Interview scorecard template

Licensed Practical Nurse interview scorecard

Evaluate Licensed Practical Nurse candidates across 4 weighted areas: clinical competence, patient safety and protocol, patient communication, and working in a clinical team. Clinical competence leads at 35%, so check hands-on scope: IV site care, wound dressing changes, Foley insertion, blood glucose monitoring, tube feeds, and comfort with 20 to 30 resident. Use the rubric to compare role-specific evidence consistently.

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healthcare clinicallong term carelpnmedication administrationwound care
TL;DR
For clinical competence, look for evidence the candidate names specific skills performed at volume, cites patient loads and settings (skilled nursing, rehab, clinic), and knows scope limits without prompting. For patient safety and protocol, look for evidence the candidate describes a real deterioration they caught early, the vitals or signs that triggered it, and the incident reporting that followed. Apply the written 1–5 anchors to every answer, record the evidence behind each rating, and use the factor weights to reach a consistent overall assessment.
Complete evaluation framework

What to assess and how to score it

Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.

01
Evaluation factor

Clinical competence

35% weight

Check hands-on scope: IV site care, wound dressing changes, Foley insertion, blood glucose monitoring, tube feeds, and comfort with 20 to 30 resident medication passes.

Evidence to listen for

  • Command of the procedures, anatomy, and equipment the role requires
  • Holds current registration or certification
  • Knows normal from abnormal and what to do about each
  • Recognises when a case is outside their scope

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Unsafe knowledge gaps; registration missing or lapsed.

2
Needs Improvement

Knowledge gaps that would affect patient care.

3
Satisfactory

Competent for standard cases; needs support on complex ones.

4
Very Good

Strong clinical knowledge; safe and reliable across the usual range.

5
Excellent

Names specific skills performed at volume, cites patient loads and settings (skilled nursing, rehab, clinic), and knows scope limits without prompting.

02
Evaluation factor

Patient safety and protocol

30% weight

Probe medication safety habits: five rights checks, narcotic count reconciliation, MAR documentation, fall and skin risk assessment, and how they escalated a change in condition to the RN or provider.

Evidence to listen for

  • Follows identification, infection control, and documentation protocol without prompting
  • Can describe an error or near miss and what they did
  • Escalates deterioration early
  • Treats protocol as protection rather than bureaucracy

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Casual about protocol; would not report an error.

2
Needs Improvement

Inconsistent protocol adherence; slow to escalate.

3
Satisfactory

Follows protocol reliably; documentation sometimes thin.

4
Very Good

Protocol is instinctive; escalates early and reports honestly.

5
Excellent

Describes a real deterioration they caught early, the vitals or signs that triggered it, and the incident reporting that followed.

03
Evaluation factor

Patient communication

20% weight

Assess how they explain a new medication or dressing plan to residents and families, and handle refusals, dementia-related resistance, or an angry family member at shift change.

Evidence to listen for

  • Explains a procedure to an anxious or confused patient
  • Handles distress, pain, or refusal without losing control of the interaction
  • Respects privacy and dignity in practice, not just in principle
  • Works with families and carers

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Dismissive of patients; no bedside awareness.

2
Needs Improvement

Task-focused; struggles with distressed patients.

3
Satisfactory

Adequate rapport; less confident in difficult interactions.

4
Very Good

Calm, clear, and respectful with anxious or difficult patients.

5
Excellent

Uses plain language, gives a concrete de-escalation example, and respects refusal while documenting and notifying the charge nurse.

04
Evaluation factor

Working in a clinical team

15% weight

Look for shift handoff quality: SBAR reports to oncoming staff, delegating to CNAs, working under RN supervision, and coordinating with therapy, dietary, and pharmacy.

Evidence to listen for

  • Hands over cleanly and completely
  • Challenges a colleague when patient safety requires it
  • Takes direction from clinicians without deferring blindly
  • Handles shift work and pressure without becoming difficult to work with

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Poor handover; cannot work in a clinical team.

2
Needs Improvement

Handover gaps; avoids raising concerns about colleagues.

3
Satisfactory

Reliable team member; handover adequate.

4
Very Good

Clean handovers and willing to speak up on safety.

5
Excellent

Gives structured handoff examples, delegates clearly to aides, and describes pushing back respectfully when an order looked unsafe.

Evidence-led prompts

Interview questions for a Licensed Practical Nurse

Use these prompts to surface evidence for the weighted factors above and compare candidates against the same role-specific criteria.

  1. 01

    What primary duties are you trained to handle as a licensed practical nurse?

  2. 02

    Are you comfortable with duties such as taking vital signs, giving injections and changing dressings?

  3. 03

    Are you well versed with wound care and infection prevention?

  4. 04

    Can you detail the overall range of your practical nursing experience?

  5. 05

    How do you interact with patients who are difficult or uncooperative?

See the complete Licensed Practical Nurse question set
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