Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing Interview Questions & Answers

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Last updated 24 October 2026 · Created by a practising NHS doctor · Independent of the NHS

Quick answer

What questions are asked in an NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interview?

NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interviews usually mix values-based questions with scenarios specific to the role. Typical themes include airway management, difficult airway trolley, rapid sequence induction, post-op deterioration, opioid toxicity and PONV. Every interview panel writes its own questions, so practise the themes rather than memorising answers. The 8 free questions on this page cover a spread of them.

 

At a glance

• Role: Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing (NHS Nursing and Midwifery)

• Questions: 40 original practice questions, each with a full model answer

• Free to read: the first 8 questions and answers on this page

• Full bank: £4.99, 12 months of access, no subscription

• Independent: not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHS

 

Read 8 questions in full, free, and see exactly what you get before you pay. Unlock the other 32 for £4.99. One payment, 12 months of access, no subscription. Secure checkout through Stripe.

These are original practice questions written to reflect how NHS interviews are run. They are not leaked or official questions, and Healthcare Interview Prep is independent of the NHS.

 

 

Free NHS interview questions and model answers

 

 

Question 1: Why do you want to work as an anaesthetic and recovery nurse, and why in our theatres?

Motivation question  ·  Motivation

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel wants a genuine reason for choosing perioperative nursing rather than a general wish for a change. They are listening for an understanding of what anaesthetic and recovery work actually involves, evidence that you have researched this department and its case mix, and realistic expectations about the learning curve.

 

Model answer

For me it started on a surgical ward placement when I was given a day in theatres. I spent most of it in recovery, and I watched a nurse receive a man who had just had a bowel resection. Within about ten minutes she had his airway sorted, his pain under control and had noticed his blood pressure drifting down before anyone else had. She did it all calmly while talking to him as he woke up. I remember thinking that this was nursing at its most concentrated: one patient, at the most vulnerable point of their journey, and you are the person keeping them safe.

Since then I have worked on a surgical ward, and that has actually strengthened my interest. I have received a lot of patients back from recovery, and I have seen the difference a really good recovery handover makes. When it is clear about the analgesia plan, the fluids and any airway concerns, the first night goes smoothly. I want to be the nurse on the other side of that handover, setting the patient up well.

What draws me to the anaesthetic side as well is the teamwork. I like the structure of the WHO checklist, the way everyone has a role at induction, and the fact that preparation, like checking the difficult airway trolley properly, genuinely changes outcomes.

As for here, I know you run a mix of elective orthopaedics, general surgery and emergency lists, and that recovery also takes some day case patients. When I came on the visit, the senior sister explained your rotation between the anaesthetic room and recovery and the competency programme for new starters, including airway skills and supervised practice. That rotation is exactly what I am looking for, because I want to understand the whole pathway rather than one end of it.

I am realistic that I will be learning a lot at first, and that there are emergencies I will need to be ready for. But I learn best in a structured, supportive team, and that is what I saw here.

 

Why this answer works

This answer opens with a specific, believable moment and links it to the qualities recovery nursing needs. It uses the candidate's ward experience as a strength, shows real research into the department, and acknowledges the learning curve honestly. Replace the placement story and departmental details with your own, and make sure you mention something you learned from a visit or conversation.

 

Key points to include

• A specific personal moment that sparked your interest in anaesthetics or recovery
• Understanding that the role covers airway care, deterioration and safe handover
• How your current experience transfers to theatres
• Evidence of research or a visit to this department
• Realistic expectations and a wish for structured support

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Saying you want to leave the ward because theatres are calmer or more predictable
• Talking only about the technical kit and not about patients
• Giving an answer that could apply to any theatre department
• Implying you already know everything about airway management

 

NHS values and standards

Compassion; Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients. NMC Code: Prioritise people.

 

Further reading

• NHS Constitution for England
• The NMC Code
• Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP): Standards and Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice

 

 

Question 2: A patient has just arrived in recovery after a general anaesthetic and is making a snoring noise with poor chest movement. What would you do?

