Nursing Job Interview Questions

A nurse job interview can be stressful. It may feel like the focus is solely on you, your knowledge, and your skills. In addition, you are face-to-face with one or more people asking you a barrage of questions in a short amount of time. However, it’s important to bear in mind one key element in any interview scenario: You are interviewing the employer just as much as they are interviewing you.

Asking your own questions during a job interview can yield two key benefits. First, it shows you are prepared, engaged, and interested in the position. These are characteristics hiring managers or the people conducting the interview want to see. Your questions are also a chance to determine whether the nurse position is right for you.

However, it’s not enough to just ask questions. Nursing job interview questions must be thoughtful, relevant, and convey a sense of preparation. Creating inquiries that meet these metrics takes some pre-interview work.

What Nurses Should Know Before a Job Interview

A successful job interview is the product of preparation. Interviewees should anticipate questions prospective employers may ask. These questions usually fall into two categories: traditional questions and behavioral-based questions. The former are straightforward and focus on a candidate’s knowledge and experience, while the latter are complex inquiries designed to highlight a candidate’s skills and actions, particularly in response to specific situations.

Behavioral-based questions are typically built around the STAR method, a formula that seeks to break down an answer into four components:

• Situation

• Task

• Action

• Result

The nursing job interview questions candidates themselves should ask should not only convey enthusiasm for the role, but also interest in the organization as a whole. As such, it is crucial to research the employer prior to the interview. Learning about and understanding an organization’s history, value, and its overall mission statement can provide candidates with insight on elements that matter beyond the job itself, such as an organization’s culture.

After researching the employer and preparing questions, candidates can rehearse their questions prior to the interview. This can help build confidence and give the questions extra polish. It’s also beneficial to practice asking questions by reciting questions aloud either in front of a mirror or a friend or family member.

15 Nursing Job Interview Questions You May Be Asked

There are several common questions that come up during a nursing interview. While they may not all be asked, it is important to prepare for them.

1. Why do you want to work for us?

2. Can you explain a time when a patient’s loved one asked you to tell them a patient’s private, personal information?

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses in nursing?

4. Can you explain a specific moment where you failed or made a mistake at work?

5. Can you break down a time where you handled a miscommunication with a colleague?

6. How do you manage workplace stress?

7. Can you describe how you handled a previous conflict with a co-worker?

8. Can you explain a time where you disagreed with a provider’s decision?

9. How did you feel when you felt a patient or a provider wouldn’t listen to your concerns?

10. Can you describe a moment where you dealt with a patient or family member that was dissatisfied with your care?

11. How do you like working in a team environment?

12. What is your idea of educating patients and their families on health management?

13. Can you provide an example of explaining a situation without over-relying on medical jargon?

14. Can you describe a situation where you were unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role?

15. Can you explain a moment where you helped a healthcare team succeed in a difficult situation?

15 Questions to Ask During Your Nursing Job Interview

Nursing job interview questions you ask the employer don’t have to be overly complicated, as the following questions demonstrate. But don’t limit yourself to these questions, especially if you notice information gaps during the interview or if you need further clarification on a specific subject. For example, if the hiring team explained the job duties thoroughly but didn’t mention the team’s culture, you may want to focus your questions on finding more information about the work environment within the team.

Questions you may want to ask during your interview include the following.

1. What qualities are you looking for in a nurse?

2. What professional traits do your successful nurses have in common?

3. What are some of the challenges this nursing team faces?

4. How does this position solve those challenges?

5. What are one or two pieces of advice you’d give a nurse who is new to your team?

6. How do the nurses describe the management style here?

7. What does a typical shift look like for this position?

8. What medical records system will I be using?

9. Who will I be reporting to?

10. What are the on-call or weekend rotation requirements, if any?

11. What is your overtime policy?

12. Does this nursing unit offer a mentorship program?

13. What kind of staffing ratio do you have? (This can indicate whether nurses might be overworked.)

14. What opportunities do you offer for continuing education?

15. What are the next steps in the interview process?

Prepare for a Career in Nursing

Nursing job interview questions can help a healthcare facility determine if you’re the right candidate — but they can also help you determine if the job is the right fit for you. Approaching an interview with this mutual mindset can make the interview process much less stressful when you walk in with prepared questions built around your own research. This can make the path to the prospective job clearer for all parties involved, and it can ultimately help you further discern if the position is a good fit for your knowledge and skills.

The Fortis nursing school programs can help you cultivate the knowledge and skills employers seek, and help you ultimately present in-demand qualifications on your resume and during a job interview. Our programs combine classroom instruction, small group learning, and hands-on clinical experience, enabling you to develop the foundation to pursue a wide range of nursing roles within a host of work environments.

Learn how Fortis can guide you toward a successful nursing career.

Recommended Readings
4 Growing Technologies in Nursing
The Need for Male Nurses
Opportunities to Volunteer Your Nursing Skills

Sources:
ANA Enterprise, Nurse Interview Tips: How to Prepare & Common Questions
Indeed, Interview Question: “Do You Have Any Questions for Me?”
Indeed, “20 Important Questions To Ask in a Nursing Interview”
LinkedIn, STAR Method Interviewing 101
Trusted, “Mastering Your Nursing Interview Questions”