Interpersonal skills, adaptability, and patient care are all
topics covered in health care job interviews. Consider the most frequently
asked nursing interview questions in order to impress hiring managers and land
a new job.
How to Prepare for a Nursing Interview
If you want to work in a hospital, ICU, or health care
facility, you must prepare for interviews. Take the following precautions:
Examine the job description thoroughly. These job postings
will specify the type of registered nurse the company is looking for. Examine
the hard and soft skill sets they seek, and come prepared to discuss what you
can bring to the team.
Consider your personal life story. Many people become
involved in health care as a result of a family member or a personal
circumstance. Consider your career path and what distinguishes you; you can use
this to make yourself memorable in the cover letter or interview process.
Follow the STAR method. Use the STAR interview technique
when preparing answers to potential interview questions. The acronym STAR
stands for situation, task, action, and result. This allows you to consider how
you will respond if a nursing staff member asks you what you will do in a given
situation. Use previous experiences to describe a previous situation, the task
at hand, your actions, and the results. This demonstrates your problem-solving
abilities as well as your ability to act in a patient-safe manner.
Choose your outfit the night before. Wear a professional,
clean, and wrinkle-free outfit to your interview; scrubs are not required. To
make the process easier, choose your interview outfit for in-person or virtual
interviews the day before.
Practice in advance. Mock an interview with a friend or a
peer to practice example responses. They may inquire about your previous work
experience, your strengths and weaknesses, and how you believe your
certifications will benefit you in your potential role.
Understand the mission statement of your workplace.
Different areas of medicine will have different perspectives. Know what you
want in a nursing job and what kind of work this facility does. Understand
their mission statement by studying their website and social media platforms.
7 Common Nursing Interview Questions
Prepare for your discussion by writing down possible
situational and behavioral interview questions. The following are the most
frequently asked nursing interview questions:
1. Could you tell me a little bit about yourself? Hirers
rely on this opening question to learn more about you and your career path.
When the interviewer asks you to tell them more about yourself, make sure you
have a beginning, middle, and end.
2. How was your nursing school experience? The interviewer
may be interested in your educational background. Discuss how you learned
critical thinking skills in school and how you applied them in real-life
situations.
3. How have you previously dealt with difficult patients?
Every nurse will have to deal with difficult patients on occasion. Prepare a
story and use the STAR method to explain how you dealt with and learned from a
difficult situation.
4. What are your most significant strengths and weaknesses?
This is a common question across industries. Consider your strengths and
emphasize those that will benefit the nursing team. Consider a learning
experience that helped you become a better nurse when answering a question
about your greatest weakness.
5. In five years, where do you see yourself? Consider your
career goals and how this job might serve as a stepping stone. Any questions
about where you see yourself in five years should include tasks in the
potential job that will help you progress.
6. Why did you leave your previous job? Even if you are
looking for a new job as a result of a previous negative experience, frame the
reasons why you left or are leaving your current job in a positive light and
explain why you believe this new job is the right fit for you.
7. Would you describe yourself as a team player? In the
hospital, collaboration is essential. You should always say yes to this
question and provide details about your experiences working with co-workers to
back up why you are a team player. A collaborative personality will show hiring
managers that you can work well with others and navigate difficult situations.
3 Nursing Interview Tips
Hospitals frequently staff their teams, and the following
suggestions can help you get a job at a hospital or doctor's office and advance
your nursing career:
1. Ask follow-up questions. In a nursing job interview,
questions and answers are exchanged both ways. Nurse managers prefer new nurses
who are interested in the work environment and who have prepared questions to
ask during the interview. Because the hirer may be a future team member, this
is your opportunity in the job search to inquire about the company culture.
2. Arrive at your interview on time. Nurses must constantly
prioritize time management at work, so demonstrating punctuality can be the
first step toward achieving your career goal.
3. Show enthusiasm. A positive attitude is essential for
good nurses, even in stressful situations such as a job interview. Emphasize
your interpersonal skills and ability to provide excellent patient care.
If you wish to contribute to our blog, please email us on morhadotsan@gmail.com.
