Interview questions

Nurses General Nursing

Published

When I first went into nursing 13yrs ago, pretty much all they asked me was do you have an RN license, and when can you start. I've been looking around for other opportunities. I went for an interview a few weeks ago. WOW, the interview process has changed. She had a booklet full of questions. They were very good questions, though. Like, #1.What are your strong points and #2.what are your weak points. #3. what can you bring to this department? #4. Why did you decide to apply for this job.? #5 What do you do to relaxe or cut down on stress?HUH? :bluecry1:

Boy, I was tired after that interview. This was the 2nd time, lately, that I was asked these kind of questions in an interview. Im actually worried about what questions I'll be asked if I go for another interview...What kind of fruit would you be if you could choose? What size shoes do you wear? (just kidding).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.

As an "interviewer" I may be able to help. One of the main reasons we ask "what are your strong/weak points is that we can sort out the "BSers" (not Bachelor of Science) REAL quick. If they say they have no weaknesses I will not hire them. My feeling on this is their ego is to big. If they begin "listing" their strong points, this may also be misconstrued as "bragging." I feel that one or two strong points, and maybe one or two weaknesses is plenty. If they have a "list" of weaknesses, they may be insecure or have low self-esteem. This is fixable, but may take a while. Every interviewer has a different "agenda" but what I look for in an individual in competence, not cockyness, a willingness to learn, but not dumb. Basically, a happy medium. When I interview, it generally takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Also...beware the "long silence"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i think there should be a booklet giving "good" answers to questions like that. find it very stressful when those come up. like "where do you see yourself in 10 years?" - yikes! i don't have a clue. but you can't say that. maybe someone should start a thread for what to answer :rotfl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ED, Transport, Home Care, Mgmnt.

I had one of those interviews once and was asked what was my best day in nursing and what was my worst. Turned out it was the same day! :eek: I was offered the job but didn't take it. Is it legal for them to ask you your shoe size????? :roll

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I interview, it generally takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Also...beware the "long silence"

More questions - Was there ever a time when you believed co-workers were being inappropriate or doing something they shouldnt. And, how did you handle it.? How do you avoid "long silence"? Ive been a nurse a long time - some of these questions, I really had to think about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
i think there should be a booklet giving "good" answers to questions like that. find it very stressful when those come up. like "where do you see yourself in 10 years?" - yikes! i don't have a clue. but you can't say that. maybe someone should start a thread for what to answer :rotfl:

i see the "rotfl" ... so, i know you are responding with a bit of your tongue in your cheek, so to speak ... but i wanted to comment on this as a serious point anyway.

a lot of people really do come to this board looking for specific answers to potential interview questions. those people are totally missing the point. the interviewers are not looking for any specific answer -- and certainly, they don't want a pat "fake" answer that you got from someone else. what we interviewers are looking for is evidence that the applicant has thought about these issues for herself and has worked out a few of these big issues for herself. we want to get to know the person to determine whether or not they would be a "good fit" for the position we have available. using someone else's to the questions would give a false impression and a good interviewer would spot that and immediately eliminate that candidate from consideration.

good luck to everyone interviewing in the near future!

llg

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I appreciate the interviewer's attempt to cull out the people who are bad fits for the job, but being interviewed is stressful enough not to have to come up with answers to deep questions on the spot. I had such an interview. She even played some sort of game with me. I thought it was ludicrous, and showed her ineptness at interviewing. Plus, I could not remember definite situations because I was stressed out. Finally I asked her if I could just write an essay about my nursing philosophy. She agreed and I was hired. I stayed one year then moved to care for sick parents. My next job interview was led by a nurse recruiter of many years experience. We connected immediately and she is still my friend. I know it must be hard to determine someone's character in an interview, but to make them more uncomfortable leaves a negative vibe about the facility (IMHO)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.
When I interview, it generally takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Also...beware the "long silence"
More questions - Was there ever a time when you believed co-workers were being inappropriate or doing something they shouldnt. And, how did you handle it.? How do you avoid "long silence"? Ive been a nurse a long time - some of these questions, I really had to think about.

ERslave, when I think an answer may be "inappropriate" I will generally revisit the question later, lies are hard to keep up with,:rolleyes: . If you are talking about actual co-workers that are current, I don't put up with it...AT ALL!(any more depth needed send me an E-mail and I promise to reply) As far as the "long silence" this is a deliberate "interviewer tactic" to get the interviewee to reveal more about themselves than they want. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

I started reading a book one day in 1996. The next day I had a telephone interview. Everything they asked was from the book. Evidently we had both read "Knock Them Dead on your Resume". I got the job which changed my career/life. I put the time in to studying for the potential questions something similiar to the NCLEX.

At the same time I ask questions from the interviewer because I want to make sure that its the best fit for both parties. Most horrible situation would be to turn around 3-6 months later to have the employer say guess what you were not the best candidate you are out the door. They don't have that same pressure though I know a new employee costs money and may reflect badly on the hirer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
More questions - Was there ever a time when you believed co-workers were being inappropriate or doing something they shouldnt. And, how did you handle it.? How do you avoid "long silence"? Ive been a nurse a long time - some of these questions, I really had to think about.

ERslave, when I think an answer may be "inappropriate" I will generally revisit the question later, lies are hard to keep up with,:rolleyes: . If you are talking about actual co-workers that are current, I don't put up with it...AT ALL!

I was referring to questions that interviewers are asking during the interview.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, Peds Ambulatory, Peds LTC.

What types of questions do Nurse manager's ask as opposed to questions from nurse recruiter's?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

help pls, applied 4 promotion at work. presentation required. any advice with presentation skills?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment