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25 Most Common Nurse Interview Questions
Preparing for a nursing job interview can be tough, no matter how many you've done before. Even if you're perfectly qualified, you may be nervous, or unsure of how to communicate your own skills and qualifications in the best possible way.
As always, we're here to help! As we pointed out in our recent rundown of essential nursing interview tips, you can set yourself up for success by being ready to answer the most common nurse interview questions.
- Pro tip: No matter what the question, the STAR method is your guide to providing a clear answer. Short for "situation, task, action, and result," STAR is a good way to structure your thoughts clearly and in a way that focuses on communicating you in your best light.
How to answer: General nursing interview questions
There's no guarantee what questions you'll be asked at a nursing job interview, but you can bet that you'll get a few questions on your background and motivation to work as a nurse. The most popular questions in this category are:
1. Why did you decide to become a nurse?
2. How would you define your strengths and weaknesses as a nurse?
3. How do you keep up your physical and mental well-being in this career?
4. Talk about how you receive feedback, and how you use it to grow or improve in your job.
5. Where do you see yourself working in five years? How about 10?
What to say: Of course, you should always be honest — but in a way that puts you in the best possible light. For instance, when you talk about your weaknesses, do so in terms of growing past them. And when you discuss your strengths, be modest and make it clear you there's always room for improvement.
How to answer: Questions about your work habits
Employers will want to get an idea of how you work on a day-to-day-basis in any job interview. You have the skills and qualifications, but do you actually understand the best ways to do get the job done? Expect to be asked questions like:
6. How do you prioritize tasks when you're busy, or when unexpected situations arise?
7. What's your approach to keeping accurate documentation?
8. What do you do to stay on top of current methods, best practices, and technology in your specialty?
What to say: Again, honesty is the best policy, but it's also just your starting point. Think about how you work on a day-to-day basis, how it could be improved, and explain your best-case scenario and then be prepared to follow through when you land the job!
How to answer: Questions about your skills & experience
You can also expect your interviewer to drill down into your work experience and ask specifics about the skills you claim to have. Be ready for questions like:
9. What certifications do you have, and why did you choose them — in other words, what does it say about the type of work you want to do?
10. Tell us about a time when you solved a problem without help from a manager or supervisor.
11. What types of equipment, technology, and EHR systems do you have the most experience with?
12. What kind of patients do you have the most experience with?
What to say: Be as specific as possible! Dive into your work history to find memorable examples. And be ready to rank your skills (usually on a scale of one to five or ten).
How to answer: Questions about behavior & situations
Another thing you can count on in your nursing job interview is getting questions about how you'll behave in different situations. After all, nursing can be a fast-paced job where decisions must be made in split seconds — and employers will want to know how you'll react. For instance:
13. How do you handle stressful situations? Does your behavior change? Do you adapt or react? Do you have a system for coping?
14. Tell us about a time you had to quickly adapt to an unexpected situation, and about how you felt you did — and what you could have done better.
15. How do you handle a difficult patient?
16. What do you do when you don't know how to answer a patient’s question or address their concerns?
17. How do you handle a patient who needs advocacy — for instance, one who's uncomfortable with a treatment plan in a way that may be hurting their progress?
18. Have you ever been in a situation where you've disagreed with a treatment plan? What did you do about it?
19. Have you ever had conflicts with team members? If so, tell us how you handled it — or what you would do differently if it happened again.
What to say: As always, be prepared to give examples and talk about details! The more you know about all the types of situations that could arise in the job, the better you'll be able to answer them.
How to answer: Questions about the employer & culture
Especially for competitive jobs with many applicants, employers will want to know why you'll be a good fit for this specific position. Impress them by doing your homework and being ready to answer questions like:
20. What do you know about our organization and the work we do?
21. Describe what you think a typical day in this job would be like.
22. Why do you want to work here, in this specific facility?
23. What do you know about our mission, and how can you help us accomplish it?
24. What part of your background do you think makes you more qualified than other applicants for this job?
What to say: The trick here isn't just to know about their facility — check LinkedIn and their website for that. Rather, what you should aim for is presenting your skills and background in a way that best complements their mission and history.
Be ready to ask your own questions!
At the end of almost every interview, you'll be asked if you have any questions of your own. And that's a great chance to go above and beyond what you've already told them and show that you're genuinely interested in working there.
25. Do you have any questions you'd like to ask us?
What to say: This should depend on your own personal interests about what's important to you on a day-to-day basis. Some good starters include asking about your future colleagues, the nurse-to-patient ratio in your unit, and what opportunities you'll get for CE and/or future development. In all cases, make it clear that you'll welcome the chance to grow and to move forward in your career.
Take the Next Step toward Your Nursing Dream Job
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