75 TOP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR NURSES

FACE-TO-FACE  INTERVIEW TIPS FOR NURSES

● Google your employer-to-be

Look them up on the internet. Find out how big the hospital is; how many beds it has; the number of staff; what does it specialise in; is it private, semi-private or state-run; is there public opinion about their quality of service; their code of excellence; employee rules and regulations and employee benefits.

● Prior interview

It is always a good idea (and a courteous one which shows manners and initiative) to confirm with your prospective interviewer (or his or her secretary) the interview arrangements by email or phone once you have been invited to attend the interview. Then it is necessary to plan your route and time of travel to the interview. The best way to do this is to actually go to A place of interview around the same time you would when the big day comes. Being late is unprofessional and actually putsS you under  unwanted stress. The night before the interview set aside all the clothing you will wear, any mandatory documentation you may need to take along, a packed meal with juice or water. If you are having an interview in the morning try to have breakfast (there is nothing more unsettling than a tummy that keeps growling from hunger). Get a good night sleep.

● Arrival

If you are organized you will have arrived at your interview in good time and will have some time to compose yourself. Use the rest room to check your appearance. You might want to apply fresh makeup, use the lavatory, comb your hair, straighten your tie. This will give you the opportunity to make sure you are ship shape and looking a million dollars.

●  Start

Greet the person ushering you into the room, smile and greet the other interviewers, ask if you may take a seat and place your bag alongside you. Place all your documentation and stationery on your desk before the start of the interview.

● Be calm

If you are still nervous, then do not accept their offer for a drink. Awkward questions will come up, but you will be prepared for them. If you have shaky hands then just place one hand on top of the other and keep them on your lap. As you gain confidence throughout the interview and your mind drifts away from the issue you will find that the shaking will naturally ease and it should no longer prove a problem. Sit upright and maintain eye-contact by scanning your interviewers.

● Don’t

Cross your arms; sit on the edge of your seat; play with your face, hair or jewellery; rock on your seat; interrupt when being asked a question or answer in monosyllables (unless the answer dictates it).

● Do.. !

Maintain a good posture; keep your hands on your lap; be articulate and listen to each question very carefully; smile and maintain eye contact.

TYPICAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1.    Tell me about yourself.

2.    Are you registered with NMC? What is your PIN number?

3.    Tell us about the biggest challenge you have ever faced in your career.

4.    Why did you choose your area of specialty?

5.    What qualities do you think you can bring to this job position?

6.    How long do you expect to work for us?

7.    What is your greatest strength?

8.    What is your biggest weakness?

9.    Where do you see yourself in five years time?

10.  What do your colleagues say about you?

11.  What interests do you have outside of work?

12.  What type of books or publications do you read?

13.  What courses have you attended to continue your professional development?

14.  Have you published any research recently?

15.  What sort of decisions do you find most difficult to make?

16.  What do you expect to earn in the position?

17.  How well do you work in a stressful environment?

18.  One of your colleagues suffers from stress. What do you do?

19.  If you were appointed to this position, how long would it be before you would expect a promotion?

20.  What sort of people do you find it difficult to work with?

21.  Have you attended other interviews as well as this one?

22.  Are you a good leader?

23.  One of your nursing staff calls in sick even though you suspect they are being dishonest. As a nurse manager how would you respond to this and what would you do to resolve this situation?

24.  How do you feel about taking directions from your superiors?

25.  How do you feel about carrying out mundane or repetitive work?

26.  How well do you handle criticism?

27.  How well do you work within a team environment?

28.  What motivates you?

29.  How do you deal with interpersonal problems within a team?

30.  What part of your job do you dislike the most?

31.  How do you feel about being a mentor to students?

32.  How do you feel about rotational/shift work?

33.  Why have you decided to become a nurse>

34.  Tell me about yourself.

35.  Why have you decided to move to the UK / Ireland?

36.  Tell us about the biggest challenge you have ever faced in your career.

37.  Why did you choose your area of specialty?

38.  What qualities do you think you can bring to this job position?

39.  How long do you expect to work for us?

40.  What is your greatest strength?

41.  What is your biggest weakness?

42.  Where do you see yourself in five years time?

43.  What do your colleagues say about you?

44.  What interests do you have outside of work?

45.  What type of books or publications do you read?

46.  What courses have you attended to continue your professional development?

47.  Have you published any research recently?

48.  What sort of decisions do you find most difficult to make?

49.  What do you expect to earn in the position?

50.  How well do you work in a stressful environment?

51.  One of your colleagues suffers from stress. What do you do?

52.  If you were appointed to this position, how long would it be before you would expect a promotion?

53.  What sort of people do you find it difficult to work with?

54.  Have you attended other interviews as well as this one?

55.  Are you a good leader?

56.  One of your nursing staff calls in sick even though you suspect they are being dishonest. As a nurse manager how would you respond to this and what would you do to resolve this situation?

57.  How do you feel about taking directions from your superiors?

58.  How do you feel about carrying out mundane or repetitive work?

59.  How well do you handle criticism?

60.  How well do you work within a team environment?

61.  What motivates you?

62.  How do you deal with interpersonal problems within a team?

63.  What part of your job do you dislike the most?

64.  How do you feel about being a mentor to students?

65.  How do you feel about rotational/shift work?

THE MOST COMMON  QUESTIONS ABOUT PROCEDURES:

66.  How do you prevent bed-sores of  an immobile patient? 
67.  Do you know 6 rights of medications administration?

68.  How would you activate a patient with Dementia ?

69.  What would you do if you found one of your patients lying on the floor.

70.  What would you do if one of your patients fell from his bed?

71.  Describe stage 4 pressure ulcer.

72.  How do you understand fall risk assessment procedure.

73.  What would you do if you found a bruise on your patient’s body.

74.  What would you do if you noticed that one of care assistants abused a patient.

75.  How do you understand “ patient-centered-care”.

MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

Question 1: Tell us something about yourself.