Scenario question  ·  Airway management

 

What the interview panel is assessing

This tests whether you recognise partial airway obstruction quickly and respond with a safe, systematic approach. The panel wants to hear basic airway manoeuvres, oxygen, monitoring, when to call the anaesthetist, and awareness of more serious causes such as laryngospasm, without stepping outside nursing scope.

 

Model answer

Snoring in a patient who is still drowsy usually means partial obstruction, most often from the tongue and soft tissues falling back, so I would treat it as an airway problem straight away rather than waiting to see if it settles.

First I would stay with the patient and call for help from a colleague, using the bell if needed. I would look, listen and feel: chest and abdominal movement, any see-saw breathing, the sound, and the oxygen saturation trace and capnography if it is in use. I would make sure high flow oxygen is on via the appropriate device, and then use simple manoeuvres: head tilt and chin lift, or a jaw thrust if there is any concern about the neck. Often that alone clears the noise and the chest movement improves.

If there is secretion or vomit, I would suction the oropharynx under direct vision. If the obstruction persists, I would consider an airway adjunct within my competency, for example an oropharyngeal airway if the patient is still deeply unconscious and tolerating it, or a nasopharyngeal airway if they are lighter, following local policy. I would also think about positioning, as a lateral position can help if it is safe for the type of surgery.

At the same time I would be thinking about why it is happening. A high pitched noise or no air movement despite a good jaw thrust could be laryngospasm, which needs the anaesthetist immediately. Residual neuromuscular blockade, opioids or a large tongue in someone with sleep apnoea are other causes. Any failure to improve quickly, falling saturations or a patient who is hard to rouse means I call the anaesthetist urgently using SBAR, and I would make sure the emergency airway equipment is at the bedside.

Once the airway is clear, I would not walk away. I would keep one to one observation until the patient is maintaining their own airway with protective reflexes, record what happened and what worked, and make sure it is included in the handover to the ward, especially if they have a history of sleep apnoea.

 

Why this answer works

This answer shows a clear ABCDE mindset: recognise, act with simple manoeuvres, escalate, and think about the cause. It stays within nursing scope by escalating to the anaesthetist for anything beyond basic adjuncts, and it remembers documentation and onward handover. Use an example from your own recovery experience if you have one.

 

Key points to include

• Recognise snoring and see-saw breathing as airway obstruction
• Call for help, give oxygen, and use head tilt, chin lift or jaw thrust
• Suction and adjuncts only within competency and local policy
• Consider laryngospasm, residual block and opioids as causes
• Escalate early to the anaesthetist using SBAR
• Stay with the patient, document and include in the ward handover

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting to see if the patient wakes up and clears it themselves
• Jumping straight to adjuncts without basic manoeuvres or oxygen
• Leaving the bedside to fetch equipment alone
• Describing drug treatment for laryngospasm as a nursing decision

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients. NMC Code: Preserve safety.

 

Further reading

• Association of Anaesthetists: Immediate Post-anaesthesia Recovery
• Resuscitation Council UK: Adult Advanced Life Support guidance
• Royal College of Anaesthetists: Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthetic Services (GPAS), postoperative care chapter

 

 

Question 3: Talk us through how you receive a patient into recovery from the theatre team. What do you need to know?

Clinical question  ·  Handover

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is checking that you understand a safe, structured handover and that you prioritise the patient before the paperwork. They want to hear what information matters in recovery, the importance of the anaesthetist staying until you are happy, and how you challenge an incomplete handover.

 

Model answer

The first thing I do is look at the patient, not the chart. Before formal handover starts, I want the patient connected to my monitoring, oxygen on, and the airway checked. If the airway is not secure or the patient is unstable, the handover waits and the anaesthetist stays with me. Our local standard is that the anaesthetist does not leave until the recovery nurse is happy to accept the patient, and I think that is right.

