This article is a second response to the numerous inquiries that people make about their upcoming nursing job interviews. The intended purpose of this article is to shed some much-needed light onto a few of the most commonly-asked nursing interview questions.
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This article is the second part of a two-part essay on how to answer common nursing interview questions. The interview process can stir up deep feelings of nervousness and anxiety because most candidates truly want to be considered for the job opening, and in many instances, this is the one opportunity to bestow a positive first impression upon the interviewer.
The interview process is also stressful due to other issues such as economic forces combined with the knowledge that you might be competing with masses of other applicants for that single open position. In other words, it is important to get it right the first time without fumbling. Here are some more common nursing interview questions:
Tell us about an idea or suggestion that you made. Was it implemented?
Your answer will give the interviewer an abbreviated idea about your ability to think outside the box. Personally, I have been asked this question at various interviews. The last time I was asked this question, I told the interviewer about my suggestion that day shift nurses update the care plans for patients in odd-numbered rooms while night shift nurses update plans of care for the patients in even-numbered rooms. This suggestion was to help ensure that all care plans be updated consistently at my current place of employment.
What do you enjoy the most about nursing?
If you are interviewing for a bedside nursing position, the interviewer most likely wants to hear about your passion for helping patients or your eagerness for lifelong learning. I would not mention anything about entering the nursing profession for the money, flexibility, or benefit package.
Describe your greatest weakness.
Your answer will give the interviewer an idea about your propensity for honest introspection and self-reflection. Some candidates, in an attempt to conjure up brownie points, will say "I work too hard!" However, astute interviewers are able to catch on and might be turned off by people who use this catch-all response.
You will want to describe a weakness or personal fault that could be a potential advantage in the workplace. For example, some candidates would say that they are so detail-oriented that they sometimes miss the big picture. Although occasionally missing the big picture is a personal fault, attention to detail is often seen as a keen advantage in situations when patients' lives are at stake. In other words, place a positive spin on your greatest weakness.
So, where do you see yourself in five years?
If possible, attempt to connect your long-term career goals with the company. If you are interviewing for a job opening as a medication nurse at a psychiatric facility, you may want to mention that you hope to attain professional certification as a psychiatric nurse in five years. The candidate who is educated at the LPN, diploma, or associates degree level might mention that they will be a BSN degree holder in five years.
