Why Should We Hire You
Basically, they want to know, “Why are you awesome?” This is your best chance to shine. Talk about your past achievements or any special certifications you hold. Pick a few unique words that describe you, such as tireless, enthusiastic, warm-hearted, strategic, creative, witty. What makes you special? Why are you the best person for this job? Consider picking a few points out of the job description and iterating why you exceed those qualifications.
Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions And Answers
Now that weve covered the most typical questions asked on interviews, we proceed now to the more job-specific questions that youll highly encounter in the process.
These questions usually require you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills and are mainly geared towards behavioral queries and scenarios.
Your interviewer would want to learn how you come to conclusions and how you would support the ideas you will present.
In this section, we will be providing you some of these questions alongside the possible answers to them.
Tip #: Understand The Types Of Answers Nursing School Interviewers Are Looking For
In addition to the types of questions to anticipate, nursing school applicants should understand the kinds of answers that interviewers consider indicative of qualified candidates.
“Interviewers are looking for thoughtful answers, supported with examples,” says Krippaehne. “Especially for behavioral questions, they are looking for a specific situation which demonstrates how you handled a situation.” Krippaehne continues: “I think the STAR method, is helpful to guide a quality answer.”
Candidates should use examples from their own experiences to highlight the traits and characteristics that make them unique. Sullivan says, “Most interviewers want to see a prospective student who is attentive to details, patient, flexible, capable of compassion, who can be a team player, and who has great communication skills.”
Sullivan also advises applicants to reflect on their reasons for becoming a nurse, as most programs consider a prospective student’s motivations for entering the profession. “They want to hear what makes you special and why you will keep pushing when nursing school gets tough,” she says.
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Questions To Ask During A Nurse Practitioner Job Interview
If youâre applying for a job, here are some key questions you should consider asking your interviewer:
Questions To Ask The Employer
In most interviews, the employer will ask, Do you have any questions for us? Prepare at least one or two questions for the interviewer. This gives you a chance to determine if the position is the right fit for you and shows your genuine interest in the position and company.
Here are some questions to consider asking an interviewer:
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What is the training outline for new employees?
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What does a typical day look like for this role?
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How is performance measured?
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Which qualities and skills prove most successful for this position?
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What growth opportunities are available to nurses?
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What kind of continuing education is provided?
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What is your leadership style?
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How can I best prepare for this type of role?
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What is the culture of this company?
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What are the next steps in the interviewing process?
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One Nurse Interview Basics
First things first, you need to understand the objective of the interview. By the time youve been invited to one, employers have already determined that you have most of the qualifications required.
The purpose of the interview is to determine if they like you and whether youre a good fit for their team. They also want to see if youre as good as you seem on paper and can help them reach their goals.
Treat the interview like a conversation where both candidate and employer have a shared goal of getting to know each other.
This is also an opportunity for you to evaluate the role and employer. Youll be spending most of your time at work, so its important to be somewhere that aligns with you core values, helps you reach your goals, and is actually enjoyable – not just tolerable.
With that said, interviewing styles and processes can vary greatly by employer. Chances are, youll encounter most of the interview styles discussed in this guide at some point in your career.
Why Do You Want To Work Here And Not Somewhere Else
You have obviously a plethora of options. You can work in a hospital, nursing home, health-center, you can even start your own practice. So why have you chosen this exact job, this exact place of work?
Typically, our reasons are rather practical. We choose a place of work that is close to our apartment or house, a place we can reach easily. Or we opt for a vacancy that offers the highest salary, or great employee benefits. Mentioning any of that will be okay in your interview, but it wont be the best possible answer.
In a best possible answer, you should praise the employer for somethingand state this as a primary reason for your choice. What can it be?
- High quality staff, or equipment they have in place.
- Great reputation of the facility.
- Their approach to innovation and medical work that stands out.
- Great locality and environment for either the patients, or the healthcare workers, or for both groups.
- Anything else that differentiates them from their competition.
Remember that everyone likes honest compliments. Find something you can praise them for, and talk about it in your interview.
Special Tip: Download the full list of questions in a simple one-page long .PDF document, print it, and practice your interview answers anytime later:
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What Interviewers Are Looking For
An interview for an NP position differs from an RN interview in scope and content, focusing more on advanced nursing skills, patient care experience, leadership, and specialization areas.
