Preparing for an interview can be daunting, so we researched the most common interview questions, and listed some tips for answering each one. This guide is designed for both experienced and newly qualified nurses.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Q: Why do you want to be a Nurse?

This is one of the most important and likely questions you’ll be asked. Without going into too much detail, this is where you can give an answer that reflects your passion and enthusiasm for Nursing. Talking about why the role excites you, how you first got into the field and why you’re the perfect fit.

Here is an idea to get you started for the first question, but due to the rest being individual specific – it’s up to you!

Answer Idea: “I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting, and makes a difference in people’s lives. Throughout college and nursing school, my interest and commitment to the field became even stronger as I found that I also had a skill for the work. Dealing with patients and their families and helping them through what is often a difficult time for them is extremely satisfying for me.”

Q: Tell me about yourself

This question is fairly standard in any job interview, however try and think of this as an opportunity to list why your perfect for the job. Find out exactly what the job involves then research your best achievements from your résumé. You can also go into a little bit about yourself personally, things you like to do: gym, meeting friends etc but the most important part are things that relate to your work.

Q: How have you dealt with conflict in the past?

This is a question in which you’ll need a specific example taken from your own experience. Your goal when answering is to show that you have implemented logical conflict resolution strategies before and that you can remain calm under pressure.

Q: What does compassionate care mean to you and how do you deliver it?

It’s crucial with this question that you talk about how you empathize with patients and listen to what they have to say. The concept of compassionate care is fundamental to Nursing, so this question is bound to come up. The 6Cs – care, compassion, courage, communication, commitment and competence are key to this question and it’s important that you reference them.

Q: What makes a good shift?

This is an interesting question. Interviewers are well aware that Nursing can be stressful so they’re also interested in your honesty. Interviewers will want to know how employees can manage their time, cope with stress, and stay hydrated. There may be times there was a lack of staff, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was a bad shift.

Q: How do you handle workplace stress?

Fast-paced workflows and complex tasks in the medical field are expected. Because of this, it’s important to have a clear explanation of how you handle the emotionally and physically demanding aspects of your job. To answer this question, describe the techniques you’ve developed for stress relief. You can discuss hobbies, support groups, exercise regimens and other ways you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Q: What is your proudest Nursing achievement?

Talking about personal story that illustrates you as kind, caring and compassionate is important for this question. Your answer should reassure the interviewer that you will do everything you possibly can to ensure safe and effective care. Remember, this is your personal experience, try to not overthink it too much – this is about your proudest achievement, not what you think your interviewers will be impressed by.

Q: What is a mistake you’ve been involved in?

This is quite a common question. You can either talk about your own mistake or someone elses mistake, either is fine. Explain what you learnt, what you would change, and how you cooperated with others to resolve the problem. The main goal of this question is not for the interviewer to find out you made a mistake, but to know how you learned from the mistake.

Q: Why did you decide to specialize in your specific field?

This is about displaying your passion once more. And the easiest way to describe your passion is to give some examples of why you enjoy it. What made you study nursing in the first place? What motivates you to carry on with it?

Q: What do equality and diversity mean to you?

It’s more and more common for interviewers to ensure you have a clear understanding of the importance of equality and diversity. For this, explain the value of honoring diverse cultures and learning from others.

Q: What issues are currently faced by UK healthcare providers?

This question is a chance to show how in tune you are with things going on inside your profession, and how seriously you take your career. Make sure you brush up on the current goings on inside the industry, as interviewers will be keen to know you’re interested in the issues your industry faces.

Q: Do you have any questions for us?

Often people say nothing, but it’s good to be prepared with a couple of questions. It is good to ask about what room for growth or development the role offers if it hasn’t already come up, for both your own knowledge and to show the interviewer your serious about the longevity of the role.

The Best Ways to Prepare for a Nursing interview

Ensuring you’ve covered all bases before the interview is crucial, as your goal should be showing your interviewer why you’re a great Nurse, and why you’re perfect for this position.

Here are some detailed tips you should consider before the interview:

Research the organisation inside-out

Knowing who you’re going to be working for it very important. Although it may appear that all of these organizations are very similar, this is not the case. Whether you’re interviewing with an NHS trust or a private organization, you should have a strong understanding of who you are going to work for and the responsibilities the job entails. A common question that’s likely you’ll be asked during the interview is “Why do you want to work here?” Being able to cite specific facts about the job or organization will better demonstrate why you want that job in particular, and show you’ve made the effort to get familiar with them. Research and read their site and try to observe their social media channels.

Being in the know about what’s happening within the NHS is also important. Nursing and the NHS is a topic that’s constantly on the national agenda, and staying current demonstrates your ability to understand problems within the industry.

Refresh yourself on Scenarios & Skills

As mentioned in the section above, interviewers want to see how your skills and experience matches up to the role you are looking for. Preparing some scenarios, you’ve been through that cover: a time you’ve made a mistake, a time you’ve succeeded, a moment your proud of etc is important. Simply stating that you have a certain skill is easy and anyone can do that. What will set you apart is if you can put your skills in context and talk about situations in which your skills have been applied.

Dress Appropriately

Professional attire tells interviewers you take them and the job seriously. Unless your specifically told that you should dress in scrubs or bring any equipment, you can opt for business professional dress. For men, this includes a suit and tie when possible. You can also wear a jacket and matching pants. For women, a button-down shirt or blouse with dress slacks or a long skirt will likely do.