INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

CARE HOMES – NURSES

Look your best. You have about 30 seconds to make a first impression, so make it a
good one. Dress professionally: Suits always are appropriate; avoid loud prints or
revealing clothes.

Be enthusiastic. Show interest. Smile. Speak clearly.

Be yourself. Breathe normally and let your personality shine through. Just be yourself,
which will help you relax and decrease your stress.

 Can you tell me a little about yourself?

“I’m really energetic, and a great communicator. Working in the medical field for two years helped
me build confidence, and taught me the importance of patient care. I’ve also got a track record of
success. In my last role, I juggled a variety of patient loads, assisted in a charity fundraiser, and
became an advocate for senior patients. Because of this, the hospital is launching a new
educational program to teach nurses how to better care for elderly patients.”

 What made you choose nursing as a career?

I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting, and makes a difference in
people's lives on a daily basis. I have satisfaction every day by helping people.

 How has your training prepared you for a nursing career?

Discuss the training you have received through-out your career and give examples of how you
have used it. Ideally give one example for each job you had.

 Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

“In five years I’d like to have an even better understanding of this industry. Also, I really love
working with people. Ultimately, I’d like to be in some type of managerial role at this hospital,
where I can use my people skills and nursing knowledge to benefit the nurses working for me, and
the patients and hospital as a whole."

 Why are you leaving your current role/employer

“I’ve learned a lot from my current role, but now I’m looking for a new challenge in nursing, to
broaden my horizons and to gain a new skill-set – all of which, I see the potential for in this job.”

 What interests you about working here?

I really enjoy working with people; I have worked with children as well as the elderly
Also, after doing some research on Gracewell Healthcare and now seeing how vibrant it is. In my
mind if I could work in England with an employer like Gracewell healthcare it would be the
perfect situation for me.
 How do you handle stress on the job?
I am generally an easy going person, and I don't allow on the job stress to interfere with my work.
By focusing on the most important thing, the care of the patient. I feel I owe it to my patients to
stay calm and focused on them. Outside of work I enjoy (mention some of your hobbies,
interests) which helps me to relieve any stress I might have.

 How would you handle a patient who constantly complains about pain?
I would confer with the attending doctor to make sure that the patient's pain was being managed
in the most effective way. Basically I would listen sympathetically to their complaint, reassure
them that their concerns were being heard, and that we were doing everything possible to help
them.

 How would you handle a patient who complains about everything?

I would first be sure that the patient had no valid complaints, and then just be patient and
reassure them that we were doing our very best for them.

 How would you handle a family who is displeased with your patient's care?
I would listen to their concerns, and make sure that if any were well founded they were
addressed immediately. Sometimes family members are looking for someone or something to
blame for what their loved one is going through. I would try to reassure them that the patient
was getting the best quality of care available.

 What do you feel you contribute to your patients?

I believe that I offer my patients comfort and confidence that they are being well cared for. I feel
that my patients know that I am there to provide comfort and understanding, that I will listen to
their concerns, and that I will act as their advocate if necessary.

 Why should I/we hire you?

“I’ve been a Nurse Practitioner for the past ten years – my boss has said time and time again that
without me, the hospital would fall apart. I’ve also taken the time to educate myself on some of the
latest industry issues I regularly use (but didn’t really understand the ins and outs of). What’s good
enough for most people is never really good enough for me.”

 What do you find difficult about being a nurse?

Sometimes I find it difficult to leave work at work, as I tend to become very involved with my
patients. I think the most difficult part of being a nurse is when I have a patient that is very
unhappy, or in a lot of pain, and I can't comfort them to the degree I'd like.

 What do you find most rewarding about being a nurse?

Interacting with the patients and their families is what I find most rewarding. Seeing a patient
improve his or her health gives me joy that I played a part in helping that patient.

 What would you do if your replacement didn't arrive or we were short-staffed?

I would wait until she arrived, or until someone else was called in. I would also notify the
supervisor, and offer to stay until my replacement arrived.

 Would you describe yourself as organized?

Absolutely. I like to have a check list, and make sure that each item gets the attention it needs.
Sometimes a little too much so. I make sure that everything is neat and in order.
 Are you a self motivator?
I'm very motivated to do a good job at what I take on, and I like to stay busy. I take great pride in
my job as a nurse.