Once the patient is stable, I like a structured handover, usually SBAR. From the anaesthetist I need the patient's name and procedure, relevant history such as sleep apnoea, diabetes or allergies, the type of anaesthetic and airway used, any difficulties with the airway, and what was given for analgesia and antiemesis and when. I also need intraoperative events, fluid balance and blood loss, and a clear plan: oxygen, analgesia, fluids, PONV treatment, observations and any blood tests or X rays.

From the scrub practitioner I need the wound and dressing details, drains, packs or catheters, and the surgeon's specific instructions, such as limb observations after orthopaedic surgery or positioning restrictions. If there is a regional block or local infiltration, I want to know where and when, so I can assess it properly and protect the limb.

I check the prescription chart is completed, including any PCA or epidural prescriptions, and that allergies are documented. If something is missing, I ask there and then while the team are in the room. For example, I once received a patient after a laparoscopic procedure where the handover did not mention that they had a known difficult airway. I only found out because I read the anaesthetic chart. I raised it calmly with the anaesthetist, who confirmed it and stayed nearby until the patient was fully awake, and we made sure it was flagged for the ward and the patient's records.

Finally, I repeat back the key points and the plan. That closes the loop and gives everyone a chance to correct me.

 

Why this answer works

This works because it puts the patient first, uses a recognised structure, and lists exactly the information a recovery nurse needs. The brief example shows the candidate will check documentation and challenge gaps. Replace it with your own experience of an incomplete or excellent handover, and be ready to say which handover tool your current team uses and why it helps.

 

Key points to include

• Patient first: airway, oxygen and monitoring before handover
• Anaesthetist stays until the recovery nurse accepts the patient
• Structured handover such as SBAR from anaesthetist and scrub
• Airway difficulties, analgesia, antiemetics, fluids and a clear plan
• Check prescriptions, allergies, drains and blocks
• Repeat back to close the loop

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Accepting a verbal handover while the patient's airway is still unsupported
• Letting the anaesthetist leave before you are satisfied
• Forgetting surgical instructions such as limb or drain checks
• Not challenging missing information because the team are busy

 

NHS values and standards

Working together for patients; Commitment to quality of care. NMC Code: Practise effectively; Preserve safety.

 

Further reading

• Association of Anaesthetists: Immediate Post-anaesthesia Recovery
• NHS England: National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs)
• The NMC Code

 

 

Question 4: How do you protect the dignity of patients who are unconscious or semi-conscious in the anaesthetic room and recovery?

Values question  ·  Dignity and respect

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel wants to know that you see patients as people even when they cannot see or hear you. They are assessing practical steps to preserve privacy and dignity, sensitivity to culture and gender, and whether you would challenge disrespectful behaviour in a busy theatre environment.

 

Model answer

I think dignity is most at risk exactly when the patient cannot speak up for themselves, so in anaesthetics and recovery it has to be something you do deliberately rather than something you assume.

In the anaesthetic room, it starts before induction. Patients arrive in a gown, often anxious, sometimes with their underwear removed. I keep them covered with a blanket, which also helps with warming, and I only expose what is needed for cannulation or monitoring. I introduce myself and explain what I am doing, and I make sure the door is closed. If a patient has asked to keep a head covering or a religious item, I find out whether that can safely stay on and, if not, I explain why and make sure it goes with them and is returned.

Once the patient is asleep, I still talk to them as if they can hear, and I keep conversations around them professional. I remember a patient on an orthopaedic list who was positioned for surgery and left exposed while the team discussed the next case. I quietly covered her and mentioned to the team that we were still in her space. Nobody was offended, and it reset the tone.

In recovery, patients wake up confused and sometimes say or do things they would be mortified about. I keep curtains drawn where possible, keep them covered, and reassure them calmly. If a patient is disinhibited, I protect their privacy rather than making it a story. I also think about gender, for example offering a chaperone or a same gender nurse for intimate checks where possible, and using an interpreter rather than a relative for anything important.

For me it comes back to treating every patient as if their family were standing next to the trolley. If I saw something disrespectful, I would say so at the time and raise it afterwards if needed.

