1."Why did you want to be a nurse?"

Why did you choose nursing? Administrators love this nursing interview question. They know nursing is hard. Nurses face fear, frustration, and hardship that makes superheroes look like slackers. Will you give up? Answering the “why do you want to be a nurse” question shows the driving force inside.

Example Answer

Why do I want to be a nurse? Nursing is my passion. I love providing comfort and education to those in need, and intervening in difficult situations. Last year I was tasked with handling a tough patient. I did my best to listen and provide comfort. As she was leaving, she said, “I’ll never forget you as long as I live.” It hit me that my life was important to her. That’s what makes nursing so meaningful to me. Every day, in small and large ways, my existence truly matters to those in my care.

2."Tell me about yourself."

Let’s magically translate this trickiest of all nursing interview questions. It actually asks, “Why are you perfect for this job?” Please don’t give a generic answer. Do your homework. Find out what the job requires. Then rehearse the best achievements from your resume to tell a story.

Example Answer

I’m just finishing up nursing school. I’ve got a 3.99 GPA and I received an Outstanding Undergraduate Nursing Student Award for leadership and caring. As a precept nurse at Newark General Hospital, I received frequent commendations from the preceptor for efficiency. I also maintained 95% positive evaluations for patient education. I supervised bedsore prevention on my ward, for which my patients were in the top 98%.

Before that I worked as a CNA for two years at Hilldale Nursing Home. My manager there wants to hire me because of my strong work ethic and the way I interact with patients. I’d love to work for her, but I’m very excited about being a nurse here at Clifton Bluffs Hospital. Your commitment to ongoing staff training and patient education fit my skills and drive, and I think I’d really grow in this environment.

3."Tell me about a time you had to handle a difficult patient."

Why does this come in at #3 on our list of interview questions for nurses? Patients can be tough. The ability to deal with them is crucial. You’ll almost certainly face this question in your nursing interview. Look for the worst possible situation in your past with the best possible outcome.

Example Answer

I’ve often faced difficult patients. Handling them is part of the job. One patient in particular was yelling at everyone, even for minor problems. It was over a holiday, so I was able to get him moved to a private room. After that, I talked to him and realized he was upset over a hopeless diagnosis. He had no friends or family and nobody to talk to. I told the hospitalist and she was able to get a therapist to speak with him. After that he was actually pleasant. All the other staff and patients on the ward were visibly more relaxed. There’s always a reason someone is being difficult. Treating people with respect can often have surprising outcomes.

4."What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

You probably have dozens of strengths and just as many weaknesses. Focus on the ones that fit the job offer. Then use real achievements that prove them. For weaknesses, avoid “spin.” Instead of, “My biggest weakness is that I have no weakness” (yikes) use a real flaw that’s manageable. Do that, and you’ll nail these nursing interview questions every time. Let’s pick a job that values compassion and problem solving above all other skills:

Example Answer

My biggest strengths are my compassion and my ability to solve difficult problems. There was this one old man who had night terrors. He’d wake up screaming every few hours. I thought how I would feel if it were me instead of him. I took some time to talk to him. I quickly found that just ten minutes of conversation took away his fear. I came in early for the next five nights to spend time with him. His night terrors left and the other patients on the ward could sleep peacefully again. My biggest weakness? I get irritated when other nurses don’t pull their weight, and it shows.

5."Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

In other words, do you like this job enough to stick with it? Registered nurse interview questions like this want to know if you’re just filling an employment gap. Make it clear that this is your dream job. Talk about how good you want to be at this job in five years and how you’ll get there. Tip: that means you’ve got to know what this job is, so do your homework!

Example Answer

In five years, I’d like to be the most valued nurse on your team. I plan to take full advantage of the continuing education reimbursement you offer to expand my skills beyond their current level. I’m skilled in patient education and EHR, which I know you value. There are so many new skills I’d like to gain, including budgeting and training others. I think Cliffton Bluffs Hospital is the perfect place to grow into a better nurse.

