To continue making a good impression read through these ten interview questions that may come up during your nurse labor and delivery interview.
By preparing your answers in advance, you will appear calm and confident during the interview, giving you the edge over other candidates.
Labor And Delivery Nursing Interview Questions
Below are some of the commonly asked ob nursing interview questions.
1. What made you choose Labor and Delivery as your career choice?
This question is usually asked as an icebreaker at the beginning of an interview. The interviewer wants to know whether you have insight into the position.
To answer this question, discuss what motivates you to work with women in labor. You can be honest about your values and how they connect to the position.
Example
“I am passionate about advocating for women’s health, and working with women when they are at their most vulnerable, during the birth process, aligns with my values.
I chose to specialize in labor and delivery to empower women, especially those from impoverished areas, to take better care of their own health and that of their families.
I feel that by taking care of them during the challenging time of birth helps me achieve that.”
2. Things can easily go wrong during childbirth, and in every birth, there is a possibility that a mother or baby will die. How would you handle such an incident?
Unfortunately, tragedy happens in any nursing specialty. The interviewer wants to know how you’ll handle it if such a thing happens.
Even amid tragedy, a nurse is expected to remain calm, cool, and collected. Most importantly, you’ll be there to help support the patient, their friends, or their family members.
Example
“So far, I have been lucky, and all the births I attended had a positive outcome.
However, should the death of my patient or her baby occur in my care, I plan to use all the available resources.
This includes talking to my more experienced colleagues and the hospital counseling services so I can work through this tragedy and it does not affect my performance with other patients.”
3. Doulas are often present in the delivery room at the mother’s request. What is your opinion of Doulas, and how do you plan to partner with them?
Doulas are fast becoming members of the maternity care professionals and provide care for women in labor.
Your answer here needs to highlight your willingness to include them as part of the team.
This includes communicating and collaborating with them during the birthing process.
Example
“I was fortunate enough to work with a Doula who had 20 years of the birthing experience.
I found her knowledge insightful and found ways to combine my medical knowledge with her knowledge of birthing techniques.
By working together, we provided far better care for the patient, and because of this collaboration, I further developed my skills as a nurse.”
4. What is the role of a labor and delivery nurse within a larger maternity healthcare team?
This question is actually asking about how well you work within a team.
To give an answer that will impress the interviewer, talk about your labor and delivery nurse’s scope of practice and how it fits with other maternity care professionals.
Example
“Labor and delivery care nurse provides care for a woman during the entire labor process starting from the first stage, through the delivery and provides care for both women and newborns after the delivery.
As a nurse, I monitor and assess the labor process and alert the medical team if there are any signs of complications.
I also try to make the experience as joyful as possible for my patients by providing compassionate care and being a calming influence during this emotional and pain-filled period.”
5. How will you communicate with patients who refuse to change their birthing plans despite signs that complications may affect their or the baby’s medical health?
The interviewer wants to find out how you use your communication skills to help patients solve problems and make informed decisions that are in their best interest.
When preparing this answer, try to use examples of what you have done in the past or what you will do in the future.
The goal is to address concerns about what patients want as opposed to what medical intervention needs to happen to ensure both the patient and the child have a positive medical outcome.
Also, you can mention how you will make patients understand complex medical information to ensure they make informed decisions.
Example
“Once, I attended to a patient with a very clear and rigid birth plan that she wanted to follow.
Unfortunately, after fourteen hours of labor, it became obvious that she would need a caesarian section to deliver the newborn safely.
The patient refused to accept the doctor’s advice and wanted to continue with the birth plan.
I talked to her for a while to let her calm down and gave her all the necessary medical information in plain language so that she could make an informed decision.
I stayed with her to support her when she agreed to have the caesarian section.”
6. How would you respond to medical emergencies as they arise during birth?
An interviewer needs to evaluate some of your knowledge of handling emergency situations and how you will work in high-risk situations.
Highlight your skills and ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other team members even when under pressure.
Example
“Whenever birth complications arise like shoulder dystocia or a prolapsed cord, I remember my training of what needs to be done, and I calmly carry out the procedures.
I also make sure I follow the protocols to mobilize the emergency medical team to attend to the patient in trouble.
Of course, if anything goes wrong during the birth, the patient becomes anxious and stressed. I calmly explain to her what is happening and the reasons for the urgent medical interventions.
I find that patients feel calmer and are more cooperative when someone explains what is happening and what the next steps will be.”
7. How do you communicate concerns during labor and delivery with other healthcare providers?
The interviewer wants to assess your communication skills with physicians, nurse managers, and other healthcare providers when you encounter medical concerns.
To make a good impression, explain how you would disseminate information and ask for input when addressing patient care problems.
Example
“If I notice that something is not right with a patient, I call the patient’s physician to discuss my concerns.
If the doctor is not on call, I will ask my charge nurse or teammates for help. Clear and effective communication helps me provide excellent care and support to my patients.
8. What are your long-term career goals?
The interviewer wants to make sure you plan to work for the healthcare facility at least for a couple of years because replacing personnel is difficult and expensive.
Be as honest as you can when answering this question.
Example
“I am passionate about working in the labor and delivery department. I want to work on increasing my expertise and gaining experience for the next five years.
Then, I hope to apply for a managerial position within the department if one becomes available.”
9. How would you stay motivated when working in the labor and delivery ward?
When staff loses their motivation, they become complacent and are prone to making more mistakes in their work.
The interviewer wants to know that you have coping strategies you can use when work gets stressful and that you will be able to keep your motivation to give your best to your patients.
Example
“As I mentioned before, advocating for women’s health is my passion, and working with women during the most vulnerable period in their life and helping them achieve good health outcomes is in line with my values.
Therefore, this is sufficient motivation to make sure I will always try to do my best for my patients.
10. Why should we hire you?
This question is usually asked at the end of the interview and is difficult to answer.
You cannot simply say that the employer should hire you because you want to work there. It is also not good form to assume you are better than other applicants.
The safest way to answer this loaded question is to mention all the skills you will bring to the position if offered.
Example
“I will be able to provide excellent care for your patients because I have the necessary training and experience to recognize the signs of complications during the birth process and know when to contact the physician.
I am comfortable nursing high-risk patients and know the emergency protocols and procedures, which means I can respond to emergencies if they arise and am a safe practitioner.
I am a good communicator, and I stay calm when under pressure. Therefore, I will be a good fit for your unit.”
Final Thoughts
Going through the interview process may be nerve-racking, but with a little thought and preparation, you will be able to get through the interview with flying colors.
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