Below are some examples of the types of questions that may be asked and the

suggested answers of which I am sure you can expand yourself. In any answer
please be sure to state the most obvious things and do not just assume that the
interviewers know it, unless you say it you will not get a mark for it...for example
stating that you will wear gloves and aprons when tending to a patient's personal
hygiene needs is necessary and not to be assumed as given or stating when an
incident happens that you will document everything is also essential. We all
know that we will do these things and that they are obvious but unless stated in
an interview the interviewers cannot score you for it.
You must try to give as much detail as possible and answer the questions step by
step as if you were at work in that situation
---Welcome, Can you please tell us about yourself (back ground, interests, reason
for career choice).
Which area of nursing interest u the most? Which area of nurse are u most
interesting in
What is your understanding of the responsibilities of registered nurse? (NMC has
presage on his web site)
Please give a brief run through your career history to date and what brings you
to being here today.
What skills do you have that you feel contributes to an efficient nursing team?
What do you feel are your strengths? (Pronuncia Strenz)
What would you consider to be your limitations?
Should it be reported, or you see, any concerning behaviours by a member of
staff or relative towards a patient, what would you do?
What would you consider to be inappropriate behaviour?
You are doing the medication and notice a dose for the previous round has not
been signed for. What steps would you then take?
A patient admitted for depression approached you the next morning; they are
very anxious and want to leave the hospital. What would you do?
You are working on an acute ward and suspect that some in-patients are using
substances. What would you do?
If successful, what anxieties do you have about working in the UK?
If you receive a complaint from a patient or relative what will you do? POSIBLE
ANSWERS:

o Talk to the patient/family about the situation and assess if you can
deal with the complaint yourself.
o Do this in a private environment and listen without interrupting be
aware of their body language and try to resolve the complaint at
this stage.
o If necessary involve the nurse in charge/sister.
o Be familiar with the complaints procedure and adhere to the policy
and inform the patient/relative of the procedure and give them a
complaint information form.
o If this is a nursing care complaint, it should be discussed at
meetings and action must be taken to ensure it does not happen
again and that care is carried out based on evidence based practice.
Training and staff education should be considered if necessary.
o Ensure that it is documented in the patients notes and complete an
incident form as necessary.
How can you reduce the risk of complaints? (Compleniz pronuncia)

o
o
o
o

Use of good communication skills and documentation.

Provide a good quality service.
Develop good relationships with patients and family.
Set high standards, the sort you would like for you and your family.

The ward you are working on has failed its infection prevention audit. What
would your role be in ensuring that it did not fail again? How would you get staff
support?

o Find out why it failed

o Ensure all staff is made aware of this staff meetings.., (domestics,
catering, multidisciplinary, health care assistants and nurses) so we
can all do our bit to improve standards. This is a potentially serious
situation.
o Improve my own personal Infection Prevention procedures, where
possible
o Carry out mini audits to ensure standards are improving.
o Involve all staff in the next steps to improve standards, have staff
meetings to get ideas on how we will improve our Infection
Prevention. Involving staff in mini audits, discussing the seriousness
of lack of Infection Prevention.
o Publish mini audit results for all staff to see.
How would you deal with a patient who has mrsa or cdif (infection
control)?
o Barrier nursing at all times
o Nurse in a side room.

o Ensure all staff that may enter the patient's room is aware of
infection status.
o Follow policy instructions for prevention of spreading infection.
o Ensure use of equipment to prevent the spread of infection i.e.
gowns, gloves, infected linen skips, patients own clinical observation
equipment act
o Ensure the infection control team is aware of patients infection
status.
o Ensure the patient is receiving the eradication therapy as per the
hospital the doctor prescribes infection policy.
o Use of appropriate hand washing technique and appropriate
decontamination substance e.g. when a patient has CDIF alcohol gel
is not seen to be effective and soap must be used.
o Ensure patient and family are aware of infection status and what
that means to them e.g. hand washing for those with CDIF or alcohol
gel may be used for those with MRSA.
o Provide patient/family with an information leaflet on infection.
o Ensure a proper deep clean of the patients room is carried out after
discharge.
How would you deal with conflict in the workplace?
o Speak to the person/persons concerned individually in a private
area.
o Allow each to discuss the issue with you and be nonjudgmental.
o Be aware of own body language when dealing with complaints.
o Invite the persons concerned to speak with each other in a
private area to discuss and iron out problems, if the problem
cannot be resolved inform the nurse in charge as conflict not
managed appropriately will result in ineffective teamwork
therefore detrimental to patient care.
o The manager may need to be informed and further action taken,
which could lead to a disciplinary or further training.
o Conflict when managed properly can lead to improved patient
care highlighting new practices and ideas.
You arrive on shift to find you are the only qualified nurse with 1 hca (health care
assistant) and 24 patients to care forhow will you deal with this situation?