As Straus explains, “As an NP you’re a provider, you’re seeing patients and making money for the practice. As a nurse, you’re carrying out tasks to make the office and patient care run smoothly.”
Straus suggests that interviewees highlight certain skills and experiences, including case scenarios, which, he says, “Allow the employers to judge your critical thinking skills and care management.”
Talking about case scenarios also lets the employer judge your use of resources and competencies in care. Employers also look for timely and accurate charting, basic coding knowledge, emotional intelligence, management skills, and clinical judgment.
What Personal Qualities Do You Look For In Nurse Practitioner Candidates
We look for a variety of important qualities in candidates. We hope and expect that students are committed, professional, and responsible. In addition, they should be able to accept feedback, have good time management, communication and problem-solving skills, academic aptitude, a potential for leadershipand perhaps most important: perseverance.
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Why Should We Select You
This question is common not just in nurse practitioner entrance interviews, but many other job interviews as well. It allows prospective students to brag on themselves and highlight their strengths. A nurse can describe how they serve as a leader in their current RN role, how they mentor new nurses or students, their years of experience, or their experience in various specialties/subspecialties. The interviewers need to ensure that they will graduate top-performing nurse practitioners upon completion of the program.
There are other various questions that may get asked during a nurse practitioner entrance interview. The above serves as a basis for some of the most commonly asked questions.
Are You Ready To Thrive
2. Make a comparative list
After youve analyzed the job description, you can then make a detailed list of what qualities you have and how they match up to the job requirements. For example, first make a list of the qualifications for the job and then write out your assets including examples of your skills, certifications, abilities, etc. Its also a good idea to make note of certain work experiences youve had. Even if youre a new grad NP, you can use examples from your clinicals or from other previous positions youve held. While you may have done something similar to this when you tailored your cover letter to fit the job, this list will be in more detail and is ideally something that you can take with you to the interview. Having it on hand the day of will remind you to bring up specific qualities you have if and when the employer asks why you think youre a great fit for the position.
3. Research the company
4. Know your audience
5. Practice with a mock interview
Whether you practice with a friend, family member or rehearse a couple of scenarios out loud in front of your mirror, practice makes perfect. Consider what common questions may be asked by researching frequently asked interview questions and then act out your responses accordingly. If youre able to practice with another person, ask for feedback on your answers and your body language.
6. Get ready the night before
7. Send a Thank You note
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What Is Your Philosophy
NP school interviewers may use this question to determine the student’s approach to care. Don’t be afraid to discuss core values. It’s important to always place the patient care as the primary focus, and highlight some of the other significant values as well, such as honesty, integrity, safety, etc. Interviewers recognize that one’s values affects how they act and how care is delivered.
Clean Up Your Own Social Media Accounts
Social media is often a potential employers first impression of a candidate. Clean up your accounts and make sure that it is the best reflection of you. Its best to do so before you submit your resume, but if you havent, do it now.
Here are a few tips:
- Have appropriate profile photos on all accounts.
- For LinkedIn post a professional style photo to your profile.
- Edit the biographies, headings and descriptions on all accounts to reflect who you are professionally. Or, leave it blank.
- Run a Google search of your first and last name. Make sure all photos of you are tasteful and appropriate. If you find any inappropriate photos remove them.
- Change your privacy settings to private if you do not want potential employers to view your social media profiles and photos. If you choose to leave your settings public, we recommend deleting any compromising photos and updates.
- Review all accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Google+, and Linkedin. You never know what platforms theyll look at.
Social media and online activity can also be positive! For example, if you run a blog, Instagram or YouTube channel related to your career, employers may view that as a testament to your dedication. Be sure to talk about those side projects during your interview!
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How Would You Respond If You Witnessed Unethical Actions From A Member Of Your Care Team
Ethical behavior is especially important in health care, where a violation could have very significant results. You need to outline your ability to identify and react to unethical behavior from those on your team. By asking this question, an interviewer also wants to make sure that the ethical aspect of a career in health care is important to you.
Example:In my previous position, a triage nurse on our team revealed the details of a high-profile patients medical condition and treatment plan to the media without the patients consent. This action had a direct effect on the privacy of that patient, as well as the reputation of our medical clinic. After privately speaking with all members of the team to determine who breached the patients privacy and HIPAA laws, the nurse who shared the confidential information was removed from direct care and the team.
