Nursing is a profession of great significance. The warm touch, comfort, calming words and kind attitude can make all the difference in the life of the patient, the patient’s family, and even in the medical care they receive. A competent nurse can enable a doctor to work more easily, and more successfully.
As a crucial member of the medical and healthcare profession, much good can be engendered. On the other, the smallest error can have serious ramifications. Therefore, the interview for a nursing job is more intense than for example, a secretarial interview. During the interview, allow the interviewer to know that you are fully cognizant of the significance of the position, and feel competent to perform well.
After reading this article, please see the article – Nurse Interview Questions & Answers Part 2.
Questions and Answers for the Nursing Job Interview
Here are some questions that are generally asked during a nursing interview and suggested answers.
► What interests you in this career?
This question is your chance to speak about how important human life is and about your desire to help individuals and nurse them back to health.
► What drives you?
This question is very common in various healthcare departments. These professions mostly have people who work for reasons other than the financials. Therefore, you should inform the interviewer about your inherent need to serve people and help them get better and the happiness you feel when successful.
► Emergency Situations?
The medical world is full of emergency situations, and anyone with any experience at all must have a few incidents to speak of. When answering this question, tell about some of the most challenging and difficult cases that you have faced. You can also talk about a specific problem and how you handled it. Make sure that you speak about the added value that the situation gave to your medical experience.
► Day to Day Work?
Every person in the medical world should be resourceful and organized in their work. Without organization, even the greatest of genii would not have been able to achieve their complete potential. Therefore, tell the interviewer about how organized you are in your work and even in your personal life; give examples. This will add value to your resume, and raise your chances of landing the position.
► How did you share your knowledge with colleagues? Or assist your colleagues?
Nursing involves helping, sharing and efficient medical team work. These capabilities are nursing fundamentals; it is impossible to work alone. Therefore, tell interviewers about your positive past group experiences and try to convince the employer that you are a team player.
► What are your likes and dislikes about the job?
All jobs have advantages and disadvantages. As you respond, be careful – do not say anything that puts your previous jobs in a bad light, unless it was a well-known or extreme situation. Focus on the positive, mention a few good things about previous job(s). If you feel it is important, briefly outline any disadvantages. Close with more positive comments.
► Why should we hire you?
This question gives you a chance to speak about your talents, qualifications and experiences, anything that was not previously mentioned. At this point, you could give some more brief information about your professional past filling in some important details that did not come up during the rest of the interview. This will help the interviewer appreciate you more as a person and better understand you and your professional life.
► Where did you get your qualifications from?
Here is a chance to speak about your training, any courses you have taken, related books and articles you have read, as well as all the experience you have accumulated, including volunteer and part time positions.
► Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Any medical institution will need to know how serious you are about the profession and where you see yourself in five or ten years. Clearly, they will want to hear that you are interested in a lifelong career in the medical profession; people prefer to hire employees looking for many years of work. If your plans are otherwise, be honest and play up your good points.
Healthcare Job Interviews