o If there is a policy in place for this type of situation I would follow

the procedure layed out in it.
o I would contact the person in charge of the wards for help to get
staff from other wards ect until we can either access bank staff.
o My main concern is for my patients and their immediate
necessary care, I would prioritize the care necessary until help
from other resources is obtained.
o ie: patients receiving their medications is essential and those
who are incontinent

o or dependent on nursing care must also be seen as essential.

How would you ensure your documentation meets the nmc standards for
record keeping?
o You must keep clear and accurate records of the discussions you
have, the assessments you make, the treatment and medicines
you give, and how effective these have been.
o You must complete records as soon as possible after an event has
occurred.
o You must not tamper with original records in any way.
o You must ensure any entries you make in someones paper
records are clearly and legibly signed, dated and timed.
o You must ensure any entries you make in someones electronic
records are clearly attributable to you.
o You must ensure all records are kept securely
o Please see the NMC The code: Standards of conduct,
performance and ethics for nurses and midwives This will provide
you with details of what is legally and ethically expected from
you as a nurse within the UK. It is easy reading, short and
precise.
Please see: http://www.nmcuk.org/Documents/Standards/ThecodeA420100406.pdf
Why is accurate record keeping so important?

o It forms a base for planning patient care and assessing progress.

o It assists communication with the multidisciplinary team members.
o It provides written evidence that therefore meets legal
requirements. If its not written down it didn't happen
You are taking up a post in a new area what do you think should be included in
the induction?

o Introduced to your preceptor.

o Uniform policy if different.
o Provided with an induction programme and a competency based
skills booklet specific to the specialty.
o Catering facilities/rest rooms.
o Orientation to the layout of the unit to include fire exits/crash
trolleys.
o Procedure guidelines/policy manuals/off duty/sickness policy/annual
leave.
o Introduced to personnel in the unit i.e. departments and
multidisciplinary team members.
o Telephone system/bleep etc.
o Documentation.

How would you ensure staff develops professionally?

o
o
o
o

Identify and facilitate training needs.

Ensure compulsory training is kept up to date.
Fairness in allocation with study leave/training courses.
Have regular ward meetings and keep a ward communication book
to advise staff of updates etc. to be read.

You are asked to undertake a task/duty you are not familiar with what will you
do?

o Explain to the person allocating the duty that you are not competent
and that you will not undertake the task until you have received
training and feel confident to do so in the interest of patient safety
and by doing so are adhering to the NMC code of professional
conduct.
o Ask to observe the procedure and when confident, undertake the
task with supervision provided by a preceptor.
o If the person insists you undertake the duty refuse regardless of
rank and speak to your line manager.
How would you recognise poor standards in the clinical area?

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Patient/relative complaints.
Dirty, untidy environment.
Stores not kept up to date.
Increase in infection rates.
Poor staff morale.
Increase in sickness and absenteeism.
Signs and symptoms of stress evident in staff.
Lack of motivation/lethargy.
Poor standard of patient care delivered.
Poor record keeping/communication.
Poor audit outcomes.