6. "Why are you the best person for this nursing job?"

This isn’t one of those generic interview questions for nurses. More than any other question, this one depends on how well you know the job. Beyond just reading the job description, talk to other nurses who already work there. What challenges does the facility face? Talk about past times you’ve met those needs.

Example Answer

I know your biggest concern right now is compassionate budgeting. At NGH, I was put on a team tasked to fix our budgeting problems. We cut inventory costs by 15% while actually increasing patient satisfaction. We did this through relocating the stockroom more centrally, which saved time. We also put common supplies on a use-based replenishment system. Patient care has always been my passion, so maintaining standards while cutting costs was a huge win.

7."What do you find most rewarding about being a nurse?"

Nursing interview questions like this look for your passion. The more powerful your rewards, the more powerful you’re perceived to be. Better still, if you see huge rewards in nursing, you’re less likely to seek them in some other job.

Example Answer

For me, the rewards of nursing never stop coming. Every day I’m learning and growing in ways I never dreamed possible. I feel so good when I see my patients improve and when I hold the hands of family members, providing emotional support in times of tragedy. Helping people feels better than anything else I’ve ever done, and I get paid for it! It’s the most amazing career I could imagine for myself.

8."What’s your strongest skill as a nurse?"

Homework comes in handy for nurse interview questions like this. It’s similar to the “strengths and weaknesses” interview question (#4). The interviewers want to know you’ll fit. If their biggest need is better patient education and that’s your strongest skill—ding! You’re hired. Lying is a no-no, but in a toss-up between three big skills you have, talk first about the one they value most.

Example Answer

My strongest skill is patient education. It can soften fears and improve outcomes. One patient was unable to reduce his blood pressure following a heart attack. I was tasked with helping educate him about diet and exercise. I sourced some video case studies about patients just like him who’d changed their routines. Three months later he wrote me a letter. His blood pressure and lipid profile were all down into a normal range.

9."How do you deal with the stress of nursing?"

Nursing is stressful. Interviewers want to know you’ve got the strength to stick it out. Interview questions for nurses like this seek to know if you’ll vent frustrations in healthy (and HIPAA-compliant) ways.

Example Answer

Dealing with stress is one of the most important parts of being a nurse. As a CNA in an Alzheimer’s care ward, I saw lots of patients without hope. Joining the Alzheimer’s Association forum helped. It gave me ways to manage my stress and showed me strategies to give emotional support to patients and their families. Support groups are my go-to for managing my stress.

10."What’s the hardest thing about being a nurse?"

It’s no secret nursing isn’t easy. With nursing interview questions like this, interviewers want to know if you can handle it. If you say it isn’t hard, you’ll set off alarm bells. So, pick a real challenge, then show your solution.

Example Answer

For me, the hardest thing about nursing is the physical side. Being on my feet for an entire 12-hour shift, working night shifts, and lifting patients takes a toll. I take weekly yoga classes and do CrossFit for stamina and endurance. The stronger I am physically, the better I can deal with whatever nursing throws my way.

11. Tell me Something About your Strengths and Weaknesses.

As we mentioned before, you need to have a clear idea of your biggest strengths and weaknesses. However, while answering this question, always make sure to highlight your strengths – do not put too much focus on your weaknesses. Be honest about yourself.

Example Answer

“I consider my biggest strengths to be my passion for helping people, compassion, patience, and meticulous attention to detail. My people skills are also commendable. I can talk to patients, listen to their fears, and offer emotional support whenever they require. I make sure to let them know that they’re not alone. I can manage my work pretty well as I like to stay as organized as my schedule allows. 

As for my biggest weakness, I tend to spiral and get nervous when I can’t complete a task when I’m supposed to. Sometimes I also get a little too harsh on myself if I fail. It stresses me out. But that’s something I’m trying to work on.”

