The Most Popular Questions to Ask in a Nursing Interview

If you’ve never been on a nursing interview before, it can seem incredibly overwhelming. Not only do you have to showcase your recently developed skills and ability to remain calm under pressure, but you have to make sure the job is the right it for you. That’s why the questions you ask in a nursing interview are so important.

Whether it’s your first or 50th nursing interview, we put together some great questions that will have you leaving your interview as one of the stand-out candidates. Not only will you show a genuine interest in nursing and the role itself, but you’ll also spotlight some of that nursing knowledge. 

Let’s take a look! 

What is your management style? 

Even if you’ve never had a real boss before, you probably have an idea of working environments in which you thrive. Asking this question will help you develop a sense of how your manager works. Do they give you freedom or hoover over you? Do they showcase trust or continuously need you to reiterate what you’ve done?

Knowing how someone else works is the key to knowing whether you’ll do well together or not. 

How long have you been here, and what do you like most about it?

Questions that allow an employee to talk about their culture are essential in any interview. You’ll gain insight not only into what they enjoy about their job but what the company does to make their employees happy. 

If you don’t get a sense that the person interviewing you is incredibly happy in their job, that might be a sign that it’s not a great place to work. Trust your gut and listen closely to the answer. 

What is the training process like?

Sure, you’ve gone through your training, but every company does things differently. It might take a few weeks for you to get fully trained and acclimated to their process. 

That’s why it’s so important to know what the process is like. It helps you set expectations for your first few weeks on the job and understand what they expect of you. Plus, if there’s a trial period, you know you have a chance to put your best foot forward.

What are some challenges your department/nurses face?

Challenges are a big deal. They’re not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it’s good to know about them when you enter a role. That way, you can hopefully start being part of the solution. 

It also helps you get a sense of everyone’s willingness to be transparent and honest. If someone says there are no challenges, you can assume they’re probably not being very truthful.

Ask how they’ve tried to face those challenges? What is being done to change them? How can this role help make those changes happen? 

As a new employee, you have the potential to come in with fresh eyes. Listen and learn from the challenges your peers face.

Any nurse knows how hard the job is and how much you have to dedicate your time to it. You want to ensure you’re making the right decision for yourself and your career. Ask the questions that matter most to you.