 Do you prefer to work alone, or as part of a team?

That depends on the circumstances. I enjoy being part of a treatment and support team, but I
also like the autonomy of working alone.

 Do you have any questions for me/us?

Make sure you ask them some questions, for example....what training do you provide new
workers? What advice would you give any new nurse that starts with your company? Do you have
plans to open more care homes?

When the interview comes to an end please thank them for taking the time to meet with you
and say that you hope you application will be successful because you think you would be very
happy here.

Other Questions to consider...

1. Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
2. What do you bring to this position? How do you stand out from the other applicants?
3. What attracts you to this facility? To this position? What do you hope to get out of the experience?
4. How would you describe your ideal job? Your ideal work environment?
5. Why are you leaving your current position?
6. What did you particularly like about your last position?
7. What's your most important professional achievement?
8. Who are your career role models and why?
9. How do you set priorities in your work?
10. Do you have any time-management tricks other nurses could benefit from?
11. What are the most important lessons you've learned in your career?
12. How much supervision do you want or need?
13. What professional organizations do you belong to?
14. How have you participated in the professional organizations you belong to?
15. What nursing publications do you subscribe to?
16. Have you attended any national conferences? If so, how did you benefit from the experience?
17. Have you ever done any volunteer work? If so, what was it like?
18. How do you keep up with the latest information in your field?
19. What are your goals in terms of going back to school, becoming certified, taking on management
responsibilities?
20. Can you give an example of a time you were a leader?
21. Can you give some examples of your problem-solving skills?
22. What do you think are the most challenging aspects of meeting patients' needs?
23. How do you handle a request you disagree with?
24. What happened the last time you put your foot in your mouth?
25. What actions would you take in your first month on the job?
26. Can you give some examples of your creativity?
27. Who is the most difficult person you've ever worked with and why?
28. What type of management style do you work with best?
29. Can you describe a time when you had to intervene for a patient, what you did, and why? What
was the outcome?
30. How would you rate yourself in communicating with patients—and with families?
31. Can you describe a situation in which you dealt with a difficult family member?
32. How do you motivate patients?
33. Can you describe a time you went beyond the call of duty?
34. Can you describe a situation in which you thought that you were right and others were wrong—
and what you did about it?
35. Can you describe a situation in which you were supposed to work with a person you didn't like and
how you handled it?
36. Have you ever been in a situation in which a co-worker put a patient in jeopardy? If so, what did
you do about it?
37. What would you do if you were asked to float to a specialty area you weren't familiar with?
38. Can you describe a time your work was criticized and how you handled it?
39. How do you handle delegation issues with unlicensed assistive personnel?
40. How would your co-workers describe you?
41. How would you describe your role in a recent code?
42. How do you handle stress?
43. Have you ever been fired or asked to resign?
44. What would a background check on you show?
45. Would your previous employer recommend you?
46. What would you do if you were caring for an alert patient who suddenly got acutely confused and
disoriented?
47. What would you do if you found an elderly patient on the floor in his room? How would you
document it?
48. Have you worked with many foreign nurses? If so, what did you do to help them?
49. How would you handle a situation in which you couldn't read a prescriber's orders?
50. If you were offered your last job again today, would you take it?
If you're returning to nursing after not working in the profession for a while:
51. How long has it been since you worked as a nurse?
52. What have you been doing since you've been out of nursing?
53. How have you prepared to return to nursing?
54. Did you take a refresher course? How did it help?
55. How have you kept up with changes in the profession?
If you're a student applying for your first position:
56. What's your most important achievement as a student?
57. When do you plan to take your NCLEX? Have you taken a course to prepare for it?
58. Where did you get your clinical experience? What units?
59. Did your clinical experience include putting in a urinary drainage catheter or starting an
intravenous line access? Inserting or removing a nasogastric tube, or caring for a patient with one?
60. What was your favorite clinical experience? Least favorite? Why?
61. What types of charting systems have you used? What do you like about them? What do you
dislike?
62. What do you think is a reasonable orientation time?
63. Have you worked with an electronic medication administration record? Bar coding?
64. What new technology have you used in school, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs)?
65. Are you on-line often? What are your favorite sites for reliable health care information?