Nursing Interview Questions: Interviewing for a Nursing Career

It is essential to prepare for interviews if you want to be part of a hospital, ICU, or health care facility team. Follow these preparatory steps:

• Carefully review the job description. These postings will clarify what kind of registered nurse the work environment seeks. Review the hard and soft skill sets they are looking for, and come ready to discuss what you can offer to the team.
• Consider your life story. Many people get into health care because of a family member or personal circumstance. Think about your trajectory and what makes you unique; you can use this to make yourself memorable in the cover letter or interview process.
• Follow the STAR method. When preparing answers for possible interview questions, use the STAR interview technique. STAR is an acronym standing for situation, task, action, and result. This helps you consider how you will act if a nursing staff member asks what you will do in a given circumstance. Draw on previous experiences to share a past situation, the task that was at hand, your actions, and the results. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and your ability to act in a way that ensures patient safety.
• Pick out your outfit the day before. Wear a professional, clean, and wrinkle-free outfit to your interview—no need to wear scrubs. Choose your interview outfit for in-person or virtual interviews the day before to ease the process.
• Practice in advance. Do a mock interview with a friend or peer to practice example answers. They might ask you about previous work experiences, your strengths and weaknesses, and how you feel your certifications will serve you in your potential role.
• Understand the workplace’s mission statement. Different parts of the medical field will have different visions. Know what you are looking for in your nursing job and what kind of work this facility handles. Study their website and social media platforms to understand their mission statement.

Prepare for your discussion by writing down sample answers to possible situational and behavioral interview questions. The most common nursing interview questions include:

1. 1. Can you tell me about yourself? Hirers rely on this starter question to learn more about you and your professional path. When the interviewer asks you to tell them more about yourself, you want to have a beginning, middle, and end to this question.
2. 2. How was your experience at nursing school? The interviewer might be curious about your educational experience. Discuss the critical thinking skills you learned in school and how to apply teachings to real-life situations.
3. 3. How have you handled difficult patients in the past? All nurses will have to deal with challenging patients from time to time. Have a story ready and use the STAR method to reveal how you dealt with and learned from a complicated situation.
4. 4. What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses? This is a common question regardless of the industry. Think of your strengths and highlight ones that will benefit the nursing team. When answering a question about your greatest weakness, think of a learning experience that made you a better nurse.
5. 5. Where do you see yourself in five years? Think about your career goals and how this job might be a good stepping stone. Your answer to any question about where you see yourself in five years should mention tasks in the potential job that will help you move forward.
6. 6. Why did you leave your last job? Even if you are searching for a new job as the result of a past negative experience, frame the reasons why you left or are leaving your current job positively and share why you believe this new job is the right opportunity for you.
7. 7. Would you say you are a team player? Teamwork is integral in hospital settings. You always want to answer yes to this question and have details about experiences working with coworkers to back up what makes you a team player. A collaborative nature will help hiring managers see how you work well with others and can move through difficult situations.

Hospitals frequently staff their teams, and these tips can help you land a spot at a hospital or doctor's office and advance your nursing career:

1. 1. Ask follow-up questions. Questions and answers go both ways in a nursing job interview. Nurse managers want new nurses who are curious about the work environment and prepare questions to ask during the interview. The hirer might be a future team member, so this is your chance in the job search to ask questions about the company culture.
2. 2. Be on time for your interview. Nurses have to constantly prioritize time management in the workplace, so showing you are punctual can be the first step in achieving your career goal.
3. 3. Express positivity. Good nurses ease patients, so it’s essential to have a positive attitude, even in stressful situations, such as a job interview. Highlight your interpersonal skills and ability to excel at patient care.

All you need is a MasterClass Annual Membership and our exclusive video lessons from the likes of Elaine Welteroth (the former editor in chief of Teen Vogue and host of CBS’ The Talk), Issa Rae (the powerhouse multihyphenate behind HBO’s Insecure), Robin Arzón (the lawyer-turned-head instructor of Peloton), and other luminaries who have have embraced the twists and turns on the path to professional success. With their guidance, you’ll learn how to lean into your strengths, follow your heart, and build the career of your dreams.