What Are Some Interview Questions For Nurses

The 10 Toughest Nursing Interview Questions

Passing the board exam isnt a guarantee that youll have work right away. For you to actually get to work as a nurse, you have to go through a lot. You have to search for a job, send your resume and be called for an actual interview.

This is where things get tricky.

You see, employers conduct interviews to know an applicants interpersonal and conflict-management skills. If you cant answer any of their questions that well, theres a good chance that youll never get called back again.

So, to help you ace your interview and application, here are the toughest nursing interview questions and the best responses to them.

Public Health Nurse Interview Questions

The hiring process for a public health nurse position typically included an interview with the hiring manager or another professional involved in the hiring process. The interview portion gives you the opportunity to share the unique qualifications, experience, and skills you have that make you an ideal candidate for the position. Employers may ask you certain questions to gather more details about your work background and knowledge of the field of public health so they can determine which candidate to hire for their open position.

In this article, we share common public health nurse interview questions you may hear when meeting with a potential employer, and provide sample answers for some questions to help you prepare your own.

Related:How To Prepare for a Job Interview

What Are Your Current Staffing Ratios

This direct question gives you insight into their current staffing situation. Some hospitals have a higher ratio of nurses to patients, which could be easier for the nursing staff. While a higher ratio of patients to nurses could mean more patients to handle, you might also see this as an excellent way to gain valuable experience.

You May Like: Best Interview Attire For A Woman

Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years

Employers often ask questions about your long-term goals, for a few reasons. First, they want to see if you sound motivated/energetic in general about your work, your career, and your life.

Theyd rather hire someone who sounds positive and enthusiastic about their career.

The second reason they ask: They want to make sure their job fits your general goals and career direction. The last thing they want to do is hire and train someone whos going to quit after six months because the job isnt satisfying them.

So you need to demonstrate two things:

A) Youve thought about where you want to be in a few years

B) Their job fits your goals and helps you get where you want to be

If you do that, theyll be a lot more comfortable offering you the job. For more help and example answers for this question, read this article.

Why Do You Want To Work For This Hospital/organization

In this nurse interview question, which is often her first, Bryant is looking to find out not only that nurses have taken the time to learn about the organization, but what is particularly attractive to them.

Sometimes people wont have an answer to this question and if other parts of the interview are great, I will still hire them. But I am looking for people who particularly want to work at this hospital.

Read Also: Cfo Interview

What Is Your Idea Of Effective Patient And Family Education

Every patient has their own learning style. Emphasizing that you can work with a variety of patients to provide quality patient and family education is important.

Example answer:

Effective patient education centers around the patient and familys needs. You have to understand their learning style and adapt accordingly. For example, some patients prefer reading medical instructions versus watching a DVD. You also need to figure out what each patient needs. Some want detailed information others just want the necessary information. Including the family in the treatment process is crucial because they may end up serving as primary caretakers for the patient going forward. Show them how vital they are to the process and key them in on how they can help.

Excellent. You portrayed flexibility and a willingness to tailor your care to a patients needs.

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:

• What is the training outline for new employees?

• What does a typical day look like for this role?

• How is performance measured?

• Which qualities and skills prove most successful for this position?

• What growth opportunities are available to nurses?

• What kind of continuing education is provided?

• What is your leadership style?

• How can I best prepare for this type of role?

• What is the culture of this company?

• What are the next steps in the interviewing process?

Recommended Reading: How To Prepare System Design Interview

Pg Certificate In Nursing

This short-term certificate course covers core nursing concepts and techniques while encouraging learners to develop practical skills like crisis management, time management, communication, attention to detail, etc. In this course also you can choose the learning modules according to your preferred interest areas.

We hope this helps you to better prepare for your nursing interview!

Flex Your Nursing Skills With Full

You might encounter these RN interview questions.

Without nurses, the patient-care dynamic would cease to function. Thankfully though, there’s no shortage of spunky nurses, and demand for healthcare services continues to increaseespecially for registered nurses . Following your studies and completion of the National Council Licensure Examination , you’ll need to successfully respond to a series of RN interview questions at a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office to assess how well you can handle patients in sensitive and stressful settings before you land a job as a registered nurse.

Whether you already have some experience or you’re searching for your first RN job, Monster will help you prepare answers to several customary nursing interview questions, which will measure your capacity for empathy, how you work in high-strain environments, and your reactive abilities in various scenarios . Browse through our career advice library for nursing, and keep reading to learn how to thoughtfully respond to typical RN interview questions.

