Interview Questions When Entering Nursing School

For those of you about to go thru the nursing interview process. Here is the list of questions and suggestions I have accumulated. I hope this helps everyone. Nursing Students Pre-Nursing Knowledge

Updated:  

The first part is from a nursing instructor at a college so, YOU KNOW IT's good stuff!

Dress as if you were going to a business interview.

This would include:

  • Solid color, conservative suit (black, blue)
  • Coordinated blouse
  • Moderate shoes
  • Limited jewelry (pearls are a nice touch)
  • Neat, professional hairstyle
  • Tan or light hosiery
  • Sporifice make-up & perfume

Try to relax and be yourself. Project a positive, self-confident, sincere, congruent attitude (not cocky or arrogant--this will turn off the interviewer fast). Lean forward slightly in the chair, smile, make eye contact, don't cross arms or legs. Appear at ease and enthusiastic. Speak in complete sentences with correct grammar and intelligent vocabulary.

Interview Questions to Anticipate:

Why do you want to be a nurse? or Why have you chosen nursing as a career?

Be creative on this one ... they have heard "to help people" a million and one times.

How are your finances?

Things to think about ... Will your employer support your scheduling needs during nursing school? At this point, consider your limitations--no working past 11 PM on clinical nights, no working more than 20 hours /week with a full time school.

Is your family supportive of your schooling?

Do you have adequate transportation for clinicals?

Things to think about ... Some clinical sites may be 2 hrs away.

Consider your requirements for CPR certification, immunizations, a complete medical examination, by a certain date. Have as many of these done prior to the interview as possible! It really helps!

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Never give much information about weaknesses--this is just supplying reasons for you NOT be chosen.

Case Scenario Questions

It is even possible they may throw a case scenario at you to test your critical thinking skills: You are the nursing student on a clinical unit and the patient (on the 4th floor of the hospital) asks you "Would I die if I jump from this window?" What would you do? Or, you are the nurse and you are reporting an important change in patient condition to a doctor and the doctor yells at you and calls you stupid, what would you do?

Other Questions...

Why have you chosen this particular nursing school?

What do you think a nurse's responsibility is in today's society?

What kind of experiences have you had with nurses in your past?

What qualities do you possess that will make you a good nurse?

What area would you like to work in once you finish school, and why?

In regards to nursing, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

How well do you get along with others?

Are you a leader or a follower?

Are you comfortable taking a leadership role?

Are you willing to be a representative for a small group of people or the whole nursing program?

Do YOU have any questions? (Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions.)

I was also asked about how did I deal with a situation when a person who did not know me decided that he/she didn't like me?

I was asked what would I do if I noticed a classmate cheating.

I was asked for my definition of plagiarism.

I was asked if I was familiar with the APA style of writing and citing papers.

The most rewarding thing in your life thus far?

The most challenging thing in your life so far?

The type of educator/supervisor you like the most?

Scenario: Your supervisor comes to you and your small team of co-workers and tells you that a new change in policy is effective immediate. You do not think the change can be implemented due to logistics. What do you do?

Your short-term (3-5 years) goal in nursing?

Your long term (5+ years) goal in nursing?

Interview Tips

  • Be honest.
  • Do not give vague or general answers - they want specific examples.
  • Review your application and essay - assume that the interviewer is not familiar with it.
  • Be familiar with current trends in nursing - helps to demonstrate why you want to become a nurse and how you feel you can make a contribution in the profession.
  • Don't be afraid to show emotion. I cried twice during my interview in relating some life examples.
  • Practice with a partner. Anticipate these questions and think up the most positive attributes about yourself.

Reorganizing some of the stickies for this forum. Here's a link to a great thread about resumes/interviews in the Nursing Career Advice Forum.

Resume Tips: Perfecting Nursing Resume, Cover Letter, Online Job Applications

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This is so weird!!!!

I came on the forum to post something about job interviews because I have one comming up, and this thread was the 1st one I saw!!!! LOL Im so excitied. I dont know what to wear though, is a suit too much??? I was thinking heals, back suit pants and a blouse... should I wear a blazer too or is that enough?

I hope I get the job!! :D

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Thank you for this post! It certainly gives you a great idea of what to expect and how to prepare.

Best of luck!

Cardigan2

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Thank you so much! I will start applying for employment in October towards the end of my 4th semester and was wondering what type of questions would be asked. I will be sharing this info with classmates as well!

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-surg, Inpt gynecology, PCU.

Another thing I want to add: ask questions! When the interviewer is finished, they will ask you if you have any. It's annoying to them to have a dozen "No's." Just think of one prior to the interview.

As for clothing, one of my professors advised me to stand out. Not to dress like you're out on the town, but everyone else will be wearing black. So I wore a dark green, button up shirt with brown slacks. She was right. The interview room had about 20 people, all in black suits. The strategy was to make it easier for the interviewer to remember me.

I also advise to not look down. If/when you break eye contact, look up or to the side. It portrays confidence.