Imagine That A Parent Of A Child Complained About The Healthcare The Child Receives In Our Hospital What Would You Do
When our child, parent, or friend ends up in a hospital bed, we wish only the best for them. The relatives of the patients will sometimes complain, and we have to understand them. Sometimes they struggle to cope with the situation more than the patients do.
Show the hiring managers that you have a full understanding for their emotions, that you will try to stay nice and courteous in all circumstances, but at the same time, you wont let the parent to tell you what you should do, in terms of treatment and medication...
- Describe a conflict you had with your colleague.
- Tell us about a time when you had to meet a tight deadline.
- What does integrity mean to you? Tell us about a time when you demonstrated integrity.
- Describe a situation when you did not agree with the opinion of your superior or supervisor, and knew that they were wrong. How did you handle that?
- Describe a time when you experienced a conflict of your personal and professional interests. How did you get over it?
- Tell us about a time when you were overwhelmed with work.
- Describe a situation when you went above and beyond with your service.
- What is the biggest mistake youve made in your career?
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Using The Star Method To Give Impressive Answers To Interview Questions
During your interview, how clearly and succinctly youre able to communicate your answers is almost as important as their actual content.
Since you cant possibly prepare an answer for every question that youll ever be asked, its a great idea to practice answer-structuring methods that are always applicable no matter the specific question.
The STAR method is a tried and true method for effectively answering any behavioral or situational question thrown at you. Itll serve you well whether youre applying for a barista position or as the head of a company.
The STAR method stands for:
Preparing For Your Nursing Program Interview
Most people experience anxiety or nervousness before an important interview, but we hope the following tips and advice from nursing professionals can help you feel confident and prepared for the process.
Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Despite a national nursing shortage, admission to nursing programs continues to be competitive, as applicants outnumber the available spots. An American Association of Colleges of Nursing report found that more than 75,000 qualified nursing school applicants were denied admission for the 2018-19 school year.
Some schools conduct interviews to facilitate selection from the candidates who pass the initial application screening. Interviewing also allows potential students to determine a program’s fit for their needs.
Nursing school interview questions offer applicants an opportunity to demonstrate their suitability for the program and profession. Rather than using the time to eliminate prospective students, schools aim to evaluate each student’s communication and interpersonal skills and to see how they handle stress.
Most people experience anxiety or nervousness before an important interview, but we hope the following tips and advice from nursing professionals can help you feel confident and prepared for the process. Keep in mind that an invitation to interview often indicates a school’s interest in you as a candidate.
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Question #: How Well Do You Perform Under Pressure Or Stress
How to answer: As part of your interview, this open-ended question allows you to share how you handle stressful situations at work. Being a nurse practitioner can be very stressful. Share any experiences you have had that were stressful and how you successfully managed them. Speak to your ability to delegate duties, react appropriately to situations, and use other stress management techniques.
How Would You Describe Your Bedside Manner
A nurse practitioner works directly with patients and requires advanced interpersonal skills to support them. The goal of this question is to assess the candidate’s approach to patient care. What to look for in an answer:
- Confident in their communication skills
- Ability to build rapport and trust with patients
- Patience and empathy
Example:
“I would describe my bedside manner as investigative and collaborative. I want to find out what the patient’s concerns are to best support their needs. And I believe in collaborating and encouraging the patient to take part in their care plan.”
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Common Nursing Interview Questions And Best Answers
If you’ve landed an interview for a nursing or medical position, it’s a good idea to review typical interview questions and answers. That way, you’ll walk into the interview feeling prepared and confident.
In addition to practicing responses, get tips on how else to prepare for your nursing interview, as well as how to impress interviewers.
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How Do You Close An Interview
As your interview draws to a close, you may be asked whether you have any additional questions. Whether prompted or not, this is a great time to ask any questions you may have forgotten earlier. This serves two functions: You will gain a solid grasp for the benefits and challenges of the job or college program and youâll demonstrate your proactive, detail-oriented nature.
Once youâve had the opportunity to ask questions and listen to the answers, the interviewer will outline next steps. Pay attention so you know how to proceed after the interview ends. Don’t forget to thank the interviewer for their time.
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