Top 20 Interview Questions for Nurses (Must Read Guide)
- Why did you choose nursing as a career?
This is a common icebreaker question in nursing interviews. Use this opportunity to explain what drew you to nursing and why you’re passionate about the profession. Highlight any personal experiences that inspired you to become a nurse.
- What experience do you have in nursing?
Discuss your education and any previous work experience in nursing. Be specific about the settings in which you’ve worked, such as hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities. Provide examples of your nursing skills, such as patient assessment, medication administration, and wound care.
- What do you consider to be your biggest strengths as a nurse?
Choose two or three strengths that are relevant to nursing, such as your ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families, your attention to detail when administering medications, or your ability to remain calm under pressure. Provide specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated these skills in your past experiences.
- What do you consider to be your biggest weaknesses as a nurse?
Be honest about your weaknesses, but also show how you’re working to improve them. For example, if you struggle with time management, mention that you’re working on prioritizing tasks and delegating responsibilities more effectively.
- How do you handle stressful situations?
Nursing can be a stressful profession, so it’s important to demonstrate that you can remain calm and focused under pressure. Discuss how you prioritize tasks, manage your time, and seek help when needed.
- How do you handle difficult patients or families?
Show that you’re able to communicate effectively and show empathy towards patients and their families. Discuss how you approach challenging situations, such as dealing with patients who are in pain or have behavioral issues.
- How do you prioritize patient care?
Discuss how you prioritize patient needs and balance competing demands. Provide examples of times when you had to make quick decisions about patient care, and how you prioritized tasks to ensure that patients received the best possible care.
- What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the nursing profession?
Demonstrate that you’re knowledgeable about current issues facing the nursing profession, such as staffing shortages, burnout, and the changing healthcare landscape. Discuss how you stay informed on these issues and what you think can be done to address them.
- What is your approach to patient education?
Show that you’re able to communicate complex medical information in a way that patients can understand. Discuss how you approach patient education and provide examples of times when you successfully taught patients about their conditions and treatment options.
- How do you work in a team?
Nursing is a collaborative profession, so it’s important to demonstrate that you can work well with others. Provide examples of times when you collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible patient care.
- What is your approach to ethical dilemmas?
Discuss how you approach ethical dilemmas in nursing and provide examples of times when you had to make difficult ethical decisions. Show that you’re able to balance patient autonomy with the need to provide safe and effective care.
- How do you stay informed about new developments in nursing?
Show that you’re committed to lifelong learning and staying up-to-date on new developments in nursing. Discuss any continuing education courses or professional development opportunities that you’ve pursued, and how you incorporate new knowledge and skills into your practice.
- What do you think is the most important quality for a nurse to have?
Discuss what you believe is the most important quality for a nurse to have, such as empathy, critical thinking, or attention to detail. Provide examples of times when you demonstrated this quality in your practice.
- How do you handle a situation where a patient’s family member is upset or emotional?
This question is designed to test your ability to handle emotionally charged situations with empathy and professionalism. Discuss how you would approach a situation where a patient’s family member is upset or emotional, and provide examples of times when you successfully de-escalated a tense situation. Show that you’re able to communicate effectively and respond to patients and their families with compassion and understanding.
- Have you ever had to deal with a difficult coworker? How did you handle the situation?
This question is designed to test your conflict resolution skills. Provide an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker and discuss how you approached the situation. Show that you’re able to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts in a professional manner.
- How do you handle a situation where a patient is non-compliant with treatment?
Show that you’re able to handle challenging patient situations in a calm and empathetic manner. Discuss how you would approach a situation where a patient is non-compliant with treatment, and provide examples of how you’ve successfully motivated patients to comply with their treatment plans.
- How do you handle patient confidentiality?
Show that you’re knowledgeable about HIPAA regulations and understand the importance of patient confidentiality. Discuss how you maintain patient privacy and what steps you take to protect patient information.
- How do you handle a situation where a patient or family member is dissatisfied with their care?
Show that you’re able to handle patient complaints in a professional and empathetic manner. Discuss how you would approach a situation where a patient or family member is dissatisfied with their care, and provide examples of times when you successfully resolved patient complaints.
- How do you prioritize your tasks as a nurse?
Demonstrate that you’re able to manage your time effectively and prioritize tasks based on patient needs. Discuss how you approach tasks such as medication administration, charting, and patient assessments.
- What are your long-term career goals as a nurse?
Show that you’re committed to your career in nursing and have a plan for your professional development. Discuss your long-term career goals and what steps you’re taking to achieve them, such as pursuing advanced education or certifications.