You May Like: What Should Females Wear To A Job Interview

Talk About A Time You Worked In A Fast

How to answer:

Give an example of a time you had to prioritize your tasks quickly. Explain your thought process in detail and why you chose to complete the duties in such an order.

Working in an ICU setting is extremely fast-paced and it is essential to prioritize your tasks for the day. At the beginning of the shift, I make a to-do list with everything that needs to be accomplished. I put the must-do things at the top of the list and the things I would like to do at the bottom. Administering medications are placed at the top of the list and washing a patients hair is further down. While I would love to accomplish everything, it just isnt possible.

Questions To Ask In A Nursing Interview

Now that weve provided some examples of common interview questions and answers asked in a nursing interview, its time to provide some questions for you to ask your interviewer. Asking questions of your interviewer shows that youre interested in the position and helps you gain a greater sense of what the job will be like.

What is your companys culture like?

This question is important for any position. A companys cultureimpacts every decision that is made and you want to make sure that your values and the companys values align. Some companies may over emphasize efficiency and lose sight of developing healthy interaction between nurses on and off the job.

What type of orientation or training do you provide?

This is a great question to ask as it helps you understand the level of support you will receive upon starting the job. Knowing that there will be a detailed and thorough training process might ease your mind about taking the job.

What type of managing style do you have?

Knowing how your future boss manages is a huge bonus. Every boss has their own managing style. Some bosses prefer a more hands on approach while others allow their employees more freedom.

What policies or practices do you have for self-care?

This question hints at the companys culture. You should care to know how your future employer allows for self-care. Nurse burnout is real and being in an environment that doesnt allow for self-care can be toxic.

Read Also: Best Interview Clothes For A Woman

What Do You Find Most Appealing About Working With Us

Example answer: After doing a lot of research, I feel that your values as a healthcare provider match mine the best. .

Pro Tip: This is your chance to bring up all of the research youve done about the employer. You could even mention comments that youve found on our platform to explain why the work environment at this employer appeals to you.

What Would You Do If You Discovered You Had Made A Medication Error

Mistakes may happen when you begin your nursing career. The interviewer wants to make sure you are honest and can handle errors accordingly. Many medical facilities have their own procedures for reporting errors but try to answer the question to the best of your ability.

Example:If I discovered that I made an error with a patients medication, I would begin by notifying my supervisor and then Id notify the patient and their family. After notifying them, I would notify the rest of the care team and report the error to the hospital safety committee.

Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask A Cfo

Public Health Nurse Interview Questions With Sample Answers

Preparing for common questions can help you organize the most important aspects of your skills and experience you want to highlight in an interview. Regardless of whether the interviewer asks you the same questions, using these examples to prepare some potential answers can build your confidence and improve your performance in the interview.

Explore these sample interview questions with example responses to prepare for your interview as a public health nurse:

What Advice Would You Give To A Nurse Who Is New To Your Unit

If the director of nursing or chief nursing officer is interviewing you, receiving advice before you start is essential. Because the DON and CNO understand the current dynamics of their unit, they might give you helpful advice that could tell you what to focus on in the early stages of your employment.

Read Also: Interview Attire Women

Nursing Interview Questions And Answers To Help You Prepare

Demonstrating the skills you acquired in nursing school and being able to answer difficult interview questions is essential to making a good impression in your first nursing interviews as a new graduate. Prospective employers will likely want to understand your passion for nursing and how quickly you learn and deal with complex issues that involve good communication and problem-solving skills.

Planning for your interviews can help you feel more prepared to answer the interview questions with confidence. In this article, we will list interview questions and answers, as well as provide tips to help you get ready.

Tell Me About A Time You Failed How Did You Deal With This Situation

How to answer:

Failing is one of the worst feelings in the world, either professionally or personally. Working in the ICU setting, patients die. We fail them when this happens. I fail them when this happens. After every death, there is a debriefing to discuss what went well and what could have been done differently. I take that time to reflect on my participation in the event and if there was something I could have done differently. Failure doesnt equal weakness. It simply is something that we must improve upon.

Read Also: Interview Questions To Ask A Cfo

Talk About A Time A Patient Or Their Family Were Particularly Pleased And Appreciative Of Your Care

How to answer:

Tell a story about a family who was happy with your care. What did you do in particular that they were pleased with? How did you know they were happy? What were the results of this situation?