12. How Do you Propose to Manage a Crisis?

Like any other profession, crisis management is an integral part of nursing. After all, nurses have to deal with sensitive and emergency cases daily. They need to work fast and efficiently to cater to multiple patients within a certain period.

Also, they work under immense pressure in their day-to-day routine, making their jobs all the more challenging. By asking this question, the interviewer wants to know whether or not you can handle stress, and if you’ve had such experiences before. 

Example Answer

“If there’s a crisis at work, first I will try to understand the situation and identify whether it’s something that I can handle or it largely concerns the senior management. If it is under my jurisdiction, I will evaluate the resources available to me and design an action plan to effectively deal with the situation.

I will take the help of my colleagues and try to take care of the situation. However, if the matter concerns the senior management, I will escalate the issue to the appropriate person(s).”

You can also include your practical experiences of dealing with crises and stressful situations at the workplace if you have had any. 

13. How Do you Plan to Handle the Stress of the Job?

It is a known fact that nursing is an extremely taxing job, both physically and emotionally. This question enables the interviewer to assess whether you have a good work-life balance plan. Since the job is so stressful, it is essential to develop a coping mechanism for your physical and emotional wellbeing. 

This question has no correct answer – it completely depends upon your approach to stress management. Talk about how you deal with stressful situations – whether you get nervous or you can remain calm and composed. You can mention the hobbies that help you unwind after a long and tiring day at work.

It could be anything, listening to music, exercising, meditating, baking/cooking, spending time with your family or pets, watching movies, – basically, anything that helps you to relax. 

14. Do you Get Along Well With Other Staff Members?

This question is directed towards your team-spirit and team-playing skills. Since nursing is a collaborative field, nurses need to function optimally both individually and as a part of a team. They work with doctors, lab technicians, and other nurses regularly. 

While answering this question, draw on your experience of working with other nurses, doctors, patients, etc., to show your team-playing skills. Talk about how you like being a part of the team, collaborating with other people, and learning new things from them. Also, make sure to put forth that you are equally comfortable working alone. 

15. What, According to you, is the Hardest Aspect of this Job?

This is a tricky question. While the interviewer wants to know about your personal challenges, you should keep in mind to never talk about how much you hate odd working hours, extra shifts, and so on.

Instead, talk about how difficult it is to see others in pain and knowing that there’s nothing more left to do in certain cases. Tell them how hard it is for you to see people say goodbye to their loved ones and watch people wither away before you. 

The bottom line – do not dwell on your personal hardships but more on the challenges of the daily job. 

16. Why do you Think you are the Best Candidate For This Role?

This question aims to find out if you know the ins and outs of the job and whether you are ready to take on responsibility. Remember to frame your answer by drawing on your strengths and expertise. 

Example Answer

“I have a strong drive for nursing and so far in my career, I have proven myself to be competent enough to take on the challenges of this profession. The fact that I get to help people every day is what encourages me to come to work day after day. It is the motivating force that pushes me to become a better professional.

I try very hard to stay updated with the latest trends in the healthcare industry. I view the challenges of my job as a learning curve and I sincerely believe that it has helped me learn and grow as a professional. Lastly, I believe that I have all the qualifications and requisite skills to take on this role.”

17.         Tell us About How you Plan to Deal with a Patient Who’s not Satisfied with your Patient Care.

This is a perfect behavioural question to understand how well you can handle crises. Negative patient reviews can destroy the public image of a healthcare institution, and hence, it is crucial to perform adequate damage control in such situations. 

You can talk about experiences that highlight your problem-solving and people skills. If you haven’t had any such experience, you can build on a hypothetical situation and draft your answer. 

Example Answer:

“If a patient or family members of the patient are not completely satisfied with my care delivery approach, I would have a heart to heart with them. I would try to understand their frustrations and complaints and do everything in my power to solve the issue. f necessary, I will take the help of senior management and cater to the demands of the patient.”