 

Why this answer works

This answer works because it is practical and specific to theatres, covering both the anaesthetic room and recovery. The short example shows the candidate will challenge behaviour tactfully. Use your own example of protecting dignity when a patient could not do so themselves, ideally one from an anaesthetic room, theatre or recovery setting.

 

Key points to include

• Dignity matters most when the patient cannot speak up
• Keep patients covered, doors closed and exposure minimal
• Respect religious and cultural items and preferences
• Keep conversations professional when patients are asleep
• Protect disinhibited or confused patients on emergence
• Challenge disrespectful behaviour

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Giving a generic answer about curtains with nothing theatre specific
• Suggesting dignity matters less once a patient is anaesthetised
• Ignoring culture, religion and gender preferences
• Saying you would only report concerns later rather than acting at the time

 

NHS values and standards

Respect and dignity; Compassion; Everyone counts. NMC Code: Prioritise people.

 

Further reading

• NHS Constitution for England
• The NMC Code
• Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP): Standards and Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice

Found these useful? The other 32 questions cover the rest of the role, each with a full model answer. Unlock all 40 for £4.99.

 

 

Question 5: A patient in recovery after abdominal surgery becomes tachycardic and their blood pressure is falling. How would you manage this?

Scenario question  ·  Recognising deterioration

 

What the interview panel is assessing

This scenario assesses your ability to recognise and respond to postoperative deterioration, think about likely causes such as bleeding, and escalate promptly. The panel wants a structured ABCDE approach, clear communication with the anaesthetist and surgical team, and awareness of your own scope.

 

Model answer

A rising heart rate with a falling blood pressure after abdominal surgery is bleeding until proven otherwise, so I would treat it seriously from the start and not assume it is pain or the anaesthetic wearing off.

I would call for help and get the anaesthetist to the bedside, and while waiting I would assess using ABCDE. Airway and breathing: is the patient maintaining their airway, what is the respiratory rate and saturation, are they on oxygen. Circulation: heart rate and rhythm on the monitor, blood pressure trend, capillary refill, skin colour and temperature, and urine output if catheterised. Then I would look at the wound, the dressings and any drains, and check whether the abdomen is becoming distended or more painful. I would also check the fluid balance from theatre, as the patient may simply be underfilled.

I would make sure there is working IV access and that fluids and emergency drugs prescribed by the anaesthetist are ready to give. Lying the patient flat and raising the legs can help if appropriate. I would calculate and document the NEWS2 score, though in recovery I would act on the trend and my clinical judgement rather than waiting for a number.

When I escalate, I would use SBAR: for example, 'I am calling about Mr A, two hours after a laparotomy. His heart rate has gone up steadily and his blood pressure has dropped over thirty minutes. His drain has filled with fresh blood. I am worried he is bleeding. Please come now.' I would also ask whether the surgical team should be called and whether bloods, including a full blood count and crossmatch, are needed.

I would stay with the patient, increase my observations, and document everything with times. If the patient needed to go back to theatre, I would prepare them, keep them and their family informed, and make sure the handover back to theatre was clear.

 

Why this answer works

This answer is strong because it names the most likely cause, uses ABCDE and NEWS2 appropriately, and gives a realistic SBAR escalation. It stays within nursing scope while showing good clinical reasoning. Swap in a deteriorating patient you have cared for, describing exactly what you noticed first and how you escalated.

 

Key points to include

• Treat tachycardia with hypotension after surgery as possible bleeding
• Call for help and assess using ABCDE
• Check wound, drains, abdomen and fluid balance
• Use NEWS2 and trends but act on clinical concern
• Escalate clearly with SBAR to anaesthetist and surgical team
• Stay with the patient and document timings

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming it is pain and simply giving analgesia
• Waiting for the next set of observations before escalating
• Forgetting to check drains and the wound
• Describing fluid or drug decisions as independent nursing decisions

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients. NMC Code: Preserve safety; Practise effectively.

 

Further reading

• Royal College of Physicians: National Early Warning Score (NEWS2)
• Association of Anaesthetists: Immediate Post-anaesthesia Recovery
• NICE guideline NG180: Perioperative care in adults

 

 

Question 6: Can you tell us about a time you worked closely with a doctor or another professional under pressure, and how you communicated?

