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Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) interview questions and answers.

  1. Why did you decide on a career as a licensed practical nurse? See answer
  2. Why does a position at this facility seem appealing to you? See answer
  3. Can you describe how you manage pressure and stressful circumstances at work? See answer
  4. How do you conduct triage services after admitting a patient or administering emergency treatment? See answer
  5. Have you worked as an LPN in a nursing home environment? Can you describe the role you performed? See answer
  6. Have you worked as an LPN in an emergency room? Can you describe your role and how you assisted the ER doctors? See answer
  7. What would be your reaction if you found your colleague violating company policies? See answer
  8. Describe the qualities that you believe are necessary for an LPN to succeed in their role. See answer
  9. Describe how you would handle a challenging or demanding patient. See answer
  10. What steps would you take if your shift replacement failed to arrive on time? See answer
  11. How would you handle a complaint of negligence in a patient’s care from a family member?
  12. How do you register a patient in your facility’s IT system?
  13. Describe the services you performed when working in the labour and delivery department.
  14. Describe how you would handle a disagreement with the recommendation of a registered nurse.
  15. How do you stay updated with the latest developments in your field?
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Hire your next Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) today.

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Hire your next Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Interview Questions and Answers

Why did you decide on a career as a licensed practical nurse?

This question helps to assess a candidate's interest and passion for healthcare services. You can also determine how candidates stay motivated to perform optimally in the workplace. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Passion for healthcare services 
  • Professionalism
  • Ability to stay motivated 

Example:

 “I've always been passionate about helping others and contributing to my community. However, my interest in nursing started during high school. My grandmother got ill, and I was grateful for how the nurse treated her. This inspired me to pursue a career as an LPN so that I could to attend to the needs of others.” 

Why does a position at this facility seem appealing to you?

This question allows you to learn a candidate's knowledge about the facility and its activities. You can also assess a candidate's ability to research and prepare for tasks. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • A clear and concise answer
  • Knowledge of the company's activities 
  • Ability to research

Example:

“One thing that attracts me to your facility is its reputation as one of the leading medical institutions in this province. I'm also impressed by its commitment and attention to detail when it comes to caring for patients. I believe your facility provides a conducive environment for me to pursue my passion and develop as a licensed practical nurse.”

Can you describe how you manage pressure and stressful circumstances at work?

Working as a licensed practical nurse is a mentally and physically challenging task. This question allows you to assess how a candidate handles work-related stress and maintains productivity in the workplace. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Understanding of work-related stress
  • Knowledge of stress management techniques 
  • Professionalism 

Example:

“I recognize that working as a licensed practical nurse can be challenging. However, I manage stress by taking a rest at regular intervals. I also adopt other stress management techniques, focusing on solutions rather than problems. Some things I do are take deep breaths, engage in recreational activities, and get nerve-calming massages.” 

How would you handle a complaint of negligence in a patient's care from a family member?

A career as an LPN requires an ability to solve problems and resolve conflict. This question allows you to assess a candidate's ability to manage complaints from family members and take active steps to prioritize patients' needs. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Professionalism
  • Commitment to prioritizing patient needs
  • Ability to resolve problems 

Example:

“I'd first calm the family member, apologize to them while restating our commitment to providing the best healthcare services to patients. Afterward, I'd report to the appropriate body to conduct an assessment of the quality of healthcare the patient receives. Based on the report, I'll inform the family member of specific actions we're taking to ensure we provide the best care to the patient.”

How do you register a patient in your facility's IT system?

An LPN needs to perform clerical functions within their department. This question lets you assess their knowledge of admitting or registering patients and updating their files within a department. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Experience adhering to medical record protocols 
  • Experience entering patient data into medical IT systems
  • Experience with admissions processes

Example:

“I request a government-issued ID card for identity verification. I then accept the relevant insurance cards where the patient has insurance coverage. Next, I enter the patient's details, such as contact information, employment, medical conditions, allergies, and cause of admission, into the system.”

How do you conduct triage services after admitting a patient or administering emergency treatment?

An LPN assigned to triage must follow proper protocols in the collection of information. This question assesses a candidate's ability to collect data from patients regarding the symptoms and signs of the issue for which they need treatment. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Experience delivering triage services within medical facilities and emergency rooms
  • Understanding of information collection protocols before medical treatment
  • Ability to pay attention to detail 

Example:

“When delivering services, I collect a patient's blood pressure, weigh them using a scale, determine their temperature, and update these vital details in the patient chart. I then ask some questions about existing medical conditions that could result in their condition worsening.” 

Describe the services you performed when working in the labour and delivery department.

Licensed practical nurses must conduct physical examinations to determine fetal heart rate, contractions, patient's vital, and the phase of labour. This question assesses a candidate's ability to function within the labour and delivery department. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Nursing experience in the labour and delivery department
  • Ability to work with doctors, medical technicians, and nurses
  • Understanding of labour and delivery codes

Example:

“My first priority was to put the expectant parents at ease. Then, I obtained information about the pregnancy stage, contractions, and other relevant information. I also confirmed their vitals, conducted physical exams, and constantly monitored contractions.”

