Working as a nurse is by far an easy job. And, because of its complex nuances, nursing interviews tend to be harder than for many other professions.
But the key to a successful interview lies in carefully and thoroughly preparing for it. This includes researching the organization, understanding the position’s requirements, and — perhaps more importantly — familiarizing yourself with the kinds of questions that are likely to come up in your interview.
And that’s why you’re here. In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the most common nursing interview questions, and share example answers to help you prepare for — and ace — your upcoming job interview.
1. “Tell me about yourself.”
“Tell me about yourself” is often the very first question that hiring managers will ask you, regardless the profession you’re interviewing for, and typically serves as an icebreaker.
Be warned, however: While it might seem like an invitation to share your personal backstory, interviewers actually pose this question to determine why you’re right for the role.
This, like many of the other nursing interview questions on our list, will require some research into the organization and an understanding of what the position requires.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
I’m a registered nurse with over 10 years’ experience in critical care. My journey in nursing was inspired by caring for my grandmother, which taught me the value of compassionate care, and it’s a lesson I carry with me every day.
I began my nursing career working in a high-pressure ICU, where I developed strong patient management and multitasking skills. But what really motivates me is building trust with patients and their families, ensuring they feel supported and informed during challenging times.
2. “Why did you pursue nursing?”
This question (and its many variations, including “Why did you choose nursing as a career?” or “Why did you become a nurse?”) is intended to provide the hiring managers with insights into your professional motivations and it can be a great indicator of your future success in the position.
When providing a response, share your genuine reasons for becoming a nurse (whether it’s a deep-rooted passion, or a childhood experience), tying it all into your career goals and the specific position’s requirements.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
When I was a kid, I had to stay in hospital for a couple of months. While the doctors were absolutely wonderful, it was the nurses who spent time with me and helped me in my recovery. Nurse Janice in particular inspired me to pursue a career in nursing; I want to help people the way she and the other nurses helped me.
3. “How do you handle conflict?”
Conflict is an inevitable part of any job — there’s no escaping it — and more so in a medical setting, where staff might disagree on patient care priorities. Indeed, conflict may arise out of personality or work style clashes, or even by accident.
Hiring managers will ask you this question to determine your conflict resolution skills, and the best way to answer it is to provide a specific example of workplace conflict and describe how you resolved it.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
A few years ago, I had a disagreement with a coworker about patient care priorities. As this conflict was getting in the way of our work, I took it upon myself to approach them privately to discuss our perspectives calmly and respectfully. In the end, we came up with a plan that addressed both of our concerns while prioritizing patient care. It taught me the importance of open communication.
4. “What makes you a good nurse?”
You might feel like an answer to “What makes you a good nurse?” will be a little biased, and perhaps it will be. But hiring managers need to know if you’ve got what it takes to succeed in the job, which is why they often pose this question.
When preparing a response, focus not on your technical skills and knowledge but on your personal qualities. After all, they want to hire someone who is compassionate, empathic, committed and honest, and who genuinely cares for others.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
Being committed to prioritizing compassion and care in my interactions with both patients and colleagues is what makes me a good nurse. I also always strive to show courage when presenting concerns to doctors, while I’m deeply invested in continuous learning to make sure I have an edge in patient care.
5. “How do you handle stress?”
No nurse or any other healthcare professional will ever tell you that working in healthcare is stress-free. In fact, some 70% of healthcare workers experience high stress levels and even burnout, given the multifaceted nature of their job.
As a result, “How do you handle stress?” becomes one of the most common questions that hiring managers ask nursing candidates. The key to providing an effective answer is to demonstrate your resilience and to explain your own stress management techniques.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
Stress is an inevitable part of the nursing profession, but I’ve learned to incorporate many different techniques and activities into my workday and in my personal life to help me manage my stress levels. For example, when work becomes a little intense, I perform a few simple breathing exercises. Outside of work, meanwhile, I make time for family and friends, and even for my personal interests.
6. “How would you handle a crisis?”
As a nurse, you’ll be all too familiar with crises — including outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. How you handle these crises, both independently and as part of a team, are imperative for success on the job. And that’s exactly what hiring managers want to make sure you’re capable of.
As you prepare to answer this question, think about an example, and walk the hiring manager through it, explaining the steps taken and the positive outcome.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
As with virtually every other hospital and department during the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis, we didn’t have a treatment plan. But we worked together to create a system that prioritized resources for more serious patients, and in the end, we were able to take care of all our patients. Ultimately, in a crisis of this scale, teamwork and consulting with the relevant authorities is important.
7. “How do you respond when people ask for your personal diagnosis outside a clinical setting?”
It’s by no means uncommon for family and friends to ask you for a personal diagnosis when you’re a nurse or other healthcare professional. After all, if they have access to the horse’s mouth, it could save them from having to book an appointment with their doctor.
But — and although it’s okay to offer a diagnosis for simple things like a cold — how you answer this question can influence hiring managers’ perception of your professional ethics. Indeed, it’s always best to recommend a visit to the doctor.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
This does happen frequently, but I always advise family and friends to make an appointment with their doctor, who has access to the tools and equipment needed for a more accurate diagnosis in a medical setting than I could outside such a setting.
8. “Why do you want this job?”
“I want this job because I have bills to pay” is never the right answer here! In fact, your answer shouldn’t focus at all on what the employer can do for you — but rather what you can do for them.
After all, the purpose of this seemingly straightforward (but actually very tricky) interview question is to get a better understanding on how much you know about the organization, what your goals are and how these align with the position, and how the job itself will challenge you and help you develop.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
I want this job because, from what colleagues have told me and from what read about the organization, I relate to your vision and mission statement, which align with my own ambitions and career goals. I’m also keen to work alongside and learn from some the country’s best medical professionals, who all happen to be in this hospital.
9. “What is your biggest strength and your biggest weakness?”
Another common interview question for just about any profession, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” is designed not to put you on the spot but to, first, assess your self-awareness and, second, determine if you have the skills and qualities required for the job.
One of the best tips to keep in mind when developing a response to this question is to avoid disguising strengths as weaknesses (eg: “I’d say my biggest weakness is that I’m too detail-oriented”). Meanwhile, always frame weaknesses as opportunities for improvement.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
I think my biggest strength is my ability to make split-second decisions in unexpected clinical situations, something I developed during my time as a military nurse.
As for my biggest weakness, I’d say it’s my tendency to procrastinate paperwork and admin tasks, as I feel it takes me away from caring for patients. This often means that I rush through my reports at the end of my shift, but I’m taking steps to learn how to manage my time better.
10. “What are your salary expectations?”
This is perhaps the most common of all interview questions, whatever your profession. Indeed, employers want to make sure your salary expectations align with their budget (as well as your experience) before further committing to your application.
Make sure you already have a number in mind before walking into the interview room, and preferably a range so that you give yourself some room for negotiation. That said, whatever range you provide, it’s important that you’ll be comfortable with accepting the low end.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
Considering my experience and skills, as well as the position’s requirements, I’m looking for a salary in the range of $80,000 to $90,000. How does this align with your organization’s budget?
Final thoughts
Preparing for common nursing interview questions — and developing and rehearsing effective answers — isn’t optional. It’s necessary.
Indeed, nursing positions, especially the more desirable ones, attract a huge number of applications. As such, your answers need to outshine those of your competition if you want a fighting chance at securing the job — provided, of course, your résumé and cover letter were shortlisted. (Our expert résumé advisors can help if you didn’t get past the first stage in the hiring process.)
What nursing interview questions are you preparing for? Let us know in the comments section below.
This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published in 2015.