Interviews can be rather terrifying because a lot is at stake. In this case your whole education or your nursing carrier is on the line. You want to be considered for admission and you only have one opportunity to make a good first impression on the interviewers and to convince the whole penal or just one person on the penal to believe in you and sway the others into selecting you above all other applicants. Another aspect that adds to the stressful nature of the interview process is the fact that you are most likely competing with many other applicants for that prized job opening or little number to be admitted.
The vast majority of the most common nursing interview questions have remained constant and unchanged over the past couple of years. Here are some of the most common and regularly asked interview questions over the past couple of years.
Tell us about yourself.
They interviewer here is not wanting to hear about your life story or your whole family history. He or she just wanted you to tell them your career goals, describe your personality, educational attainment, professional experience, and any creative or innovative creation or hobby that makes you who you are.
Tell me what you know about our company or institution.
Before you attend any form of interview, it is your duty as an applicant to do your research about the organization that is calling you for the interview.
You will look good to the interviewer if it appears that you have been doing your ‘homework’ on the company or institution and appears knowledgeable on the activities of the institution. The names of some of the major employers of the institution and the positions they hold must be at your fingertips.
So, tell us what you know about nursing.
You will stand out to the interviewer as a candidate who truly has passion about the specific nursing program you are applying for if you know more about it than the average person. If your dream is to work as a nurse in a well-baby nursery, you’d better be knowledgeable about the area in which you envision yourself working. Try to find out more about the duties of the specific nursing specialties you are being interviewed for. Talk to nurses already in that field and also do some reading about the field before the nursing interview.
Tell us why you want to school here.
Your reasons for wanting to school at that institution should be positive. Also, make a connection between your career goals and how they can be achieved at their institution. Make sure you have the mission and the vision of the institution at your fingertips and align it with your dreams and aspirations.
Describe to us how you perform under pressure.
The settings in which nurses work can quickly turn into pressure-cooker environments. To be blunt, the interviewer does not want to hire or admit anyone who is so emotionally fragile that they’ll shatter like plate glass when faced with the day-to-day pressures of the nursing job.
Discuss your biggest strengths and weaknesses.
The interviewer wants to hear about strengths that would be assets in the workplace. Since we all have weaknesses, the person conducting the interview will know you’re a liar if you deny having any. Make sure you talk about some of your weaknesses but make sure your strengths are strong enough to cover them up.
Are you a team player?
Healthcare facilities prefer to hire people who work well with others, have good social and communication skills, get along well with patients and visitors, and can pull together as a team for the sake of patient care. No member of the penal will admit you if you are not a team player or can’t go along well with others.
What motivates you to be a nurse?
Companies and institutions training nurses prefer to hire or admit healthcare workers who are motivated by intangible ideals, not concrete realities such as money. Even if cash is your ultimate motivation, do not elaborate on your need for money. Tell them how you always love to care for the sick and probably give them real examples of how you took care of a sick person.
Recall a difficult situation and describe how you handled it.
If you have healthcare experience or even been part of a red cross or any health union, this is the time to show it off. They want to know how you have dealt with angry doctors, emotionally upset families, or difficult patients. If you lack healthcare experience, you can discuss a difficult situation that occurred in school or somewhere and how you handled it.
Tell us why we should admit you.
This is the last time to truly sell yourself to the interviewer. Emphasize your positive attributes, reaffirm that you are a team player, and tell them why you are the best candidate on the applicants list.
Do you have any questions for us?
Ask the interviewer a question or two, whether it pertains to nurse/patient ratios, length of orientation, or educational opportunities. You might appear uninterested if you have no questions. Just make sure you ask a question.
Additional information.
Always make sure you know the names of some of the most important leaders in your country especially within the health sector before the interview.
If there is any new development within the sector or an outbreak of a new disease within the sub region, just make sure you are up to speed with all the details.