It is the most common question, which gives you an open-ended opportunity to point out your strengths and skills. Instead of wasting time in explaining your educational history; let the interviewer know that you are the perfect person for the respective job. You can also illustrate by giving examples.

Question 2: Why do you want to work in the healthcare sector?

A person, who decides to become a nurse, has some different reasons other than earning money, to enter this field. This question gives you a chance to express your desire to help out individuals and how important human life is for you.

Sample Answer: I believe that with this profession, I can make a difference, and make people feel better. Seeing so many people in pain and misery motivated me to practice nursing.

Question 3: Why are you leaving your current job?

Instead of criticizing your previous job, pinpoint the positive aspects. Never give a negative reason for leaving, stay away from bad mouthing your employer or colleagues. Focus on the opportunities that will come with the new job.

Sample Answer: My previous job taught me so many things and developed necessary qualities required to be a proficient nurse. But now, there is no room for growth, and I am looking forward for new challenges to thrive in nursing.

Question 4: Where do you see yourself in five years?

The main objective of the interrogator is to know whether you are a career-oriented, ambitious, determined worker and have a positive outlook in nursing. So, avoid discussing your dreams and share an answer, which exhibits your real commitment and interest.

Sample Answer: In 5 years, I would like to have profound knowledge of nursing by way of earning a doctoral degree, so that I can serve people with more advanced techniques.

Question 5: Why should WE hire you?

It’s the job of an interviewer to hire the best person for the position. This question gives you a golden chance to impress the recruiter by highlighting your skills and qualities.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD NURSE TO ASSIT YOU:

Sample Answer: You should hire me because I have 4 years of experience in nursing that equips me with the ability to handle critical cases with utmost patience. I can be an asset for your health care centre and strength in times of weakness. I will do my best to bring innovation in nursing that can improve health care outcomes.

Question 6: How would you handle a patient, who complains about everything?

The main motto of asking this question is to determine whether you are capable of handling difficult situations or not. While answering this question, you can share any difficult situation that you have managed in your previous workplace.

Sample Answer:  The major reason of complaints is their diseases, which makes them unhappy. As a nurse, I would understand their situation, listen and reassure them that the best possible services are given to them.

Question 7: What is the most difficult part of being a nurse?

Nursing is not an easy job. You keep on learning throughout your career. By asking this question, the interviewer wants to know your views about the hardships of this profession.

Sample Answer: According to me, the most intricate part of being a nurse is having a patient, who suffers from an incapacitating disease, which is incurable.

Question 8: Discuss your biggest strengths and weaknesses.

The interviewer wants to check your strengths in order to match them with the job requirements. Prepare a list of three or more strengths, such as your leadership qualities, optimistic approach, interpersonal skills, that can be a treasure for the organization. Be very honest about your weakness, discuss them and mention the measures for improving them.

Sample Answer: I have outstanding leadership qualities and interpersonal skills, which help me to coordinate well with my colleagues.

I do not quit easily, until the work is done in a proper manner; it’s my major weakness.

Question 9: What measures have you taken to upgrade your knowledge?

If you have attended any seminar or pursued a degree for the sake of enhancing your knowledge and competency in working, mention them.

Sample Answer: I enrolled myself in an advanced course for improving my managerial skills and also attended various seminars for enhancing interpersonal skills.

Question 10: Describe your former supervisor.

Don’t commit the mistake of criticizing your former supervisor, stay positive and state what you have learned from him.

Sample Answer: Kevin was a competent supervisor with exceptional leadership qualities, who always maintained healthy interpersonal relationship. I have learned a lot from her.

Question 11:  What motivates you to work in the nursing field?

This question is really a huge opportunity; grasp it by highlighting your positive features rather than giving vague answers. You can also illustrate your real life experiences.

Sample Answer: Critical situations and tough patients motivate me. In my last job, I was confronted with a patient, who was not handled by a number of nurses, later I took charge of him and solved his problem by understanding his situation. I really love to overcome challenges.

Question 12:  What is your greatest failure?

It would be better for you to avoid the real truth. Don’t mention your major failure. The interviewer wants to bring out your flaws and measures you have taken to overcome them. You can explain one of your bad experiences with tangible examples and reveal what you have learnt from them.

Sample Answer:  In my first job, I made a mistake in the patient’s chart. Fortunately, my supervisor noticed it. Since then, I always double- check my charts.

Question 13:  When you feel most satisfied in your job?

Share your interests, likes and dislikes, and showcase your determination for nursing that explains why you are right for the job.

Sample Answer:   I really enjoy caring people and helping them in coping up with their illness. I love to work with children.

Question 14:  Describe your salary requirements?

This is a tricky question; it will reveal whether you prefer money more than nursing or vice-versa. Avoid giving exact number and re-iterate your dedication for the job.

Sample Answer:  I am expecting an appropriate salary for this role, based on my work knowledge and nursing experiences.

Question 15:  Do you have any questions for us?

Ask the interviewers a few questions, as they will feel happy to answer your questions. This will also show your interest in them. Frame a good question, like on work environment, educational opportunities  

 SAMPLES:

1.    What is the procedure for transferring from one unit or shift to another?

2.    Do you often promote from within?

3.    Do you cover costs of professional development courses? What in-service programs are available?

4.    Is there a nursing library?

5.    What is the schedule for a normal week?

6.    How often is rotation required?

7.    How often is overtime necessary?

8.    Are there child care facilities?

9.    Is malpractice coverage provided?

10. Do you provide accommodation for nurses?

 EXERCISE WITH YOU TUBE:watch video