Being a dialysis nurse or technician can be very challenging because not only is dialysis itself a very taxing process, especially for the patient, but it is also something the nurses need to pay their undivided attention to as things can go horribly wrong otherwise. Also, dialysis patient care is more intensive than most of the rest, and while interviewing for your position, showing your commitment to ensure the patient’s complete wellbeing and care can help you go a long way.
Here are some of the most common interview questions for dialysis nursing. Like in most of the nursing interviews, dialysis technician interview questions too can be broadly categorised into the following groups- background and experience, character, and hypothetical situational and problem-solving. Some of the questions included here are common DaVita dialysis interview questions. Today, DaVita one of the biggest recruiters for dialysis nurses. Here we go-
Dialysis Nurse and Technician Interview Questions and Answers
1. What do you know about dialysis?
This is one of the most basic questions when it comes to interviewing for the position of a dialysis nurse. As a member of the healthcare sector, you are expected to have very clear knowledge regarding what you have set out to do, and this is where having practical experience helps.
In addition to giving the scientific definitions, include bits about the practical nitty-gritties you have come across that have helped shape your idea of dialysis, as it helps your interviewer get a better understanding of how well-versed you are in this particular field.
2. Why do you choose a dialysis nurse job?
Kidney care comes with its own set of challenges, and often, your patients would be fighting for their life. Being a dialysis nurse often exposes you to unsavory situations. Even the course and intensity of training are very different. You are expected to have chosen this position only after having very clear ideas about what you are getting into.
Sample answer: What inspired me the most to get into this field of kidney care is the general hopelessness that pervades kidney patients and their relatives. True, kidney problems are very difficult to tackle. But the little bit of help and care that I can provide to the suffering people as a part of my job are enough to drive me on.
3. What are the few positive comments/impressions your last boss said about you?
This question is asked not only to test your relations with your seniors in your previous workplace but also your professionalism. It is a great opportunity to brag about yourself using someone else’s words, but remember to make it seem like your boss’s appreciation mattered to you.
Sample answer: According to [insert name], I am one of the few people (s)he met whom (s)he could rely upon without much effort. As a new nurse trying to make lives better, that was a huge thing for me [like this, include some more points].
4. Describe to me the position of a dialysis nurse.
Through this question, your interviewer would try to understand what kind of ideas you have regarding your position as a dialysis nurse, and what you prioritize as a part of your job. Similar questions may include salary expectations and job descriptions. Take some time to think out your answer if required, and try to match your points with the expectations from the work culture of the institution you are aiming for.
Sample answer: While the position of a dialysis nurse is challenging and can be quite exhausting at times, it has been immensely rewarding to me. As a dialysis nurse, I am expected to initiate treatment, monitor the patient throughout the treatment, and have the immense responsibility of deciding when to discontinue treatment. I am also responsible for ensuring that the prescribed medication is rigorously followed, that the machines function properly and that the patient understands what is happening to them. A dialysis nurse often learns many new and unexpected things as she goes along. My position has also taught me to think on my feet and make quick and vital decisions. It has taught me to be very patient, has made me a good listener, and now I have become very efficient in forming and handling bonds with my patients.
5. What field experience do you have in the dialysis nurse position?
Here you talk about the number of years you have spent on the field, the hospitals or dialysis centres you have been associated with, and any special incident that you feel has been defining or life-changing. Remember that it is okay not to have much experience as compared to other candidates as long as you can establish that you are very good at what you do and that you agree to the company’s policy and look forward to new challenges.
Sample answer: I have been on this field for the past five years and I have been associated with both multi-facility hospitals and dialysis clinics. I have come across patients with multiple degrees of renal failure and each experience has been different. [this is where you can insert an experience which has affected you a lot and has brought out or changed your skills]
6. How would you relate your past experiences and ethics with our core values?
Different organizations demand different values and commitments from their employees. And as a nurse, irrespective of your specialty, you are expected to have your own set of ethics since caring for others sets you apart from other professionals. Questions like these are aimed to test your adjustment and negotiation skills. Make it a point to go through all the aims and criteria set out in the brochure or site of the organization before heading out for the interview. Be as specific in your answer as possible.
Sample answer: During all this time as a dialysis nurse, I have realised that some situations arise where you simply can’t negotiate. You must give everything that you have got to deal with it, and I think that that would further the commitment to healthcare this particular organization has.
7. As a team leader, how would you lead your team?
Not all of us are good at communication skills and social situations. But as a nurse, these are very important. Questions like these are again aimed at finding your negotiation capabilities. While you may bean introvert by nature, as a dialysis nurse, you are required to develop some skills which would not only help you but also others to deal with some very tough situations. At the same time, it is always best to tell about your strengths and weaknesses to your interviewer, so that it is easy for them to assign you a position accordingly once you are selected.
Sample answer: As a team leader, I understand that my most important task would be to inspire my team to follow the rules to the T and give their best to deal with a situation. And to do that, not only do I need to be very clear in exactly what I want, but also need to set the right examples in my work.
8. Do you consider it necessary to impress your fellow workers?
Remember, the subtext is always ‘How far are you willing to go to impress your fellow workers?’ It is one thing to make minor concessions to be a better team member, but another to let go of your basics. A frequently asked question similar to this is what would you do if you saw someone in your team behaving unethically. Take your time to answer. Understand that everyone is looking for a confident employee for whom the reputation of the workplace would be of the utmost importance.
Sample answer: It depends on the situation. If it is a critical moment where I am required to do someone else’s work as well, or to work overtime, I am absolutely fine with it. At other times, I would expect my team members to make equal compromises. In case I see someone doing something they shouldn’t, I would try to understand the situation and follow protocol to seek redressal in case it is required of me to do so.
9. How flexible are you with schedules?
You are a parent to a toddler, and it is okay for you to have a rigid work schedule. At the same time, any professional facility would be looking for employees who are ready to make compromises for the improvement of the workplace. As a professional in an area as important as nursing, it would be expected of you to apply for the job only after giving due consideration to the work schedule. Whatever the case may be, you are required to be committed to making life comfortable for your patients.
Sample answer: In case my replacement does not arrive on time [for example], I would get in touch with my facility and try to inquire into my situation. I am fully aware of my responsibility of not leaving the patient unsupervised under any condition. In case there is no replacement at all, I would have to take up additional responsibilities for the time being and then lodge a complaint if the case demands once I return to my facility.
You would, of course, know that these are mostly generic questions. In the end, it all depends on how quick you can think and how confident and well-informed you are to act on your thoughts. But then, those are among the most important factors that go towards making good nurses. Keep a cool head, rely on your knowledge, and keep a positive outlook, and you will undoubtedly create a strong impression.
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