If you were a patient in hospital what would quality care feel like to you?

o When nurses take the time to speak to me, (polite, smiling, clean
and presentable, compassionate and make me feel if only for a
minute that I am the only one they have to care for). When they
have time and are not always rushing on to the next job.
o The ward is exceptionally clean (clean bedding, floors, toilets ect)
o The food is warm and nutritious and I have a choice, fresh water
regularly.
o The aim is to improve my health and get me home asap as I do not
wish to stay in hospital!

o I am seen asap by all members of the multi-disciplinary team

necessary promptly thus not delaying my stay in hospital.
o I am seen as a person and treated with respect and dignity at all
times.
If you came upon a patient who had fallen in the clinical area what would you do?

o Call for help.

o Assess the environment/area for hazards or danger and remove to
make the area safe.
o Assess the patients injuries and reassure the patient. Ensure the
patient is safe. Can the patient mobilise? Is it advisable for the
patient to try to mobilise? They may only be moved if there is no
sign of neck or spinal injury or limb fracture. It may be safer to make
the patient comfortable where they are and keep them warm until a
doctor comes.
o If deemed safe to move the patient do you need to give analgesia
prior, need the use of a hoist
o Check clinical observations (temp, pulse, bp, spo2, resp)
o Help patient to somewhere comfortable...chair or bed
o Discuss with patient/witnesses how this happened, what led to this,
how they felt just prior to it?
o Ensure nurse call bell to hand for future mobilising.
o Document incident in the patients notes and complete an incident
form, ensuring that all details are accurate and entered on the form
i.e. time, place, obstructions and all incident forms must also be
completed by the doctor.
o Care for the patient as per the doctors instructions i.e. hourly obs,
analgesia etc.
o Ensure nursing care plans updated and falls assessments.
o Ensure other nursing staff aware of incident.
o Inform patients relatives if patient consents as soon as possible
after the incident occurs.
o Reflect on it? how to avoid this again.
How would you deal with a patient who was upset and worried about catching a
hospital acquired infection?

o Take the time to sit down and discuss this with them and try to
reduce their anxieties.
o Ask why they are worrying about this, is it something you can
rationalise to them.
o Advise them of your wards high standards of care and the Infection
Control procedures in place to help prevent such things happening.
o Move patient to a side room if they are very anxious if possible.
o Advise the patient it is their right to ask all people who come to
them to wash their hands before touching them.
o Advise all staff of this patients concerns and document.

If you have administered the incorrect drug/wrong dosage what will you do?

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Check the patients clinical observations.

Inform the doctor immediately.
Inform the nurse in charge.
Check the patient's medical history and allergy status.
Check the drug side effects and interactions with other medications.
Inform the patient of the mistake and reassure. If they wish to make
a complaint deal with as per complaints policy.
Document in patients notes precisely what happened.
Ensure you monitor patients condition and clinical observations
regularly until the doctor is happy with their condition and possible
side effects of drug not occurring.
Complete an incident form.
Inform other members of staff.
Critical incident analysis is necessary reflect on the incident and
where and why it happened.
Although we have a no blame culture under the code of
professional conduct staff are accountable for their own actions.

A patient under your care is a family member/friend, how do you ensure

confidentiality for this person?

Trust, honesty and reassurance.

No idle talk.
Data protection.
Safe storage of notes.
Refer queries to other staff.
Remember your nursing code of professional conduct and explain to
family if they ask you questions.
o Respect patients wishes to confidentiality and reassure that you
cannot and will not repeat information to others unless they give
you permission.
o Ask if they would like you involved in their care.
o
o
o
o
o
o

What do you understand by the term evidence based practice?

o It is the practice we put in placed based on trials/research and the

best outcomes from that, in hope that we are then providing the
best care possible for our patients at that present moment in time.
This does however continue to change as further research is carried
out and better outcomes are achieved. This is why it is essential
that all nurses keep up to date with literature relevant to their place
of practice and ensure they read the new policies provided by their
trust as things continually change.

