Band 7 Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

Are you looking to further your nursing career and become a band 7 nurse but aren’t sure what interview questions to expect?

Band 7 nursing includes ward managers, emergency nurse practitioners, and clinical specialists. Band 7 also offers growth opportunities for nurses who want to expand their education in their chosen field.

You’ll face more questions about your specialty in this interview than in a standard nursing interview.

It sounds like there are a lot of questions to cover, depending on your specialty.

This article discusses band 7 neonatal nurse questions, band 7 research nurse questions, and answers to each.

Band 7 Neonatal Nurse Interview Questions

You’ll receive the “Tell us about yourself” in any interview, so these questions focus on your area in neonatal care.

1. How would you personally handle the death of an infant?

This is a tricky question to think about, let alone answer. Here, the employer is looking for you to give a calm and collected answer while appearing human.

They don’t want robots working for them.

Example answer:

The death of an infant will hit me hard, but I have an incredible support network at home through my spouse and family that I know I can push through.

No matter what I’m feeling in the hospital room, I can’t imagine what the parents feel like.

2. Why did you choose to establish a career in the field of neonatology?

The interviewer is looking for someone passionate about their field in this question.

They want to know you have a reason to go to work every day and not that it’s just a job to pay the bills.

It’s rare to find a band 7 nurse who isn’t invested in their specialty. Throwing in a personal story makes it seem more credible.

Example answer:

When I was younger, my little brother had to be admitted to the NICU 30 days after his birth.

It was an extremely stressful time for my family, but I remember the nurses doing everything they could to help him.

I want to be able to do that for another family.

3. If a mother is being unsuccessful in breastfeeding, how would you help?

Employers begin asking questions to see how you would handle specific situations while working for them.

Here, you’ll want to emphasize your ability to work with new parents in a calm and caring manner without sounding condescending.

Example answer:

First, I would ask if she needed anything.

If she said no, I would give her some space and keep an eye on her while informing another team member to do the same.

If she said yes, I would help find a more comfortable position for her and the baby, and then we’ll troubleshoot from there.

Band 7 Research Nurse Interview Questions

Like with neonatal nurse questions, employers will begin to ask specific questions about your field of study rather than the generic, “How do you deal with workplace stress?”.

1. What field experience do you have as a band 7 nurse?

Not all band 7 nurses have the same certifications, but that doesn’t mean each is unqualified.

For this question, you can talk about anything you’ve done in past nursing jobs as long as it applies to research.

You don’t want to give your potential employer a long story about bloodwork unless it is required for your research.

Example answer:

In my previous position, I worked with a team of nurses to try and pinpoint which age demographic struggled with depression the most.

From there, we conducted numerous tests and surveys to gather the most data.

It’s been an ongoing project for nearly three years, and we’ve been able to help dozens of adolescents.

See also: Band 6 Nurse Interview Questions

2. Tell us about a research project you were involved in.

This question is similar to the one above, except now the employer is asking you to spell it out for them.

In the above question, you can answer in a way that focuses on the project but doesn’t put the entire spotlight on it.

They want to know everything about the project and your direct contributions here.

Example answer:

I worked on a project that developed a new medical device.

I presented our idea at a research conference, and we received incredible feedback from other researchers.

The device has since been put into clinical trials.

See also: Clinical Trial Assistant Interview Questions

It was a fantastic experience to be a part of a team that’s making a difference in science.

3. Why do you want to work in clinical research?

This is another way for employers to ask if you have a passion for your job or role.

They’re asking you:

“Why have you put years of time and money into this?”
“Why does it matter to you?”

Example answer:

I’ve always been fascinated by science and healthcare specifically.

When I learned that I could begin researching new methods of procedures or different types of medications, I was so excited.

I love to learn and broaden my horizons, and this is the perfect position to do that in.

See also: Band 5 Nurse Interview Questions

How to Prepare for Band 7 Nurse Interview Questions?

Once you know you’ve got an interview, it’s time to prepare those questions.

Begin preparation early

Don’t wait until the day of the interview to look over questions or run ideas by your friends.

You don’t need to wait for an interview offer to begin practicing band 7 nurse interview questions.

Have friends give sample questions

Give a good friend a list of sample questions and ask them to rephrase them and ask you out of order.

Bonus points if the friend is in the medical field and knows when you’re panicking!

Practice often

Run through answers in your head:

while you’re in the shower,
while you’re brushing your teeth,
and while you’re preparing dinner.

Stick post-in-notes around with surprise questions that you’ll have to answer on the spot whenever you open a drawer.