Nursing School Interview Questions

Why did you choose to be a nurse?

The question is made to evaluate the priorities and the reasons for you to pursue this profession. Furthermore, it also shows the amount of mature-reflection you have done in considering the path. It’s critically significant that one shows intrinsic motivation in pursuing this profession. That’s to say, you’re honestly motivated by working and ideals you will be progressing.

Do you operate well with different nurses, doctors & staff?

Teamwork is an important skill for any person in the nursing field. It is significant in expressing that one recognizes the value-of-working together with nurses, doctors & staff members. Working together with co-workers offers one the best patient results, ensures the effectiveness of safety-procedures & increases job satisfaction. Additionally, when one answers the question, emphasize interpersonal skills, like teamwork, active listening, and patience. 

How does one handle stress at the workplace?

This is normal to experience fast-paced-workflows & complex jobs in the medical field. This should be important for one to require a clear explanation of the way he/she handles emotionally demanding job aspects. Answering this question states the methods you have developed for stress relief. One can debate hobbies, exercise regimens, support groups & other ways one can maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

What inspired you in pursuing a nursing career?

Nursing schools ask this query for a certain purpose; they want to know if  one is passionate about the nursing field. Being a nurse isn’t easy. This takes extra drive, motivation, and dedication that numerous people could muster. Your answer needs to be like, “I need to assist people,” is not going to operate. That is cliché & too generic. Moreover, there are numerous ways in which you can assist people, thus, it does not clarify why a nursing career is appropriate for you.

How do you handle a difference with a doctor?

When answering this kind of question, you need to emphasize interpersonal skills like as active-listening, flexibility, teamwork to solving issues & the ability to go through a chain of rules when it’s necessary. With your response, you need to state that you’ll first operate directly with a doctor to resolving the discrepancy. When further assistance is required, you are required to talk to the supervisor for some assistance. 

Explain the way you can manage a busy-workload?

When one responds to this question, he/she needs to highlight a dedication to attending to a patient during various conditions. Your response needs you to provide examples of the period that one manages an improved number of jobs without compromising procedures or protocols. 

How can you handle a crisis like an outbreak?

Here your response needs to demonstrate the hard skills like the knowledge of addressing specific medical situations & soft skills including teamwork & adaptability. For some strong answers, conversed your ability in collaborating, your in-depth-knowledge of the nursing process & your attention to detail. 

How will you handle a patient that is struggling with pain management?

Empathy remains an important skill for every nurse to use as they interact with patients that may be experiencing a lot of pain. State that you will take your patient’s-concerns seriously & offer an example that shows that you can assist them via empathy & problem-solving. 

How will you respond to people that are asking for your diagnosis outside the clinical setting?

As any other medical professional, you need to encounter friends that seek your advice on what to do about their medical issues. This is best when one refers an individual to medical professionals that provide a detailed exam, treatment, or diagnosis. Answering this question needs you to briefly state how one tells the friends how significant it is to look at medical advice inside a clinical setting by medical professionals that have access to data from tests. 

How did you deal with someone who isn’t satisfied with your patient care?

Here’s the best example of behavioral-question. The interviewer needs to know a concrete example of the way you will handle this situation. Also remember, you need to provide your interviewer with examples from experience and the way you dealt with this kind of situation. This will give you a feeling of how you will behave in the same situation in the coming future. 

Tell us what makes you feel have the greatest skill as a nurse

This is an opportunity for you to showcase what it’s that makes you different from all applicants. Think about it ahead of time & come up with strong examples which highlight the skill.