You are administering medication to a 57 year old lady and her heart rate is
below 40. Her medications are paracetamol, warfarin, digoxin, and amoxicillin.
What action would you take and why?

o Hold digoxin (when a patient is on digoxin you must always check

their pulse rate for 1 minute prior to giving and if it is less than 60
bpm then it must be held, note rate, rhythm and quality) and get
patient reviewed by the doctor. Hold because digoxin slows the
heart rate in people with eg: atrial fibrillation/flutter and if it is
already low without their daily tablet it is essential to get them
checked out before giving another dose.
o Check all other clinical observations and ask the patient how they
are feeling.
o The doctor will most likely request blood samples to be taken to
assess the level of digoxin (if it is within therapeutic range)
o Explain to patient what is going on and document everything.
What do you understand by the term clinical governance?

o It is a framework, which helps all clinicians to continuously improve

quality and safeguard standards of care.
o Patient services continuously improve.
o Staff treats patients courteously and involves them in decision
making about their care.
o Patients have all the information about their care.
o Ensures health care professionals have the right to education and
training.
o Uses techniques to monitor and improve practice and anticipates
potential problems.
o Clinical errors are prevented whenever possible.
How would you continue to professionally develop yourself?

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Preceptorship/clinical supervision.
Induction programme in new areas to gain competence in practice.
Peer support/role models.
Continuing education specific to areas through courses, journals,
online, study days, conferences.
Through association membership.
Reflective practice, portfolio keeping, action learning groups,
research.
Critical incident analysis, ward meetings.
Adhere to up to date guidelines and policies.

If you witnesses a colleague speaking/treating a patient inappropriately what

would you do?

o Intervene

o Attend to the patient foremost, ensure no harm has come to the

patient, assess the situation if you need help, if not comfort and
reassure the patient.
o Speak to the person concerned reference the matter, maybe they
need training.
o Report to the nurse in charge.
o Relatives may need to be informed.
o Complaints procedure needs to be explained to the patient.
o Critical incident form may need to be completed.
o Ensure the incident is documented in the patients notes. The
answers given are not conclusive and only here to aid you in your
interview, anything you can add will only improve your chances.
If a patient complains (complen pronuncia) of feeling sick, dizzy and unwell-what
would you do?
If the patients blood pressure was very low-what would you do?
If the patients blood sugar was very low-what would you do?
When a patient returns from a surgical procedure/operation what is the nurses
role?
What checks will you make when looking for bleeding?
Have you administratered oral/intravenous medications?
How do you administer medications safely?
A relative is unhappy about the care the ward is giving and come to you to
discuss their concerns. Can you discuss how you will manage this situation?
You are caring for a patient who becomes ill and you need a doctor to see the
patients immediately. Can you describe how you would communicate your
concerns by phone to ensure the doctor responds appropriately?
Can you talk about the importance of managing you time while working in a
clinical environment/ward?
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT (all these questions have
come up in previous interviews so it is in your best interest to think about them
and add your own answers if possible as mine are not conclusive!)
WHAT EXCITES YOU AND FRUSTRATES YOU AS A NURSE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THIS POST IF YOU
ARE SUCCESSFUL TODAY?
WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU HAVE THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR?

PATIENT SAFETY IS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE TRUSTS QUALITY FRAMEWORK. AS A

STAFF NURSE, HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO PATIENT SAFETY.
HOW CAN YOU SEE IF A HIGH STANDARD OF CARE IS BEING DELIVERED ON YOUR
WARD?
GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF WHY YOU WOULD PERFORM RISK ASSESSMENTS IN
THE CLINICLA AREA?
HOW CAN YOU AS A STAFF NURSE ASSIST IN THE REUCTION OF HAI (HOSPITAL
ACQUIRED INFECTIONS)?
AS THE NURSE IN CHARGE HOW CAN YOU BE CONFIDENT YOUR TEAM MEMBERS
ARE DELIVERING A HIGH STANDARD OF CARE?
WHAT WOULD YOUR ROLE BE IF YOUR WARD FAILED ITS DOCUMENT AUDIT AND
HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN AND HOW WOULD YOU
GAIN STAFF SUPPORT IN THIS?

If you are giving out the medications and a patient refuses to take the medicine,
what would you do?

