If you have gone through the many steps to become a nurse or any of its derivatives, the time has come for a job interview. This means you may be wondering what type of nursing interview questions you can expect.
Let’s look at a few nursing basics, something called the STAR method, and some of the most common nursing interview questions to get you prepared for your job interview.
What Does it Take to Become a Nurse?
Becoming a registered nurse isn’t an easy task. There are some great programs, like RN-to-BSN degrees. Depending on what program and career paths you’ve chosen, it can take several years to become a nurse.
For example, becoming a nurse-midwife can take anywhere from seven to eight years. However, becoming a nurse takes a lot more than just schoolwork.
Nursing jobs are extremely demanding, often requiring long hours of hard work and difficult situations. That’s where the STAR method can save the day if you’re nervous about answering nursing interview questions.
The STAR Method
The STAR method, or situation, task, action, result, is an excellent method to structure your nursing interview answers. These methods work incredibly well for behavioral interview questions, which try to ascertain your character and behavior.
The STAR method is a great template to help prepare you for answering nursing interview questions as it adds a more rigid structure to answers. This is particularly helpful if you’re worried about answering nursing interview questions.
With the STAR method, it’s easier than ever to ace questions for nurses. Let’s take a closer look at how you can answer nursing interview questions by providing your interviewer with a situation, task, action, and result to highlight your acumen.
Situation
The situation refers to the background of the story. Where were you? Were you in a hospital setting?
Task
The task refers to the actual goal or objective that you had to fulfill. This could be anything from helping out a coworker to a time you handled a crisis.
Action
How did you react in that difficult situation? This is your time to shine. This is where you outline how you completed the task, what skills you used, and what skills you learned in the process.
Result
This is the final part of the STAR method, in which you describe what happened after you took action on the task. Did you end up learning something new about yourself? Describe what you thought you did well, or perhaps could have done better.
Remember to do some specific research on potential employers to prepare your STAR-method answers.
Common Nursing Interview Questions
Acing your nursing interview questions will show hiring managers that you’re a good fit. Since nursing is an occupation where you deal with unique situations, you will most likely hear some behavioral interview questions. Remember, these are the perfect questions for the STAR method.
Sure, you will probably hear questions like what is your greatest weakness. But the hiring manager will most likely put more emphasis on how well you work on a team, what you do to handle a crisis, and how you deal with difficult situations.
Let’s explore some of the most common nursing interview questions below.
Why Did You Decide to Be a Nurse?
When asked why you became a nurse, you want to outline the rewarding aspects of the occupation. For example, caring for patients and their families is extremely rewarding.
This is a pretty standard nursing interview question and you should expect it pretty early on. It’s a useful framework for getting to know you. Knowing why you joined the nursing field can reveal if you’re a good fit.
How Do You Handle the Stress of Being a Nurse?
When asked how you handle stress as a nurse, this signifies how you would handle a crisis or make difficult decisions. This is an essential question for nurses. Nursing is an inherently stressful job with a lot of responsibility. That’s why the way you answer this question is crucial.
Be honest and turn a negative into a positive. For example, you could explain that you engage in meticulous organization to make things easier for you and your team to handle stress on the job.
Are You a Team Player?
When asked whether or not you work well with a team, no matter what, the answer to this question is yes. Nursing is all about working as part of a team. Whether it’s working alongside fellow nurses or doctors, this is a diverse field where teams allow for adequate patient care and success.
Why Are You the Best Candidate?
This is where you can really lay it on and impress the hiring manager. For example, describe your process of entering the nursing profession, how rewarding it is, and how it changed your life. Try to double down on how nursing isn’t just a paycheck to you, but rather a lifelong passion.
Final Thoughts on Nursing Interview Questions
Whether you’re using the STAR method or your own wits, make sure you study some of the most common nursing interview questions to feel more confident when you go into an interview with a hiring manager.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