I hope someone gets any use out of this! ;)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

During interviews, these are the major items and characteristics that interviewers may have been supplied with to look for in candidates:

  • Oral communication - speaks clearly with precision and accuracy
  • Written communication - precise, accurate, grammatically correct
  • Intellectual ability - aptitude to learn
  • Leadership - takes initiative and motivates others
  • Ethics - honest, integrity, ethical behavior
  • Empathy - considerate sensitive and tactful in response to others
  • Reliability - dependable, responsible, prompt and thorough
  • Judgment - displays critical thinking skills, common sense and decisiveness
  • Interpersonal relations - able to get along well with peers and superior
  • Adaptability - reacts well to stress, posed and controlled
  • Professional appearance - maintains good personal hygiene, appropriate attire, well-groomed

Attributes:

  • Positive attitude
  • Motivation
  • Initiative
  • Dynamic energy
  • Responsibility
  • Ability to give good customer service
  • Capacity to learn
  • Productivity
  • Flexibility
  • Leadership
  • Team work
  • Ability to tolerate pressure
  • Analytical ability
  • Desire to develop professionally

Here are some possible questions to prepare to answer:

  • What do you think makes nursing the right career for you?
  • What are your professional objectives in the future?
  • How do you manage work stress?
  • How would you express your frustration?
  • How do you react when someone criticizes you?
  • What are your best qualities that will make you a good nurse?
  • How do you face tasks you dislike?
  • How do you react to the critics if you think they are not justified?
  • What kind of people do you dislike?
  • What is most difficult communication problem you have had with your colleagues?
  • How do you accept dressing codes?
  • Do you have a good relation with your work mates?
  • What have you learned from your mistakes?
  • Describe the perfect nurse.
  • How would a friend of yours describe you?
  • What do you think about policies and rules?
  • Do you consider yourself a person with self-initiative?
  • Do you have an analytical mind?
  • Are you interested in investigation?
  • What do you do when you have difficulties solving a problem?
  • What is the most boring task you have ever performed? how did you manage it?
  • What is the most interesting task you have ever performed? how did you manage it?
  • What are the requirements for a person to succeed in nursing?
  • What is your opinion about your last teacher?

Think about questions that could be designed around the lists of characteristics and attributes I listed above. The job of a good interviewer is to reveal your true attitude about your beliefs on these things.

Keep in mind that it is easy enough for them to evaluate how you perform nursing skills. They can get that information from one of your nursing instructors. What is difficult, and what most people are very good at hiding, is what you really think and feel.

Employers are interested in not only hiring a nurse who is going to be a good practitioner, but someone who is going to be a good employee as well. They are looking for someone who is going to be loyal, follow rules, have good attendance and basically be a good representative of their company.

Customer service is alive and well although the sound of this term may not set well with many people. Healthcare, whether we like it or not, is still a business and has to deal with competition. And, many large facilities have become very aware of the impact of customer service provided by their nursing employees affects their client base of patients.

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wow... those are some questions there...

need more preparation...

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Specializes in ortho.

What a great thread! Thanks to everyone for the great advice!

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I just had my initial job interview this morning and the posts above helped a lot! The questions I encountered were almost the same so I was sort of prepared for it. The interview went well, thanks! :roll

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Hi everyone!

I just wanted to add that maybe having perfume on would not be so good because hospitals and clinics generally ask workers and visitors not to put on any perfume because of all the allergens in it...

If you put some on, then maybe they will think that you are not aware of basic hospital procedures or such...

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That was in reply to the very first comment on the thread... :)

But the list of possible questions are great!

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, neuro,research.

I have been on interviews for nursing school, graduate school and 3 large hospital systems. The questions vary very little. These may have been mentioned previously but:

Wear light colors but appropriate to the season. You are not trying to impress them with what you wear, what you can or cannot afford, but you want to convey a little style and sensibility.

Colors are important because no matter how much it may sound like " what color is your parachute", people do think that black is depressed, red is ...angry and unacceptable, navy is good, brown is good. You know what looks nice on you and what is too "date night" for an interview.

Why do you want to become a nurse? Why do you want to study/work here?

Tell me some mistake you have made and what did you do about it?

Tell me something you have done that had made you feel very good and why?

Tell me something you have done or seen done wrong and what you did about it, it anything and why?

Tell me about a professor/ boss you had that you liked/got along with and why?

Tell me about a professor/boss you had that you did not get along with and why?

What was your favorite class.clinical in school and why?

What do you think is your strongest/best quality?

What do you think is your worst or weakest quality?

What are your educational/career goals for the next 5, 10 years?

Tell me about a time that you made a mistake at work/school.

My masters is in education with a concentration in human resource development and administration so I know how the other side thinks and what they are looking for. It is a difficult tap dance.

Be eager but not dingy. Have a sense of humor but not dingy.

Learn some things about the school/organization that you are applying for so you can ask about programs, scholarships, benefits, what is it about the school or organization that makes them stand apart/special?

Do not look desperate. Convey enthusiasm but do not look like you do not have other options.

Show the interviewer how having you in their school/organization will benefit you and them. If you are new to interviews, get someone to do a run through with you. Someone ask you the questions and you answer.

Trust me, you will be nervous so no matter how many times you practice, it will not seem reheorificed. I am sure there is more but if I had asked for someone to give me advice before I started all this, what I have given here would have been what i would have wanted to hear. Y

ou all will be fine. Weigh all your options and make sure that you are going for what you want. Remember getting there is only the end of the journey, the journey is the adventure. Make sure you are going in the right direction.

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