Competency question  ·  Teamwork

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is looking for evidence of effective, respectful communication in a high pressure setting. They want to hear about closed loop communication, clear roles and speaking up, and how you contribute to a team rather than just following instructions. A structured STAR answer with a clear outcome is expected.

 

Model answer

The example I would use was during an emergency list on a weekend. I was the anaesthetic nurse for a young woman with suspected appendicitis who had been vomiting for two days. The anaesthetist planned a rapid sequence induction, and the operating department practitioner had been called to another theatre for a few minutes, so the preparation fell mainly to me.

The situation was tense because the surgical team were keen to start, and the patient was frightened. My task was to make sure we were genuinely ready before induction, and to support the anaesthetist without anyone cutting corners.

I suggested we go through the anaesthetic checklist out loud. We confirmed the suction was working and within reach, the airway equipment and the backup plan were ready, and the difficult airway trolley location was known. The anaesthetist talked through his plan A, B and C, and I repeated back what he wanted me to do at each stage. When he asked for a drug, I said its name back as I handed it over, already labelled. I also spoke to the patient, held her hand during preoxygenation and explained what she would feel.

At one point the surgeon came in and asked us to hurry. I calmly said we were nearly ready and would let him know, and the anaesthetist backed that up. The induction went smoothly, and the ODP came back in time to take over the airway assistance role.

Afterwards, the anaesthetist thanked me for slowing things down at the right moment. What I learned was that closed loop communication is not just for big emergencies. It made both of us calmer and it meant that the patient, who was at real risk of aspiration, had a safe, well prepared induction. I now use the same approach every time, even on routine lists.

 

Why this answer works

This answer uses the STAR structure clearly and shows specific communication behaviours: talking through a plan, closed loop communication and calmly protecting the team from pressure. It also demonstrates reflection. Use your own example of working with a doctor, ODP or surgeon under pressure, and be clear about what you personally did.

 

Key points to include

• Use a clear STAR structure with your own actions
• Show closed loop communication and repeating back
• Mention shared planning such as plan A, B and C
• Show calm assertiveness when others add pressure
• Include the patient's experience
• Reflect on what you now do differently

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Describing the team's actions without your own role
• Choosing an example with no real pressure
• Criticising the doctor or surgeon
• Giving no outcome or learning

 

NHS values and standards

Working together for patients; Respect and dignity; Commitment to quality of care. NMC Code: Practise effectively.

 

Further reading

• Difficult Airway Society: Guidelines for management of unanticipated difficult intubation in adults
• National Quality Board: Human Factors in Healthcare, A Concordat
• The NMC Code

 

 

Question 7: During the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist sign in, the surgeon tells the team to skip it because the list is running late. What would you do?

Values question  ·  Raising concerns

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is assessing your commitment to patient safety and your willingness to speak up to senior colleagues. They want to hear that you would challenge respectfully at the time, stop the process if needed, and escalate and report afterwards using local and Freedom to Speak Up routes.

 

Model answer

I would not let the sign in be skipped. The checklist exists because rushed teams make exactly the mistakes it is designed to catch, such as wrong site surgery, missed allergies or unexpected airway problems, and a late list makes those errors more likely, not less.

At the time, I would speak up calmly but clearly. Something like: 'I understand we are behind, but I am not comfortable going ahead without the sign in. It only takes a minute, can we do it now?' I would direct it to the whole team, including the anaesthetist, because they are usually supportive. Most of the time that is enough, and the team does it.

If the surgeon still insisted, I would use the language our team has agreed for stopping a procedure, and I would make it clear that I could not proceed with the anaesthetic until the check was done. I would ask the anaesthetist to hold induction and contact the theatre coordinator or the senior nurse on duty. The patient's safety comes before the list.

