Nursing Interview Questions (Part 2)

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. Nurses Job Hunt Article Video

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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.

I had previously written How To Answer The Most Common Nursing Interview Questions which describes suggestions on how to respond to some of the most common nursing interview questions that a candidate might receive. Also, please read 10 Toughest Nursing Interview Questions (Part 3) for additional resources.

Specializes in CNA.

Stacey30, do you remember what you said for the first critical thinking question? I think I have my answer but I guess I'm not really sure what they want to hear or what not :-)

Any help from anyone else would be appreciated to the first question: What is critical thinking and give an example of a time you used critical thinking in relation to patient care?

I know what critical thinking is, just more directed towards the example.

Thanks!

Specializes in Operating room, Pediatrics.

Sure do, I interviewed twice for the OR position that I applied for (which I got, by the way!) and both times I was asked this question! So I used two different examples.

Example 1: I completed my preceptorship on a GI/Gynie surgical oncology unit and one of my patients was recently admitted to the floor from the PACU s/p lap hysterectomy. The PCT was completing 11pm vitals when she notified me that this patient's temperature was above normal limits. I retook her temp myself and got the same result. The surgical dressing was still intact so I wasn't able to assess the site for signs of infection, but I knew that elevated temp could be a sign of infection which is a complication of surgery so I contacted the physician. He gave orders for IV acetaminophen and I continued to monitor her overnight. Her temp was brought under control.

Example 2: I worked for an agency that provided in-home personal care to seniors during nursing school, and I was given a new assignment for a client with several comorbidities. We specialized in Alzheimers/dementia care, but we provided only nonmedical care to clients. So when I began working with this client I read through the notes that other caregivers recorded on this client so I could get an idea of what her daily routine is (care was provided twice/day for three hours each, not continuously, so I couldn't get verbal reports). I noticed in the notes that this client had been incontinent of bowel and that her stools were observed as being loose, mucousy, and bloody and foul-smelling. Her daily weights showed she was rapidly losing weight and she was having multiple stools per day. I knew from nursing school that these symptoms sounded like ulcerative colitis so I contacted my agency to verify that they were aware of these symptoms and that she should be seen by a doctor. She did end up being diagnosed with UC and given the proper treatment.

Hope that helps!

Specializes in CNA.

Awesome, thank you! And congratulations on the job :)

everything on this thread is great! definitely will help me during my interviews!

Specializes in Med-Surg and Neuro.

Here's a bunch I was recently asked.

Tell me about a time where you had to adapt to a change in the workplace over which you had no control.

What was your least-favorite nursing class?

Tell me about a time you had to find out more about a patient’s situation before treating the patient.

Tell me about a time a patient complimented you.

Tell me about a time you witnessed an unsafe situation. What did you do?

Tell me about a a time a group member didn't pull their own weight. What did you do?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
SoaringOwl said:
Here's a bunch I was recently asked.

Tell me about a time where you had to adapt to a change in the workplace over which you had no control.

What was your least-favorite nursing class?

Tell me about a time you had to find out more about a patient’s situation before treating the patient.

Tell me about a time a patient complimented you.

Tell me about a time you witnessed an unsafe situation. What did you do?

Tell me about a a time a group member didn't pull their own weight. What did you do?

Thank you for sharing these!

TheCommuter said:
My true weaknesses are ones that would make me seem sociopathic, and therefore, totally kill my chances at getting hired at any workplace that involves interpersonal relationships with people.

"I have difficulty empathizing, sometimes have a blunted affect, and regularly view people as objects." Any hiring manager who heard those words coming out of my mouth would probably make sure that my employment application gets shredded or placed into file number thirteen (a.k.a. the wastebasket). Therefore, I would never divulge these aspects unless I want to live under a freeway overpass due to being unemployed.

Love your answer especially the last part.

\ said:
I'm kind of weird because an answer like that would make you a real person to me... and separate you from all the folks with the canned answers.

I'd follow up with questions about how you cope with these traits in the service industry of nursing.

I generally avoid saying, "My biggest weakness is..." but instead rephrase it as, "One area in which I've identified a need for ongoing growth and development is..."

I like the last line the best because it puts an interviewee at ease. Otherwise by the time we get done with the interview, we will have more gray hair than we walked in with.

Specializes in Mental Health.

Thank you for a more nuanced reflectionon this question.