Common Nursing Interview Questions and Best Answers

Common Nursing Interview Questions and Best AnswersCommon Nursing Interview Questions and Best AnswersIf youve landed an interview for anursing or medical position, its a good idea to review typical interview questions and answers. That way, youll walk into the interview feeling prepared and confident. Inplus-rechnentopracticing responses, get tips on how else to prepare for your nursing interview, as well as how to impress interviewers. 133 Watch Now How to Answer 5 Common Nursing Interview Questions Typical Questions Asked in a Nurse Interview 1. What do you find difficult about being a nurse? What They Want to KnowMany aspects of being a nurse are challenging- interviewers want to know which ones are hardest for you. Warning Do not complain in your response. Instead, keep it positive, using your response to highlight positive attributes in your resume and personality. I think the most difficult part of being a nurse is when I have a patient that is very unhappy, or in a lot of pain, and I cant comfort them to the degree Id liketo. I keep a dialog going with the attending physician so that she has as much information as possible regarding the patients pain level. Sometimes the patient doesnt effectively communicate with the doctor, and I try to help bridge that communication gap. Expand2. Do you prefer to work alone, or as part of a team? What They Want to KnowNurses often need to do both- work independently and also collaboratively. Be honest in your response, but avoid being negative about either work style. That depends on the circumstances. I enjoy being part of a treatment and support team, but I also like the autonomy of working alone. Expand 3. How would you handle a patient who complains constantly of pain? What They Want to KnowInterviewers want to know how youd tackle this potentially tricky situation. Walk through the steps youd take. You can use examples from past work experience if youd like. I would listen sympathetically to the patient s complaint, and reaskoranvers him that his concerns were being heardand that we were doing everything possible to help. If it seemed warranted, Id confer with the attending doctor to make sure that the patients pain welches being managed in the most effective way. Expand4. What do you contribute to your patients as a nurse? What They Want to KnowThis is an opportunity to share your personal theory of how you help patients. You can focus on the medical or the interpersonal, depending on what type of role you are seeking. I feel that my patients know that I am there to provide comfort and understanding, that I will listen to their concerns, and that I will act as their advocate if necessary. Expand5. How do you respond when family members ask for your personal diagnosis? What They Want to KnowBy asking this question, the interviewer wants to access your boundaries and tofindoutif you know how to respond appropriately. Unless its my role to diagnose, I wouldnt do so. But, I would try to dig in a bit and figure out why the patients family member was inquiring. Does the person need some validation? Did the doctor not explain the prognosis clearly? Id seek to be helpful and share important information (without stepping outside of my role). Expand6. What interests you about working here? What They Want to KnowAnytime interviewers ask this question, they are seeking to determine if you understand and value the healthcare institution. Essentially, interviewers want to know if you wantthisparticular job oranyjob at all. Im impressed with the model here, and the collaborative spirit on the team. Just bysitting in the waiting room, its clear tomethat this practice has a patient-first priority. Im eager to work with people who are passionate about providing care. Expand7. What made you choose nursing as a career? What They Want to KnowAs you share what drew you to nursing, look for opportunities to highlight characteristics that make you a good fit for the field. Nurses h ave such a powerful role in the hospital. I saw that first-hand when I was young and had a family member in the hospital, and it made me determined to pursue the career. Helping people during a difficult moment is tremendously meaningful to me. Expand8. How do you handle stress on the job? What They Want to KnowStressful moments are inevitable for healthcare professionals. Acknowledge the stress, but keep the focus of your response on your coping mechanisms. In the moment, I dont tend to feel the stress. Im too intent on providing care for the patient, and offering support to the doctors and team around me. Later, though, sometimes it hitsme. My strategy is to go for a hard workout when the stress doesnt dissipate over time. Expand9. How would you deal with a doctor who was rude? What They Want to KnowThis question can reveal if youre a complainer or have a bad attitude. Make sure to keep your response reasonable and positive (nows not the time to badmouth a colleague). Everyone has bad days. If the rudeness is a one-time occurrence, Id let it go. If