Interview Questions When Entering Nursing School

[Maggie in NC]

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.

[tigress_8207, ASN, BSN]

Hi there well thanks for the heads up on the questions was asked some of those very same questions on my interview on tuesday so now could you please post some ideas on possible answers.Just some tips on how we should approach such questions thanks.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Renamed this thread--has lots of ideas :

Wondering why you can't get hired or promoted: Resume + Interview hints!

[Loxapac]

hi !

First of all, I'm glad to meet you in this forum and hope we'll be able to exchange all our experiences and feelings about these hard but worthy studies which will allow us to get this beautiful job. It seems that the interviews are not different from the questions we are asked in our country. I would just say like it had been said that being natural, sincere, and ahving an idea about the profession are some positive tricks to be accepted. However, be careful if you wanna talk about a past experience as a patient (or a family member), you may not want the interviewers to think that you want to "rebuild" yourself and play with your emotional factor... Be careful as well about your certainties wich could make you appear as a very psychorigid person, whereas the whole teachers in nursing schools want us to understand that a good nurse must have no judgements.

I only have a question : who are the interviewers in american nursing school (here in france, they are three, actually the headmaster, a registered nurse and a psychologist) ?

Have a nice day

Loxapac to serve you

[firepilot17]

This was not for a nursing job but the hardest interview question was:

Define integrity, and tell us a situation where you showed integrity.

[dru2007]

Thanks so much for this post. I am in my final semester in an ADN program and tomorrow I have my first interview for a hospital position that could lead to an internship as a GN. I am so excited. However, I don't have a blazer. Just a lovely blouse and a pair of professional pants. Should I go out an buy a blazer tonight?

[**Ruth**]

This is the best msg ever!!! thank you so much it's so helpful!!!!!

[LisaJ_RN]

Define academic integrity and what it means to you.

That was a toughy, i had to write a paragraph on it. I know what it is but how do you write it?

Copies were made and I had to give to the 3 interviewers.

[bblair]

I, too, would love some ideas on what questions to ask during th interview process, both for ns and for a nursing job interview once I am finished with school.

Thanks for any ideas!

bblair

[heartlover07, RN]

We were told to ask specific questions about the type and length of orientation you will have, how you will be supported as a new nurse, how active nurses are in the administration of the facility. I asked at my interview (which I did get hired :) whether the preceptors were volunteered to precept, or if it was something they actually asked to do. This was important to me because I did not want to be taught by someone that did not want to teach me! I also asked what happened if the preceptor and the orientee were not a good match. I didn't want to seem like I don't generally get along with others, but it can happen. Good luck!

[sstarr003]

So how have some of you answered these questions....like "why do you want to be a nurse or what are your strengths"....I feel like all of the answers that first come to my mind are kind of cheezy?? Maybe some suggestions could help my thought process?

[ktrinh3]

thank you so much for this post, it is awesome. My interview will be in two weeks and I have been so nervous. This helps a lot. Thanx

[Di4dance]

Can anyone tell me where I can get some of the questions answered, suggestions of how to answer these questions.. I have a mock interview at school in one week. There are 17 questions that we could get asked. I am having a hard time coming up with something that doesn't sound stupid.

I am even willing to pay somehow to help.

Can someone please let me know,

thank you,

Diana