I would try to find out why they do not wish to take them and answer any
questions they may have about the medication
I would explain the importance of taking them and what might happen if
they don't (without scaring them!)
I would ask another nurse to try and ask the patient
I would try a little later on to see if they might take them
If they still would not take them, I would consider phoning a family
member who might be able to speak to them over the phone and
persuade them to take them.
Failing everything I would ensure I document it correctly in their medicine
prescription kardex and in the patients notes.
If this continued to happen I would speak to the GP to advise of the
situation and discuss alternatives

What qualities do you think are important for a Nurse in care of the elderly?

I believe that all nurses regardless of who they look after should be kind,
caring, patient, be trustworthy, motivated, honest, reliable, punctual,
sympathetic and be able to prioritise the care needs of all their patients.
In relation to caring for elderly I believe you need to have a bit more
patience as the elderly can be very slow at daily tasks eg eating, washing,
dressing ect..but it is part of our job to promote independence wherever
possible and to be patient during each task.

We also need good understanding of dementia and the best ways in which
to deal with its symptoms, this usually entails getting to know patients on
an individual basis and what may be a good intervention or one patient
may not work for the next.
Taking time to get to know my patients is therefore essential to a good
working relationship.

If a patient collapses what would you do?

Assess the situation, is it safe to approach the patient?

Call for help
Assess the patient ABC - commence CPR if necessary, follow the CPR
protocol and get the necessary help.
If not necessary and patient is still conscious ask how they feel now, how
they felt before it happened and when it happened?
Make patient comfortable until able to decide if it is safe to move them or
do you need a medical assessment
Maybe speak with or get the GP on call to assess or emergency ambulance
Check clinical observations (b/p, pulse, respirations, spo2,) Monitor as
condition dictates
Document incident
Complete an incident form
Inform family if patient allows or if an emergency situation

You have a patient with non insulin diabetes and their BM is between 3 & 4. What
would you do?

Check what the patients normal range is for this time of day
Ask if they have eaten, or are they about to eat?
Ask how they feel?
Review plan in place for patients diabetes treatment and treat as per plan.
If there is no plan in place and the BM is low for them I will ensure I give
them something to eat (biscuits, glass of milk or coke)
Recheck BM after 30 mins and again if seen necessary
If it continues to be low/lower consider using glucogel
Contact GP if still concerned
Advise patient to call for nurse should they feel in anyway different
(increased heart rate, perspiration, agitated, blurred vision...)
Monitor situation, do they take oral medication for their diabetes, does it
need reviewed

Document situation and ensure other staff members are informed.

Do you understand the term abuse. Explain to me what you the term abuse
means to you?

Abuse is any action that intentionally harms or injures another person. It

also encompasses inappropriate use of any substance, especially those
that alter consciousness (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamines).

There are several major types of abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse,
substance abuse, elder abuse, and psychological abuse.

If you are the nurse in charge and a nurse called in sick, what would you do?

Ask the sick nurse to keep us up to date of when she will return
Look at the staff roster and try to make changes by asking other staff to
swap shifts or do extra
Cover any immediate shift myself if I an unable to get cover
Follow the policy in place for emergency cover eg: phone nursing agency if
possible
Advise the manager of the situation when they return

How will you manage a new admission?

I will admit the patient as per the policy/procedure in place.

I will assess what needs addressing and prioritise
I will assess the patients 'Activities of daily living' Maintaining a safe
environment, Communication, Breathing, Eating and drinking, Elimination,
Washing and dressing, Controlling temperature, Mobilisation, Working and
playing, Expressing sexuality, Sleeping, Death and dying and prepare care
plans accordingly.
I will orientate the patient to the new environment and show them how to
call for assistance.
I will explain the day to day routine and ask about their likes, dislike,
preferences eg; do they like to eat in the dining room with others or alone
in their room.
Ask them what they consider to be of most importance to them whilst
staying with us and advise others of these things to try and make them
feel as comfortable as possible.
This list is endless.......

A resident has a history of chronic heart failure, with a low bp, poor oral intake
over 24 hours also taking diuretic, what action would you take?