something major happens, or if its repeated, Id reach out to my supervisor. My concern would be that perhaps the doctor was being rude not because of a bad day, but because of dissatisfaction with my work. Expand10. What do you find most rewarding about being a nurse? What They Want to KnowThis is a lead-in for you to talk about your strengths as a nurse. Maybe its about helping patients, keeping doctors on task, or working with a particular demographic. As a maternity nurse, Im there for the moment when peoples familys grow. Its powerful and awe-inspiring to witness. And Im so happy to be able to reassure and help women in this big moment, especially first-time moms. ExpandSome other questions nurses may hear during interviews include Would you describe yourself as organized? -Best AnswersAre you a self-motivator? -Best Answers Questions About Dealing with Family Members Taking care of a patient often means a lot of time spent with the patients family, so thats often a focus during the interview. Here are more questions interviewers might have about how you handle those interactions. Describe a situation with a family where you had issues with poor communication. How did you resolve it?How would you deal with a family member who isnt happy with your care of the patient?How do you deal with a family that isnt following care instructions?Whats your approach for communicating with a family that doesnt speak your language well?How do you handle a familys questions that are outside of your purview?Whats your approach for dealing with families who want to talk about death?Families sometimes want to know a timeline for a sick person. How do you handle that? What are the HIPAA regulations in regards to phone calls from family members asking for patient information?How do you deal with a family member that wants to blame you?Family members want to make sure their loved one is getting the best qu ality care. How do you reassure them?How do you handle personal gifts from a family member?What kinds of questions from a family member do you refer to the patients doctor?How do you help family members deal with death?Sometimes a patient might not want medical information given to family members. How do youhandle that with them? How do you handle family members that are disruptive on the unit? (e.g., loud, arguing)How do you respond when family members ask for your personal diagnosis?What do you do when family members usurp time you need to allocate to other patients? How to Answer Nurse Interview Questions Reflecting on questions, and devising ways to answer them, will help you arriveprepared and confident for your interview. Keep your answers focused on your assets and project a positive image. When giving your answer, use an example of when you encountered a similar situation that had a successful outcome. If you can share aconcrete example thatshowsyouve got the qualificati onsthe interviewer is seeking, youll up your chances of getting a job offer. How to Prepare for a Nurse Interview Step one practice answers to the questions on this page and othercommon interview questions. Youll want to be very familiar with the healthcare organization where youre interviewing, and have a sense of what the interviewer will be looking for in candidates. Thatll help you give strong, targeted responses. Do your best to take care of practical matters beforehand so that youre not stressed ontheday oftheinterview. Plan yourinterview outfitin advance, for instance, and plot out how youll get to the interview destination. (Leave yourself extra time in case of traffic, bad weather, or getting lost.) Questions to Ask the Interviewer Take advantage of the interview to ask questions that will help you know if the role is right for you. Also, its always a good idea to have something prepared for when interviewers turn the tables and ask, Do you have any questions for me ? Here are some options What is the culture like in this organization?What kind of training is available? Do you have any mentorship programs?Do many nurses work overtime here?What are some of the big challenges nurses face in this organization?Do you offer tuition reimbursement? How to Make the Best Impression Besure to dress appropriately, know your worth, and understand the requirements of the position you are interested in. Arrive at the interview a few minutes early. Greet people with a smile and make eye contact during the conversation. Speak confidently, and share relevant anecdotes from your career. Read the interviewers body language- if the person seems unfocused, shorten your answers. Be prepared for many different types of questions. Interviewers may ask technical questions, as well as questions about how youd interact with colleagues and patients. With every question, interviewers want to determine what kind of employee you will make, and whether you would be agood fit for the company and the position. After the interview, make sure to send athank you noteto everyone you spoke with. Not only is this polite, but it shows interviewers that youre interested in the position.