Nursing is a very respected, selfless, and rewarding profession, that comes under the healthcare industry. Here are some Nursing School Interview Questions with simple and sample answers.
Being a Nurse is providing their patients with critical care and better health. They nurture the ones in need of medical care in various aspects. Nursing is challenging, exciting and an essential profession.
Nurses look after their patients before as well as after their diagnostics and treatments, to assure good care to them.
What Happens in an Interview?
Once you’ve decided to enroll yourselves and applied to a Nursing School of your choice, you will be required to give an Interview to the Nursing School panel.
Interviews are not a compulsory part of the enrollment process at all Nursing Schools, but most of them usually conduct interviews.
Interviews are required in the Nursing profession as you are going to go through an exciting as well as a daunting process while practicing for a Nurse.
In order to have a career in Nursing, one has to be mentally strong and subtle. Their behavior, attitude, and nature constitute most of the part they’ll play as a Nurse.
Therefore, in an interview, you will be questioned based on your communication skills, the reason for pursuing a career in nursing, interpersonal skills, your family background, your goals, and achievements, how you are at your emotional level, if you can withstand working in extreme pressure, hardworking personality, etc.
The sole purpose of having an interview is to know about the interests and capabilities of an individual and whether they fit to study for the purpose further or not.
So, let us look have a look at some sample interview questions one has to go through at Nursing School.
Nursing School Sample Interview Questions/Answers
So, here are a few of the most frequent and important asked questions in a Nursing School Interview, provided with their answers:
- Give a brief introduction about yourself?
- The answer to this question plays a very important role in reflecting your personality and communication skills. It points out your attitude towards the interviewer through your way to answer.
To answer this question, introduce yourself starting with your name and provide them with your basic details of qualifications in a short and crisp manner. Then talk about your family background followed by your hobbies, interests, goals, and achievements.
2. Why do you want to pursue a career in Nursing?
- You can answer this question in a professional manner. Tell the interviewer about the instance when you realized you wanted to pursue a career in nursing. Talk about what led you to set this as a goal of yours. Make sure that you answer this question honestly and it must provide the interviewer with clear ideas and reasons behind choosing this as your career.
Do not answer this question as the reason why you want to become a nurse is that your grandmother or mother was a nurse so you want to follow in their footsteps. The interviewer needs to know your interests and goals in order to judge you with respect to the job role.
3. Can you please tell us about some of your passion and hobbies?
- An answer to this can be in a friendlier manner as now the interviewer wants you to be comfortable in talking about what you like and do in your whole day. You can start answering this question by stating some of your hobbies, or some interests which you might have build since your mid-school.
4. What is the reason behind applying to this nursing school?
A. This is a fairly important question so answer this professionally. You can either be honest here to the interviewer and let them know the actual reason behind it. Or the most followed way to answer this question would be saying the nicest things about the nursing institutes and how important it is for you to get here (well, this could be the actual reasons, for some of you).
5. Give an overview of your personal strengths and weaknesses?
A. It would be much preferable for you to answer this question as sensibly and honestly as possible. You can first talk about a few of your strengths, for example:
“I am a punctual and responsible person, and I am capable of working in extreme conditions. As I am interested in pursuing “Nursing” as a career, I feel I satisfy all the skills needed for this position.” You may also add your strengths giving few examples proving it for the same.
To state your weaknesses in front of an interviewer, make sure you do not open up a lot. Do point out basic weaknesses an individual may have because no one is perfect in this world, they might have at least one or more weaknesses. For example, “I get nervous at times, but I’ am able to overcome it through time”. This is something that is a socially acceptable answer to give.
6. What do your friends and family have to say about you?
- This is where the interviewer gets to know you as a whole, in terms of behavior, attitude, your interaction skills till now, and your strengths and weaknesses.
To answer this question, start talking about how many common or close friends have you made during your school years. Talk about what they think about you as a friend. For example, “My friends think of me as a fun-loving person, who is helpful and caring for her friends. They think I am mentally and emotionally strong”.
Give them reasons to consider you as a good match for this nursing program.
Family is the backbone of everyone’s life. So, talk about what your family thinks of you as a person. Tell them what potential you hold in yourself, and how responsible you are. You may also give examples of some of the family members, who you spend most of your time with.