Working in pediatrics can be challenging but also very rewarding. There are times that parents are unable to stay at the bedside 24/7 because of work, other children, or previous commitments. I was taking care of a 6-month-old twin during a specific shift. The family was unable to be at the bedside because the father had to work and the mother was at home with the twin sister and the other children. I spent my shift playing with the infant with age-appropriate toys and when the mother called to check in I put the phone next to the infant. The mother was able to hear her baby laughing while singing to her. This brought them closer together and the mother to tears. She stated that no other nurse had done that during the hospitalization and she was eternally grateful.

Nursing Interview Question #: Rural Vs Urban Health

A recent report by health authorities has revealed that there are more deaths due to preventable injuries and common diseases in rural areas as compared to urban settings. In your opinion, what could be causing the observed difference?

• Follow-up Question: What if another report showed the complete opposite findings? Meaning, that those living in rural areas have less frequent deaths due to preventable injuries and common diseases compared to those living in urban areas.

Discussion:

This question and its follow-up have a few goals. The initial question is meant to see if you are aware of current challenges facing certain populations in this case, those living in rural areas. Rural areas have been historically underserved, and there are current efforts underway to try to remedy this, but progress is slow. The follow-up question is meant to gauge your judgment when faced with two opposing claims. How do you handle a situation in which youre presented with opposing sets of facts?

Click here for our expert response.

Don’t Miss: Interview With Cfo

Describe A Situation Where You Had To Work With A Difficult Coworker How Did You Handle It

With this question, make sure you dont throw anybody under the bus. You want to include a resolution and what you learned anything from the situation.

Example answer:

I worked the night shift with a nurse who consistently showed up late for their shift. This would impact the whole team and put us behind. I took time to talk with the nurse and asked them if switching shifts would help them arrive to work on time. My co-worker said it would help them since the particular hour they were scheduled was difficult for them. We switched, and that solved the problem. I learned that taking initiative goes a long way.

Spot on! This shows an ability to adapt and problem-solve. Hiring managers want to find someone who can overcome a tough situation and find a resolution. Moreover, it shows character since you were willing to sacrifice for the team. Kudos.

Explain To Us How You Would Deal With Someone Who Is Not Satisfied With Your Level Of Care

Example answer: I once had a patient who had googled their symptoms and thought that the care I was giving them was inadequate. There were adamant that my team should be treating their infection with a different drug and even convinced their family that they werent being looked after. In the end, I googled the symptoms too and found a different article in which our treatment was recommended and shared this with the patient. I then spent some time explaining to the patient and their family why wed chosen this specific drug over the other. They were still skeptical but we managed to persuade them that we were giving them the best level of care.

Don’t Miss: How To Prepare System Design Interview

Nursing Interview Question #: Quote Interpretation

As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul, and body of our patients, their families, and ourselves. What does this quote mean to you?

Discussion:

Quote-based questions like this are quite common. It is important to note that the point of such a question isnt to see if you know what the author really meant when saying it. Its not a test of how well-read you are, so dont panic if youre faced with something or someone youve never read. Rather, questions like this are intended to see what kinds of free associations you make, what comes to mind when prompted with the words of others. Sometimes, the quotes will be related to your future profession, but they also may not be. This is just a way of seeing what values and qualities you can articulate when presented with moving or impactful words.

Click here for our expert response.

Common Community Nursing Interview Questions

By Daniel Allard

If youre a nurse and youre looking to find your next job role, then it can be daunting to feel confident in how to fully demonstrate your knowledge and expertise during an interview scenario. Here are some sample questions and how you can answer them effectively.

1. Why do you like working as a nurse?

This will almost certainly be one of the opening questions. The interviewer will want to know what you enjoy about your job role. You could share your thoughts on what personally motivates you to work within the NHS and explain what your professional values are.

If you work well in a team and gain satisfaction from helping patients with their recovery, heres your chance to say so. It would be beneficial to think of some nursing practice examples which you can include within your response.

2. What is your nursing experience to date?

Although the hiring panel will have reviewed a copy of your CV prior to your interview, they will want to hear about your experience in your own words. You may benefit from writing down a few notes on your CV which could help you to summarise key experience and achievements.

Start by stating when you passed your nursing degree then list the work and ward placements you have held since.

3. Describe a situation where you have dealt with a difficult or aggressive person.

4. If a colleague performs a practice that does not conform to nursing protocol, what would you do?

5. What is your understanding of infection control?

Read Also: Mailscoop Io