I had a smaller version of this on placement in a day surgery unit. The team was keen to move on and the site marking had not been checked against the consent form. A senior nurse asked everyone to pause, and when they looked, the marking was on the correct side but the consent form had a different procedure name. It turned out to be a typing error, but it would not have been noticed without that pause. That stayed with me.

Afterwards, I would complete an incident report so that the pattern could be reviewed, and talk to my manager. If it was a repeated problem, I would use the Freedom to Speak Up route. I would also want to understand the pressure the surgeon was under, because fixing late lists is part of making the checklist work.

 

Why this answer works

This answer is strong because it is firm about safety yet respectful, gives exact words to use, and shows a clear escalation route. The placement example shows why the checklist matters. Use your own example of speaking up, even a small one, and show you know the local escalation routes.

 

Key points to include

• Never skip the checklist because of time pressure
• Speak up calmly at the time with clear words
• Involve the anaesthetist and stop if necessary
• Escalate to the theatre coordinator or senior nurse
• Report through local incident systems
• Know Freedom to Speak Up routes

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Saying you would go along with it and report it later
• Being confrontational or personal with the surgeon
• Not knowing who to escalate to in theatres
• Treating the checklist as paperwork rather than a safety tool

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients; Everyone counts. NMC Code: Preserve safety; Promote professionalism and trust.

 

Further reading

• World Health Organization: Surgical Safety Checklist
• NHS England: National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs)
• National Guardian's Office: Freedom to Speak Up guidance
• The NMC Code

 

 

Question 8: How do you decide a patient is ready to leave recovery, and how do you hand them over to the ward nurse?

Clinical question  ·  Discharge and handover

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel wants to know that you understand recovery discharge criteria, apply them consistently using local policy, and give a safe, complete handover to the ward. They are checking that you would not discharge a patient because of pressure on recovery beds.

 

Model answer

We use our local discharge criteria, which are based on the Association of Anaesthetists recovery guidance, so the decision is consistent rather than based on how busy we are.

In practice, I am checking that the patient is fully conscious and able to maintain their own airway, with protective reflexes and no airway adjunct. Breathing needs to be adequate with oxygen saturations acceptable on the oxygen prescribed for the ward. The observations should be stable and close to the patient's baseline, with no unexplained trends. I want pain and nausea controlled, and I check the patient is warm, the wound and drains are satisfactory, fluids are running as prescribed, and any blocks or epidurals have been assessed. For orthopaedic patients I also check limb observations. If something does not meet the criteria, I discuss it with the anaesthetist, who can decide whether the patient stays longer or needs a higher level of care.

Before the ward nurse arrives, I make sure the paperwork is complete, including the anaesthetic chart, the prescription chart with analgesia and antiemetics, and the postoperative instructions. I also re-read the surgical and anaesthetic plan so I can explain it rather than just pass it on.

The handover itself is face to face at the bedside, using SBAR. I give the procedure and history, what happened in theatre and recovery, the latest observations and NEWS2, what analgesia was given and when it is next due, PCA or epidural details, fluid plan, drain output, and any specific instructions like oxygen requirements for a patient with sleep apnoea. I also tell them about anything that worried me, for example if the patient needed airway support early on, because it is easy to lose that information.

I check the patient is comfortable, wearing correct identification, and knows where they are going. If the ward nurse has questions I cannot answer, I find out before they leave rather than after.

 

Why this answer works

This answer works because it describes discharge criteria at principle level, involves the anaesthetist when criteria are not met, and gives a detailed, structured ward handover. It also shows the candidate resists pressure to move patients early. Replace the details with your own unit's criteria and handover tool, and mention a time you kept a patient longer.

 

Key points to include

• Use local discharge criteria consistently
• Airway, breathing, observations, pain, nausea and temperature
• Check wounds, drains, blocks and fluids
• Involve the anaesthetist when criteria are not met
• Face to face SBAR handover at the bedside
• Pass on airway or deterioration events from recovery

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Giving numerical thresholds that do not match local policy
• Implying patients leave early because recovery is full
• Handing over only the procedure name and observations
• Forgetting prescriptions and analgesia timings

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients. NMC Code: Preserve safety; Practise effectively.