7. Are you aware of the responsibilities involved in being a Nurse?
- To answer this question, you can give them all the knowledge and information you have about the Nursing profession. Tell them about the basic qualifications, they need to apply for this position. Talk about the roles or duties and responsibilities a nurse has to follow. Talk of the skills they need in order to fulfill the criteria of being a nurse. Also mention, how important it is for you to become a nurse. You may point out the importance of a nurse at a clinic or hospital. Also, speak about the commitment you have towards your work to pursue nursing as a profession.
8. Why do you think you will be a perfect fit for this program?
- This is the time you show all your positive qualities in front of the interviewer. Tell them about how much this opportunity means to you. You may answer this question in the following manner:
For example, “I am an enthusiastic individual, who is confident in her work. I am responsible and punctual towards my duties. I feel I am a fit for this program because being a Nurse, to contribute to our healthcare system has been my only goal. I am humble and polite to people and I also love kids. I think I can do my job well and enhance my skills through this profession.
Being a nurse requires emotional stability, thinking critically, showing empathy towards their patients, their strength of being able to communicate with open-mindedness, and many more. Therefore, I am always ready to learn and I think I can take on these responsibilities with my skills. Hence, I will be a perfect fit for this program.”
9. Why didn’t you consider being a doctor but a nurse?
- Yes, the profession of a doctor is much respected in healthcare systems. They are paid much more money than a nurse. Doctors are superior in terms of intellect, wealth, leadership, and position.
Then why a nurse? To answer this question, make sure you do not make the profession of a doctor look worthless. Keep the ideologies clear and answer this question in a professional manner.
You can answer this question like this :
“I chose to become a nurse and not a doctor because I like keeping a personal touch and connections with the patients. Also, nurses are said to play a very crucial and important role in a healthcare job. They work on frontlines, from assisting the doctors in surgery, to perform several functions of patients care nurses play an important part. Nursing is a diverse field, from teaching to research, nurses are growing further in their careers.”
10. Suppose you are a nurse, and you witnessed bad news(death). How would you pass this information to the patient’s family?
- This is a very important part of being a nurse. So you must answer this question with a peaceful mind. Do not rush to answer this question. Think 2 times at least before answering it.
The best way to answer this question is – keep yourself in the position of a nurse experiencing the situation. For example:
“I would go to the patient’s family, make them sit down, and politely tell them what has happened and how it led to the current situation. I will support the patient’s family and sit with them for quite and while. I will assist the patient’s family with the grief and issues concerning it.” Through this, you can show them your caring nature which holds the key importance in being a nurse. Talk for around 2 minutes to give your opinion on this matter.
11. Are you aware of the working hours required in this profession?
- Till this time the interviewer has gone through your education, family background, your attitude towards others, nature, and knowledge needed for this program.
You can answer this question through your experience of knowledge in this field. As an interested applicant, talk about the dedication you will put into the job and schooling ahead. You can say that you are aware of the working environment and time needed to be put in this job.
While working you may need to work within day and night shifts. Let them know you are comfortable in putting such efforts to do your job. Say you are ready to work in extreme conditions, be it a celebration or an emergency. Show your interpersonal skills through this answer.
Many questions which you will be asked in an interview will be based and revolve around the profession – Nursing, and patient care and their needs.
Other than this, you can also come across several behavioral questions to test and analyze your behavior and how you would react in certain situations, or what would you do in the given circumstances.
The basic idea of the interviewers is to know your input in a reality-based situation, and the amount of value you add to it through your strengths and skills.
Few examples of such questions are provided below in continuation with the above questions along with their sample answers.
(You can always try to answer better and briefly in your manner. Do not mug up these answers, as these are just for your reference purpose, to have an idea of the scenario).
12. How do you deal with failure? Give an example of the same.
A. As this is a behavioral question, you are expected to answer it honestly through an example, where you show that you have handled the failures that have come your way maturely.
You can answer this in the following way:
“As failures are a part of life, there is no doubt that I haven’t met failures in my path here. Whenever I face failures in my work or life, I tend to analyze the situation well to understand why did face it. Then I start the same work fresh and positively, trying again to succeed. In fact, I choose to learn from my failures rather than spending time crying about it.”
Do not forget to mention the examples. It should be practical and based on reality. Avoid making up things, to get away, the interviewer will always come to know when you lie.
You may add an example of your project work, where you missed the date of submission of the project due to some issue, but then you managed to get along and successfully completed the project.