I appreciate the resident has heart failure however I would hold the
diuretic until I had the patient assessed by a doctor.
I would ask the resident to remain on bed rest with their legs raised to try
and increase the b/p
I would ask why they have not been drinking and treat any problems in
relation to this and advise the importance of drinking
I would assist with drinking needs
I would carry out anything ordered by the doctor e.g.; IV Fluids, monitoring
of input and output, regular monitoring of clinical observations (bp, pulse,
resp ect)
Ensure the patient is comfortable and has the nurse call bell to hand.
Advise patient not to mobilise alone until we get the bp at satisfactory
level, in case they should feel light headed and faint.
Advise all staff on shift of the situation

Document everything

What action would you take if you find a resident on the floor complaining of leg
pain?

Get help
Assess the situation and approach if safe to do so
Ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible whilst you assess them
Assess the patient -how did it happen, did the fall, where is the pain, what
type of pain is it, is the pain constant
Check the clinical observations - temp, pulse, bp ect...
Look at the leg for signs of a break, did they hear a crack
Speak with the doctor or phone for an ambulance dependent on the
assessment
Only mobilise if certain there is no break otherwise await the doctor or
ambulance and make patient as comfortable as possible

You find a resident who is non responsive, what action would you take?

call for help

immediately instigate CPR protocol - ABCD....
(At this point in your interview, please explain each step of CPR and what
you will do and why)

If you are the nurse on day shift and two residents develop vomiting and
diarrhoea, what action would you take?

Immediately instigate the protocol for possible infection prevention spread

eg: wearing appropriate clothing when entering the rooms, putting up
signs on doors if appropriate, wash clothing and bedding as per policy for
infected linen.
Inform patient of possible infection status and allow time for questions and
relieve anxieties.
Obtain samples of faeces for testing (send for O and S and CDIF if seen
necessary) (organism and sensitivity and clostridium dificile)( to send for
cdif the sample must be water like and if this is suspected then alcohol gel
must not be used for hand decontamination and soap and water washing
is essential)
Isolate the patients to their room
Inform all staff of possible infection status including domestic staff
(cleaners) and kitchen staff
Ensure nurse in charge is aware
Speak with the doctor and carry out anything they request
monitor the patient for signs of dehydration, commence on an input and
output chart
monitor dietary intake
administer anti-emetics, anti-diarrhoea medications as the doctor has
prescribe

Limit visitors to the residents and ensure they are aware of hygiene
procedures.
Inform kitchen staff and discuss the last 24 hours menu, ???could it be
food poisoning???
Possibly stop visitors entering home if more residents develop symptoms

How would you ensure your patient/residents would have a happy life?

Each patient should be assessed on an individual basis about their likes

and dislikes
Every effort should then be made to ensure that each individuals likes are
addressed eg 'playing bingo or other games, receiving books to read,
watching television programmes, going on trips out.
Ensuring they are receiving food and drinks that they like
Ensuring they are comfortable at all times especially if they are bed/chair
bound
Being respectful of their religious beliefs and having ministers visit if they
request
Ensuring dignity is maintained at all times
Promoting their independence

Could you explain why diet is important for elderly patients?

Maintaining your cardiovascular health during the later years of life is

important, particularly because heart disease was avoid eating foods that
contain unhealthy fats and to increase your intake of healthy fats.
Unhealthy fats -- such as trans fats found in processed
As you age, your bones begin to lose strength. Bone-related diseases,
such as osteomalacia and osteoporosis, are associated with increased risk
of fractures. Vitamin D and calcium are important nutrients that can help
you maintain strong bones.
Good nutrition can help you sustain your mental health. Older people are
at increased risk of experiencing depression, according to the Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Older adults are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular, metabolic
and cancer-related diseases due to inadequate dietary intakes of
nutrients; prolonged malnourishment results in rapid deterioration of
health and early death. Healthy nutrition habits as you age are imperative
not only for physical wellness, but also mental well-being and quality of
life. Improving the nutrition habits of an elderly patient involves
recognizing the physiological changes that impact appetite and creatively
formulating a plan that works for the individual.
Calories supply the body with energy to conduct normal daily activities.
A nutritious diet can significantly improve health and quality of life in older
adults. Along with avoiding tobacco and remaining physical active, a
healthy diet can reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions such as
cardiovascular disease and cancer.

