Describe yourself to me.
It’s crucial to respond honestly yet positively when asked about yourself during a job interview. You want to emphasize your best traits without coming across as boastful.
What aspects of being a nurse appeal to you the most?
I enjoy many aspects of being a nurse. Making a difference in people’s lives is something I enjoy doing. I also enjoy the opportunity to learn new things and the challenges that come with the profession.
What aspect of becoming a nurse do you find the most challenging?
Managing the emotional side of the work is the hardest part of being a nurse. Seeing others in pain and being powerless to assist them can be quite upsetting. It is also difficult to witness people making bad decisions that will probably have a detrimental impact on their health. But in my opinion, the benefits of the work exceed the challenges.
Why are you quitting your job now?
I am seeking a new challenge and a career that will allow me to apply my knowledge and abilities in a different way, thus I am leaving my current nursing position. Additionally, I am looking for a job that provides more room for advancement.
You want to work here, but why?
During my tour of the facility, I was struck by the emphasis on providing high-quality patient care and the collaborative atmosphere. I firmly think that this is the type of environment in which I can flourish as a nurse and give my patients the finest treatment possible.
As a nurse, what are your advantages and disadvantages?
My ability to relate to patients and show them compassion and care is my greatest strength as a nurse. In addition, I work quickly and patiently. My biggest shortcoming is that I occasionally struggle to handle the emotional demands of the job. I find it hard to watch others suffer, but I am becoming better at it with time.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?
I became a nurse because I was passionate about assisting and taking care of others. I was aware that working as a nurse would provide me the chance to truly impact people’s lives, and I have always valued that.
Which attributes do you believe are most crucial for a good nurse?
Any successful nurse must possess patience, empathy, and a strong desire to assist people. Additionally, in this tough field, having strong communication skills and the capacity to remain composed under pressure are essential.
What do you believe to be the main issues that nurses are now facing?
The growing expectations on nurses today are, in my opinion, one of the main issues we face. It might be challenging to give our patients the superior care they require and deserve when we are being expected to accomplish more with less. Another significant issue we are dealing with is the nursing shortage. Burnout and compassion fatigue may result from a shortage of nurses to fulfill the increasing demand.
When you are unsure of how to handle a scenario or the response to a patient’s question, what do you do?
No nurse is an expert. Do not be scared to share an instance where you were unsure on how to proceed or what to do. Give a detailed account of the steps you took to resolve the issue or identify the solution.
An example response
I review the diagnoses and prescriptions of my patients before I begin my shift. I quickly investigate anything I do not know about and find out what I need to know. Signs and symptoms, prognosis, adverse reactions, drug side effects, contraindications, etc. could all be covered. I ask a more seasoned nurse or clinician if I am still not convinced. Sometimes I call the pharmacist to request clarification if I have queries regarding my medication. I also do not try to guess if I do not grasp something. I will ask an experienced person or get in touch with my nursing supervisor. I do not allow my ignorance to compromise patient care.
How do you handle changes to your assignment, the unit, schedule, etc.?
As everyone knows, nursing is constantly evolving, thus we must be adaptable. Take use of this question to describe how you adjust to change.
An example response
I quickly and readily became familiar with the system when my clinic made the changeover to electronic medical records. However, I observed that some of the senior nurses found the new system difficult to use and had trouble adjusting. After offering my assistance, I was assigned to a team that would assist the nurses in switching from paper charting to the new system.
Tell us about a period when you were under a lot of stress. How did you respond to it?
Talk about a time when you were under stress at work. Describe the circumstances, your actions, and the outcome. Did you learn anything about managing stress from that experience?
An example response
In addition to being the staff development nurse, it was my call week. I received calls or had to visit the facility every day to deal with a problem. I felt like I was being tugged in ten different directions, which made it quite stressful. In addition to making sure my work was finished, I also had to be present if someone called out or something went wrong.
I asked each nurse to leave me a report in order to reduce the amount of tension and back and forth. I also informed them that when I arrived at work the next day, I would take care of any non-emergent problems. I resolved to arrive to work around ten minutes early every day to see what I needed to manage from the day before.
Give an example of a time you had to deal with a challenging coworker. What issue did you have, and how did you fix it?
This is not the time to disparage others. Avoid disparaging any coworkers. Alternatively, now is the moment to demonstrate your dispute resolution skills. Take your time and describe a particular circumstance, the reasons it was hard, and the reasons the coworker was tough to deal with. What was the result of your approach to the issue? What lessons did you take away from that experience that you can apply going forward?
An example response
When she gave her report during the handoff, a coworker of mine who worked the opposite shift from mine would hurry me. She frequently provided me with only a portion of a patient’s information, and occasionally I got none at all. I found that annoying, and it made things tense between us. I arrived at work 10 minutes early one day. I gently let her know that her handoffs frequently resulted in inaccurate information regarding our patients. In order to avoid misunderstandings regarding patients and to make sure we did not overlook anything, I proposed that we conduct walking rounds. It was a fine resolution, she agreed. I learned how to stand up for myself and face a problem head-on from that experience.
Give an example of a time when you demonstrated teamwork.
This is your chance to demonstrate your teamwork. Consider an instance where you intervened to assist a colleague. How did it turn out? What was the team’s response?
An example response
The nurses in long-term care frequently serve as their own charge nurses. Managing admissions, discharges, wound care, and medication passes may make for a busy day. One day, a fellow nurse who works with me was having a rough day. He had a heavy medication pass, a discharge, a fresh admission, and a resident fall. He still had to complete his skilled (Medicare) charting on top of everything else. I offered to finish his admission and begin working on his discharge paperwork after noticing that he was having difficulty. He was able to complete his task and depart on time since he was so grateful.
Do you feel at ease speaking with other healthcare team members? Give an example of a moment when a patient’s healthcare team member and you disagreed.
This is your chance to demonstrate your leadership, patient advocacy, and communication abilities. However, keep in mind that no matter how challenging the circumstance was, you should avoid trash talking. Now is your chance to highlight your strengths without disparaging others. Explain the dispute, the parties involved, and the lessons you took away.
An example response
On one particular occasion, the wife of a patient informed me that she did not believe the doctor was concerned about her husband’s health because he was constantly “in and out” of the room and never responded to their inquiries. I spoke with the doctor about their worries. He shouted back at me. I mentioned that his behavior was improper in a calm but firm manner. I did not like him yelling at me when I spoke up for the patient. I was then “reported” to my nursing supervisor by him. I told my boss that I was speaking up for myself after a coworker had treated me badly and that I was also working as a patient advocate by attending to the patient’s concerns. She talked to the doctor on my behalf and reassured me that I made the correct decision. I discovered that you should also address the fears of a patient or their caregiver, even though it could be frightening.