Through this part, your positive energy or attitude will be reflected in the interview.
13. Tell us what would you do, if you had a conflict with a professor?
A. This indeed is a difficult scenario where they are testing you on your nature and behavior.
To answer this question in the best manner, always start with – “I will never expect such a situation to come in life, as I respect my teachers and supervisors. But if such a scenario has been put up in front of me, I would rather try to end the conflict with a professor. Also, what resulted in a conflict also matters. But, as he is a senior and a respectable authority, I would end the conflict and apologize for the point which led to it. “
This is a very simple way to answer such questions, as you are not tangled between the situation and your behavior. You just have to prove yourself as a mature individual who would not want any such thing to happen.
14. Tell us about some of your accomplishments in professional life, if any?
A. This question is asked by an interviewer to know how you can explain your achievements and accomplishments to someone. They will get to know if you are boasting yourself much, or not valuing the situation where you are sitting.
Therefore, the right and professional way to answer this question is to mention all your achievements in academics, co-curricular activities, social works if any, cultural participations, national or international accomplishments (if any), or scholarships you have received in your school or college.
These are a few of the fields, which are common to everyone accomplishing in these fields.
15. Give an example of the time when you lead your team and motivated them?
A. This seems to be a very simple question one could easily answer. But it tests your social skills and behavior around your mates.
An answer to this question can be given by mentioning one of your projects where you have worked with your teammates in your schools or colleges and might have faced a moment where you have motivated one of your friends to keep doing the good work. You might also mention the time when you have appreciated your project mates being a team leader.
Show them your leadership skills through this answer and tell them how you have led your team in a specific situation. It could be a critical situation where you were required to show your leadership spirit.
Similarly, there are many such questions you may get from behavioral part to face from the interviewers.
More on the Topic
Nursing is a career full of various opportunities, in need of skills and knowledge. This is a vast field as a profession that requires an investment of time, dedication, hard work, and assistance throughout their career.
Nurses can work in medical centers, various clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Advantages in this profession are: Nurses have good job security, future opportunities as head nurses, job satisfaction, mental peace, flexible working hours, and high packages along with perks and incentives.
Nursing Degrees
There are various programs provided by national and international universities for the Nursing Services.
- The first step is, to enroll in a Nursing program you need to meet certain requirements that are, earning your graduate degree at high school or General education.
- Have a knowledge of the nursing school you are applying to to meet their prerequisites.
- Apply to the nursing degree programs
- Perform well in your interviews
- Patiently wait for the call or an Acceptance letter from the institution/University
In the healthcare industry, working as a Nurse is a very rewarding career.
You get to choose your career programs, whether it be Bachelor’s, Masters, or Doctorate nursing programs. You can also pursue diploma and certificate programs in this field.
Your career as a nurse can be from various types and specializations. Some of them are listed below:
- Registers Nurses –
These nurses are registered in the hospital or clinical premises. They assist the doctors in various jobs throughout their careers. They require a degree in Bachelor of Registered Nursing.
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) –
These nurses are certified by the governments and work as frontline healthcare professionals. They check the vital signs of the patients and help them with walking.
- Clinical Specialists –
To pursue a career as a clinical nurse, you require a Master’s degree in Specialist Clinical Nursing. These nurses provide bedside care to their patients and work with senior doctors and pharmacists as well.
- Nurse Practioner –
Education required to become a Practioner is master in a specific role or specialization. These nurses assist in laboratories and help with the test results.
- Education and training (Nurse Educator) –
To pursue this field as a career, you need to have a master’s degree in teaching various subjects and fields involving medicine and nursing. These nurses work in training institutions and universities. They teach in nursing schools and shape students to become a better nurse in their specializations.
- Nurse Case Manager –
To become a nurse case manager, you will need a bachelor’s in nursing. You will be required to work in an industrial environment and nursing homes where you will provide insurance, and do follow-ups on paper works. You will need to monitor the progress of patients or might have to suggest alternative treatments.
- Critical Care Registered Nurse –
To pursue a career as a Critical Care nurse, you will have to do a bachelor’s in nursing along with some courses involving critical care specializations. You will work as Critical care registered nurse in hospitals assisting patients in Intensive Care units (ICU).
- Surgical Assistant Registered Nurse –
These nurses will require a bachelor’s in registered nursing and they assist doctors in surgeries, and help taking care of patients before and after the surgery as well.