There can be a number of challenges managing elderly or dementia patients.

What difficulties do you think you will face?

Non compliance from the patient - e.g.: with taking medications, eating,
allowing assistance with personal hygiene needs.
Patient forgetting things (e.g. who they are, where they live, how to do
things.....)
Possible aggression.
Depression.
Inappropriate behaviours

If you had a patient has problems with falling a lot, how would you manage this?
What do you think some of the causes would be?

Speak with the patient and find out why they think it is happening.
Try to find out the cause and manage it appropriately (eg: what
is their diet like, have they got pains,
Assess patient safety and commence any protocol seen necessary to
prevent further falling
Ensure nurse call bell is to hand at all times

What do you understand the word dignity to mean?

Dignity is a term used in moral, ethical, legal, and political discussions to

signify that a being has an innate right to be valued and receive ethical
treatment.
The RCN believes that every member of the nursing workforce should
prioritise dignity in care, placing it at the heart of everything we do. Yet
while dignity is clearly a vital component of care, the RCN is concerned
that it is beginning to be lost.
When dignity is absent from care, people feel devalued, lacking control
and comfort. They may also lack confidence, be unable to make decisions
for themselves, and feel humiliated, embarrassed and ashamed.
Providing dignity in care centres on three integral aspects: respect,
compassion and sensitivity. In practice, this means:
Respecting patients' and clients' diversity and cultural needs; their privacy
- including protecting it as much as possible in large, open-plan hospital
wards; and the decisions they make
Being compassionate when a patient or client and/or their relatives need
emotional support, rather than just delivering technical nursing care
Demonstrating sensitivity to patients' and clients' needs, ensuring their
comfort.
Patients and clients can also experience dignity - or its absence - in what
they wear, such as gowns, and in the physical environment where
treatment takes place. For example:
facilities such as toilets should be well maintained and cleaned regularly
curtains between beds should close properly to offer some measure of
privacy
toilet doors should be closed when in use

bays in wards should be single-sex

gowns should be designed and made in a way that allows them to be
fastened properly to avoid accidental exposure
privacy should be provided for private conversations, intimate care and
personal activities, such as going to the toilet. (RCN)

You are the nurse in charge and a patient comes to you to say, no one has taken
me to the toilet today and my pad is wet. What would you do?

Take the patient to the bathroom and tend to their skin care needs
immediately.
Reassure the patient this matter will be dealt with, ask if this happens
regularly or if this is the first time.
Relieve the patients anxieties.
Offer a complaints form to the patient.
Investigate why this happened and deal with it appropriately...eg; speak
with the care assistants and the nurse in charge if seen necessary.
Monitor this situation and ensure other staff are made aware of what
happened and that it should never happen again.

The mealtime experience in the home is very important, everyone will help,
Nurses & Care Staff. . What things do you think are important to help the
residents have a positive experience?

Ensure residents are allowed a choice of food and drink (aware of likes and
dislikes)
Those who wish to eat in their rooms alone are able to do so or likewise
those who wish to be with others are brought to the dining room.
Assistance is given where necessary and time is taken (patience)
Clean, (clutter and obstacle) free environment to eat in. Nice environment,
calm, nice music
Food is warm, fresh and nutritious.
There are no drugs given and no visitors or any distractions.

We are currently recruiting nurses to work with patients suffering from

Can you tell us about your previous experience caring for patients with
this kind of pathologies?
How do you decide which tasks are more important and should be done
first during your shift? How do you manage your time?
What would you say are your main strengths as a nurse?
What qualities are necessary to work in a team?
Tell me what you know about the purpose of a care plan?
What is a diuretic and when may they be used?
What steps would you take when admitting a new patient?

What do you understand by abuse?

How would you respond if a patient refused to take his medication?
Define Person Centred Care and what it means to you.
What would you consider as the most important factors to good record
keeping?
How would you manage a new admission with stage 4 pressure sore?
What is the last piece of medical research you have read and how did it
influence your practice?
What should you do if you discover you have made a medication error?
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