Have you worked as an LPN in a nursing home environment? Can you describe the role you performed?

This question is vital to assess whether a candidate can function in a nursing home and deliver optimal care to patients. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Experience updating patient medical records
  • Experience working with registered nurses
  • Experience monitoring medical conditions and vitals within nursing homes

Example:

“I had a great experience working in a nursing home over the last six months. Each day, I evaluated patient's vitals to update their medical records. I also helped patients with daily grooming, hygiene and dressing needs, and mobility issues. I then updated the doctor about available test results from labs and hospitals.”

Have you worked as an LPN in an emergency room? Can you describe your role and how you assisted the ER doctors?

Licensed practical nurses are vital members of an emergency team as they help other members discharge their duties effectively. This question assesses a candidate's capacity to work in a fast-paced setting and assist ER doctors in managing medical crises. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Experience delivering treatments in emergencies 
  • Ability to coordinate efforts with departments 
  • Experiencing providing emergency medical treatments

Example:

“In the emergency room, I began IVs, obtained information from patients regarding their condition, and assisted patients based on the ER doctor's orders. I also coordinated with the X-ray and lab departments to obtain information for diagnosis. I subsequently administered medication based on the doctor's directive.”

Describe how you would handle a disagreement with the recommendation of a registered nurse.

LPNs must function under the supervision of a registered nurse or doctor. This question is important to assess a candidate's ability to balance respect for supervisors and prioritizing patient care. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Ability to follow instructions 
  • Capacity to abide by recognized medical protocols
  • Commitment to patient care

Example:

“My first reaction would be to try to understand the reason for the directive from the registered nurse. Where I still can't understand it, I would ask for clarification from a senior medical professional to gain clarity. However, in cases of emergencies, I would set aside my reservation and follow the registered nurse's instruction.”

What would be your reaction if you found your colleague violating company policies?

Licensed practical nurses must prioritize the needs of patients in their relationship with colleagues and supervisors. This question allows you to assess how a candidate handles ethical issues that affect patients' health. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Professionalism
  • Commitment to prioritize patients' needs
  • Experience handling ethical issues

Example:

“I recognize that no employee, including myself, should break rules that guide the delivery of our services at the facility. Likewise, I understand that violating such policies can affect our capacity to provide the best healthcare services to patients. As such, my reaction would be to inform the appropriate authorities of such violations to prevent them from happening in the future.”

Describe the qualities that you believe are necessary for an LPN to succeed in their role.

This question is important to assess a candidate's understanding of the skills needed to deliver on the job. It also allows you to determine their capacity to demonstrate these skills in the workplace. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Ability to pay attention to detail and communicate effectively
  • Commitment to providing care to patients
  • Experience demonstrating these skills

Example:

“I believe an LPN must understand hierarchies, such as managing CNAs, while listening to registered nurses. This ensures that they can remain a core part of a functional team. Beyond this, it's important for LPNs to possess exceptional communication skills and pay attention to detail while being empathetic and attentive to the needs of patients.”

Describe how you would handle a challenging or demanding patient.

You can assess a candidate's ability to maintain a positive relationship with patients regardless of their disposition. You also determine a candidate's capacity for empathy towards patients irrespective of the circumstances. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Experience handling challenging or demanding patients
  • Empathy

Example:

“I recognize some patients pose more of a challenge than others. However, rather than focus on their conduct, I try to understand their perspective while working to make things better. For instance, at my previous job I encountered an elderly patient who was hostile. However, I realized this was due to constant physical pain. In turn, I spoke to the doctor and provided medications to help with the pain. This calmed him down significantly and made him more receptive.”

What steps would you take if your shift replacement failed to arrive on time?

Medical workers usually work in shifts. This question aims to determine a candidate's ability to prioritize meeting patient needs over personal matters. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Commitment to putting patient's needs first
  • Ability to follow shift replacement protocol
  • Experience handling issues with shift changes

Example:

“My priority is to remain available to patients, so I'd stay in the facility until a replacement arrives. At my previous job, I'd promised my son I'd be available for his football match. However, my replacement failed to arrive. I called my partner to fill in for me and waited for my replacement to arrive. When my replacement failed to arrive within an hour, I informed the management and waited for a new placement to arrive.”

How do you stay updated with the latest developments in the medical field?

This question aims to assess a candidate's commitment to staying relevant within their field through continuous education. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Willingness to learn
  • Ability to research
  • Passion for healthcare services

Example:

“I'm passionate about delivering the best care to patients, so I regularly take online courses on novel issues within the medical field to stay updated. I also read medical magazines and medical blogs to discover new issues and medical procedures within the industry. Likewise, I constantly attend online and physical workshops, seminars, and conferences that allow me to network with researchers and learn new ideas.”

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