 

Further reading

• Association of Anaesthetists: Immediate Post-anaesthesia Recovery
• Royal College of Physicians: National Early Warning Score (NEWS2)
• Royal College of Anaesthetists: Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthetic Services (GPAS)

 

 

Ready for the other 32?

You have seen how the model answers work. Unlock the full Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing bank to practise every theme the panel might ask about, with the mistakes to avoid spelled out for each one.

 

 

 

About this NHS interview question bank

To prepare for an anaesthetic and recovery nursing interview in the NHS, practise talking through real perioperative situations out loud: a patient with a partially obstructed airway in recovery, an unanticipated difficult intubation and the difficult airway trolley, postoperative bleeding, opioid induced respiratory depression, PONV and pain control, emergence agitation and anaphylaxis at induction. Panels for Band 5 and Band 6 posts will also explore the WHO checklist, handover from theatre and to the ward, the NMC Code, safeguarding and speaking up, so prepare honest examples that show calm vigilance and safe escalation.

This bank is for registered nurses applying for Band 5 and Band 6 anaesthetic and recovery (PACU) posts in NHS theatres, whether you are moving from a ward, critical care or another perioperative role. Each of the 40 original practice questions includes a first person model answer, what the panel is assessing, key points, common mistakes, the NHS values and NMC Code themes it reflects, and further reading. Themes include airway support and the difficult airway trolley, recognising post-op deterioration, PONV and pain management, regional anaesthesia, the WHO checklist and NatSSIPs, handover from theatre and to the ward, safeguarding, equality, leadership of a busy recovery unit and revalidation.

 

What this question bank covers

• Airway management
• Difficult airway trolley
• Rapid sequence induction
• Post-op deterioration
• Opioid toxicity
• PONV
• Pain and PCA
• Emergence delirium
• Anaphylaxis
• Regional anaesthesia
• Hypothermia
• Paediatric recovery
• WHO checklist and NatSSIPs
• Theatre and ward handover
• Safeguarding
• Raising concerns
• Leadership and patient flow
• Revalidation

 

 

Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing NHS interview: frequently asked questions

 

What questions are asked in an NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interview?

NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interviews usually mix values-based questions with scenarios specific to the role. Typical themes include airway management, difficult airway trolley, rapid sequence induction, post-op deterioration, opioid toxicity and PONV. Every interview panel writes its own questions, so practise the themes rather than memorising answers. The 8 free questions on this page cover a spread of them.

 

What band is an NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing job?

The questions on this page are pitched mainly at Band 5 to Band 6 posts. The band for any job depends on the trust and the responsibilities of the post, so always check the advert and job description. Higher bands bring more questions on leadership, supervising others and improving the service.

 

How should I prepare for an NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interview?

Read the job description and person specification closely, then prepare five or six real examples you can tell using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result). Revise the NMC Code, recognising and escalating the deteriorating patient, safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and safe medicines practice. Research the trust's own values and the service you would join, and practise your answers out loud before the day.

 

Which NHS values and standards should I mention in a Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interview?

Link your examples to the NHS values from the NHS Constitution, such as compassion, respect and dignity, and working together for patients. For this role, panels will also expect you to understand the NMC Code, recognising and escalating the deteriorating patient, safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and safe medicines practice. Show these through what you actually did rather than reciting lists.

 

Are these real NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interview questions?

No. They are original practice questions written to reflect how NHS Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing interviews are typically run. Healthcare Interview Prep is independent and not affiliated with the NHS, and nobody can promise which questions you will be asked. Use the model answers to learn structure and content, then build answers from your own experience.

 

What do I get if I unlock the full Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing question bank?

You get all 40 Anaesthetic & Recovery (PACU) Nursing practice questions. Each one has what the panel is assessing, a model answer, why the answer works, key points to include, common mistakes and the NHS values it links to. It is a one-off payment of £4.99 for 12 months' access, with no subscription.

Read the full NHS Nursing and Midwifery interview guide →