LPN

LPN qualifications to look for

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN or LVN) provide standard patient care under the supervision of registered nurses (RN) or physicians. They work in hospitals or nursing care facilities, most commonly in long-term care.

📌Don’t forget: Check local legislation as licensure requirements vary per location and job description. 

Keep an eye out for candidates who are:

• Critical thinkers  
• Strong communicators
• Good with people 
• Efficient 
• Detail-oriented
• Compassionate
• Knowledgeable about procedures
  

Top tip: Hire candidates willing to grow by making sure their personal career goals align with your company's mission.

Role-specific interview questions

• Why did you become a nurse? What do you find most rewarding in your job?
• What are some routine procedures that an LPN performs? How comfortable are you performing these? 
• What is the most difficult part of being an LPN? How do you respond to these challenges?
• How do you handle stress? What is your outlet outside of work? 
• What are vital signs and at what frequency should they be monitored? How are they charted? 
• What steps do you take to comfort an elderly patient? 
• Do you have experience in administering injections? If so, explain. 
• How do you keep your knowledge fresh in [specialty area]?
• Do you prefer working independently or under supervision? Why?
• What do you like about working as a team? Are there times when you prefer to work alone?

Behavioral interview questions

• Tell me about a time a patient thanked you for providing excellent care. How did it help you improve as a nurse? 
• Have you ever had to deliver bad news to a family about a patient? Explain the situation. 
• Have you ever had a conflict with a coworker? If so, how did you handle it? 
• Have you ever disagreed with a colleague for a treatment or nursing procedure? What was the issue and how was it resolved? 
• Have you ever made a mistake concerning a patient? What happened and what did you do differently going forward?
• Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult patient. What were the situation and outcome? 
  

Problem-solving interview questions

• What’s the protocol if you enter a patient’s room and you find their vital signs are not very good?
• What would you do if you were given instructions from an RN you didn’t agree with? 
• How would you handle a patient or a family member who was dissatisfied with the provided care?
• How do you respond if a patient refuses to take their medication?