A plastic surgery nurse is a registered nurse who works with plastic surgery patients. These nurses work in operating rooms, recovery rooms, and oncology suites while assisting doctors who are performing plastic surgery procedures.
To become a plastic surgery nurse, you have to go through an interview where various questions will be asked depending on the roles, responsibilities, and expected duties.
Scope of the Plastic Surgery Nurse Interview Questions
As you may know, the roles and responsibilities of plastic surgery nurses are very different from regular nurses.
This is why you have to expect some unusual questions in the interview process.
However, the questions can be summarized as follows:
- experience questions,
- situational questions,
- behavioral questions,
- and educational background questions.
Experience Questions
Experience is a very important factor in the interview process. You will be asked about previous experiences that are related to plastic surgery nurses.
If possible, you should be able to present an action plan for the experiences in detail.
Don’t forget to include the positive results that you have achieved from your past experiences.
In addition, it is a good idea to talk about your experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Situational Questions
You will also be asked situational questions that are related to plastic surgery nurses.
These will assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills. For example, you might be asked “What would you do when a patient vomits during the procedure?”
Another question you might be asked is “How do you handle a situation when two surgical team members have different opinions about the procedure?”
Behavioral Questions
Behavior-based questions are numerous in the interview process. You will be asked behavioral questions that require you to talk about your previous experiences.
That is where the information about your past positive responses will come in handy.
For example, you might be asked “Can you describe a time when you had to deal with an angry client?”
In the case of such questions, discussing your ability to maintain composure and look for alternatives to address the problem will be appropriate responses.
See also: Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions
Educational Background Questions
You might also be asked some common education-based questions.
Questions will be asked about your educational background, the courses that you have taken related to plastic surgery nurse, and your grades.
You should also expect questions about the classes that you might be taking currently.
So, what are the common plastic surgery nurse interview questions to expect based on the above factors?
Those are coming up next.
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Table of Contents
Plastic Surgery Nurse Interview Questions and Answers
Interview preparation is necessary when you want to get an edge in the job market.
It is not easy to figure out what questions will be asked during your interview with the plastic surgery department of a hospital.
However, we have discussed the 10 most common questions that are likely to be asked during your interview.
1. Explain the steps you take to prepare for a patient’s surgery.
You should clearly explain and demonstrate how you ensure your patient is well prepared for surgery.
Your answer should also include the pre-surgery patient assessment activities.
Example answer:
I usually get in touch with the patient to find out how they are feeling.
I also get in touch with their family member or someone else close to them to discuss their overall health.
Upon the assessment of our patients, I ensure that they are well hydrated with clear fluids before going under general anesthesia.
See also: Can Nurse Practitioners Do Surgery?
2. How do you determine if a patient is suitable for surgery?
This is a common question for any nurse job or medicine job interview.
Prepare an answer by discussing the pre-surgery conditions of a patient, medical history, and current health conditions.
Example answer:
I take into account the pre-surgery conditions of a patient including allergies, medical history and current health conditions before I can determine if they are suitable for surgery.
I also ask the patient’s family members about their medical history to gather more information.
3. Tell us about yourself and your work history.
Here, you might be asked to talk about yourself and your work experience in the healthcare industry.
You should clearly explain why you want to work with this specific department and what your goals are.
Example answer:
I am Lucy Jones. I am originally from the UK, but currently, I live in New York City where I work as a plastic surgery nurse.
I have over 10 years of healthcare experience working for different departments.
I wanted to work with plastic surgery because it has always been my life-long dream.
See also: Nursing Interview Questions
4. What are your strengths?
You should talk about your strong points that are relevant to the plastic surgery nurse job.
You can also mention past accomplishments that can highlight your strengths.
Example answer:
I am a team player and I like to take initiative.
When I was working as an ICU nurse, I led my team on a successful mission to save the life of a patient who was attacked by her neighbor.
I also did my best to train and mentor new nurses in my department.
See also: ICU Nurse Interview Questions
5. What is your weakness?
The interviewer will most likely ask you about your weaknesses.
You should be ready to talk about times when you faced difficulties and what you did to overcome them.
Example answer:
My biggest weakness is that I can sometimes be impatient.
However, I have learned to control my temper with time and experience.
Now, I am able to assess the situation before I take action.
For example, when a patient is being difficult or refusing treatment, I ask for help from the right people to avoiding further problems.
See also: Dermatology Nurse Interview Questions
6. Why do you want to work with us?
This is another common interview question for any nurse job.
It will be helpful to do your research about the company you are interviewing with.
Talk about what drew you to this specific hospital and department, and mention any connections that may help you get the job.
Example answer:
I would like to work with you because I believe we share the same values and working environment.
I also know that you have the best plastic surgery department in this area.
I am extremely passionate about my work and I also want to improve my skills and advance my career.
See also: Breast Care Nurse Interview Questions
7. Why did you choose nursing as a profession?
In almost every plastic surgery nurse job interview, the interviewer will ask about your motivation for choosing this specific profession.
Prepare an answer by doing some research about nursing and plastic surgery.
Example answer:
I chose this profession because I wanted to help people.
I am passionate about my work and I want to care for people in times of sickness and wellness.
My principal goal is to make my patients feel comfortable and satisfied with their treatment.
See also: Why Do You Want to Be a Nurse Interview Question
8. What are your salary expectations?
If you are asked about your salary expectations, prepare a clear and reasonable response by doing your research about the industry and company you are interviewing with.
If possible do not mention a specific number.
Instead, mention a range that is reasonable for your work experience.
Example answer:
I am not looking for the most money possible.
I am more interested in the growth opportunities and advancement that this position has to offer.
In addition, I will need a competitive salary that reflects my experience and the level of responsibility.
See also: Urology Nurse Interview Questions
9. What plastic surgery procedures are you familiar with?
If the interviewer asks about your plastic surgery knowledge, list down procedures that you have worked on in the past.
Your work experience and education should be able to provide the interviewer with the necessary information they require.
Example answer:
I am familiar with a wide range of procedures including breast augmentation and reduction, liposuction, tummy tucks, and facelifts.
See also: Best Scrubs for Tummy Control
I am also well-versed in post-operative care including providing wound care, dressing changes, and instructing patients on how to use compression garments.
See also: Can Nurses Do PDO Threads?
10. How do you handle difficult patients?
This question is very common in any nurse job interview.
It will be beneficial to think about a specific patient that was difficult and how you handled the situation.
Let the interviewer know that you use your experience and knowledge to alleviate any problems.
Example answer:
In this line of work, you will inevitably have to deal with difficult patients.
One time I had a patient who was rude and demanding.
However, she also had back pain and I realized that she was not feeling well.
See also: Best Shoes for Nurses With Back Pain
So, I tried my best to make her as comfortable as possible and we were able to resolve the issue.
See also: Transplant Nurse Interview Questions
Conclusion: Interview Questions for Plastic Surgery Nurses
Being a plastic surgery nurse is a rewarding and demanding profession.
It is important to learn as much as you can about the job requirements before applying for any plastic surgery nurse job.
This way you will be prepared to answer any plastic surgery nurse interview questions and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer.
The above-mentioned questions are just some of the most common questions that may be asked in any plastic surgery nurse job interview.
Utilize them as a guide to understand the interviewer’s perspective and be able to answer them without any hesitation.
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