Come Correct: How to Ace Any Nursing Interview

Review these common nursing interview questions and show off your best nursing self.

You’ve applied for a nursing job and made it past the first few rounds of the application process. Understandably, you’re excited and already imagining what life will be like in your new role. Then…ding! An email arrives asking you to set up your interview. Elation! Pride! Anticipation! And…fear? Don’t worry—even the most seasoned nurses get nervous before a job interview. The key is coming in prepared. Knowing your responses to a few essential questions will help to eliminate the can’t-remember-my-own-name feeling that interview jitters can conjure up. Go in confident and stand out strong!

How has your nursing experience/background prepared you for this role?

This is a basic qualification inquiry. If you’re a new nurse , you can list coursework that you’ve completed that’s relevant to the job. Be specific. For example, if you are applying for a Med/Surg telemetry position, mention your understanding of EKGs, abnormal rhythms, and what interventions are appropriate. You can speak to all of this without any actual on-the-job experience simply by citing your studies and any relevant clinical anecdotes. You can also go broader, by mentioning teams you have been a part of in the past, and/or roles where you had to delegate and prioritize—two important aspects of all nursing jobs.

What makes you stand out as a patient caregiver?

This question is essentially asking how you will advocate for your patients. Patient care is a core element of any nursing job, of course, but a lot of what nurses do for their patients is behind the scenes. A good nurse is one who is beloved by her patients and who can keep their care moving in a forward direction! Highlight your organizational and communication skills, as well as your ability to anticipate any care challenges that might come up.

Cite an example of a patient care problem that occurred and how you handled it.

Questions like these—that ask for specific examples of situations you’ve experienced—are the ones that pay to be prepared for! It can be hard to think of examples on the fly, so keep a few examples top of mind that you can discuss when asked. An interviewer is looking to make sure you are proficient at critical thinking and able to adjust professionally; patient safety is a top priority, so being able to handle patient care problems when they inevitably come up is paramount. Briefly describe a problem you encountered, the options that you had to resolve it, and reflect on how the solution you came up with worked, perhaps highlighting anything you could have done differently.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ah, the dreaded crystal ball question—it’s a standard interview query. Yet, employee turn-over can be a major problem for hospitals and other health care institutions, so your goal here is to convince your potential employer that their investment in you—through training and orientation—will pay off. Discuss your motivation in applying for the particular role you are interviewing for, and be ready to explain in detail why nursing is the profession for you. This is also a good time to reveal any research you’ve done on the organization—perhaps mentioning your desire to advance your degree and citing their tuition reimbursement program for this purpose, for example. This shows your intention to grow in your career with them. 

What do you enjoy most/least about working as a nurse?

Your answer here will of course be personal, but one tip is to keep a positive spin on it. This is true when discussing any negative aspects of nursing, like staffing shortages, or high census shifts. Remember to frame these examples as challenges to overcome, not obstacles in your way. And when discussing what you love? Let your enthusiasm and emotion shine through your answer! Get specific with instances that have been personally rewarding and that have paid you beyond your paycheck.

Why are you leaving your current employment?

If you’ve never worked as a nurse, you can still answer why you decided to pursue nursing as opposed to your previous occupation. If you are currently working as a nurse, tread delicately here. It’s important not to disparage your current/former employer. Instead focus on where you want to develop professionally, and explain how the role you are seeking can play a part in that. Discuss how this potential role can deliver the opportunities you are seeking instead of talking about why you hate your old job. 

What are your salary requirements?

Ewww, money. Nobody likes to discuss it, which is exactly why you should make a mental game plan for how you will. Expect and be prepared for your potential employer to ask, but if they don’t, you should feel empowered to bring it up! Here’s where it literally pays to do your research. Come with a salary range in mind and factor in your experience, skill set, degree level, and any certifications you might have. If you can find out what the pay scale is prior to your interview, that can be extremely helpful! LinkedIn is a great place to make those inquiries. Above all, don’t be intimidated— see our blog on negotiating nursing salaries for more detailed info on this topic.

Throughout the interview process remember to mind your Ps and Qs: stay Positive, Patient-centered, and Passionate, and ask Questions, too! This shows that you are motivated and capable of assessing a role to be a good fit rather than just casting a wide net. Employers are always impressed with those that can go above and beyond, so show them you possess this skill right from the get-go. Be specific with the experiences that have built you up, and reframe anything negative into the learning opportunity it provided you. The perfect position may not exist, but being able to ace an interview through preparation certainly does!