

"When seeking to diagnose a patient, I order tests that are specific to their symptoms. If needed, I also perform X-rays to determine if there are internal issues. Then, I present all the findings to the doctor to discuss potential diagnoses."

What treatment would you recommend for an infant who was experiencing breathing complications?

This question aims to understand the applicant's knowledge of neonatal treatment, as well as their understanding of a medical situation's complexity. What to look for in their answer:

  • Confidence in the treatment
  • Attention to detail
  • Knowledge of treatment

Example:

"The first thing to do is supply a bit of oxygen to the patient to steady their breathing. Any further steps would require a deeper look into their particular medical history and may require an X-ray or other approval from the doctor."

What do you do if you disagree with a coworker's method of administering care?

This question aims to understand how the applicant deals with conflict and disagreement in the workplace. The answer also shows if the applicant has integrity with the quality of care provided to the patient. What to look for in an answer:

  • Concern for the patient's wellbeing
  • Communication skills
  • Ability to resolve internal conflict

Example:

"If I disagree with how a fellow nurse administers care, I first check the patient's history to make sure I am caught up on the case. Then, I ask the nurse to explain to me their reasoning for choosing that path of care. If I still disagree with them, I present an alternative option as a suggestion rather than demanding that they change their approach."

What would you say to comfort an upset family of a newborn?

This question aims to discern the level of emotional maturity and interpersonal communication skills the applicant has. It shows how they empathise with parents, guardians, and others involved in the patient's life. What to look for in an answer:

  • Empathy for the upset family
  • Strong communication skills
  • Emotional strength to provide comfort

Example:

"To comfort an upset family, I gently tell them that the nurses and doctors are there in the NICU to give their baby the best possible care. Sometimes, I attempt to explain the infant's medical situation in a way that is easy to understand, so they aren't scared of the unknown. Ultimately, I speak positively and kindly to calm their nerves."

How do you prioritise tasks in the intensive care unit each day?

This question aims to understand the applicant's organisation and time-management skills, which are vital when working in the NICU. What to look for in the answer:

  • Ability to prioritise tasks
  • Experience managing time well
  • organised approach to work

Example:

"There are always daily duties that need to be taken care of, so I complete those first. When making those rounds, I assess which patients need the most immediate follow-up care. Then I discuss with the other nurses on duty which patients we should care for first in order to make a schedule."

Has there been a time when you have made a mistake that had to be corrected?

This question aims to understand if the applicant has experience recognizing mistakes and recovering from them. It's vital that the applicant catch their mistakes, especially because of the high stakes involved in the profession and the vulnerability of the patients. What to look for in the answer:

  • Humility to admit when something goes wrong
  • Motivation to try again
  • Ability to ask for help when needed

Example:

"When I first started as a neonatal nurse, I copied a patient's chart information down wrong. When the doctor was reviewing it, they noticed the information was inaccurate. The doctor asked me about it, and I acknowledged I hadn't filled the chart out correctly. Then, I shadowed a seasoned nurse who showed me the proper way to fill out a chart."

Why do you believe it's important to work as a team in a medical setting?

This question aims to understand how the applicant functions as a member of a team, which is a foundational aspect of work in the NICU. What to look for in an answer:

  • Dedication to teammates
  • Desire to work cohesively
  • Positive attitude towards collabouration

Example:

"I believe that teamwork in a medical setting is vital to operational success, especially in the NICU. With such vulnerable patients, the team of nurses and doctors must always communicate changes, diagnoses, and other vital information so that the patient receives the best care possible."

What would you do to process through a challenging day at work?

This question aims to understand the applicant's ability to compartmentalize and remain passionate about the vocation, even when it is challenging. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to try again each day
  • Understanding of personal boundaries
  • Dedication to continuing to work in the field

Example:

"Some days in the NICU are very taxing. After work on those days, I try to focus on the good things that occurred throughout the day. Every day is an opportunity to provide care for infants. I make sure to spend my days off resting and recuperating so that I come back to work feeling rejuvenated."

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