5 Common FNP Interview Questions and Answers

FNP interview questions

A career as an FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) is an incredibly rewarding path.

FNPs care for a wide range of patients in a small community practice setting, so it’s a wonderful job if you’re looking for a career with longevity.

To nail FNP interview questions, it’s important to show your people skills just as much as your clinical skills.

As with any interview, it’s important to prepare yourself to answer some common FNP interview questions that you are likely to encounter.

This will ensure that you don’t get flustered by nerves and help you put your best self on display to get your dream job as an FNP.

FNP Interview Questions and Answers

Working as an FNP requires a strong clinical background because you will be seeing patients of all ages and health conditions, so you need to be very well-versed in general medicine.

On top of stellar clinical skills, a good FNP needs a solid bedside manner that will make patients feel comfortable. 

These are the two biggest things that interviewers will be trying to understand when they meet with you, so demonstrating your abilities is key

These 5 common FNP interview questions will help you prepare to answer the types of things you are likely to be asked in your next FNP interview.

1. Why do you want to be an FNP?

One of the first things that the interviewer will want to get to the bottom of is why you decided to become an FNP in the first place.

This career path is popular for NPs who enjoy working with people and helping their community, so these are the types of things they will want to understand.

Explain what drew you to pursue a career as an FNP including inspiring people in your life who have worked in this field or simply because it aligns with your values and career goals.

FNPs often go this route because the office hours are attractive for starting a family as well, so this is important to mention if it’s of interest to you. 

See also: Emergency Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions

2. How would you describe your overall bedside manner?

Being an FNP is as much about having strong relationships with your patients as it is about providing them with excellent medical care.

Your bedside manner matters so much to help you build up a strong network of patients who trust you and want to continue to see you.

You will most likely be seeing your patients over years and eventually decades, so it’s important to build rapport with them so that they value you as their care provider.

Describe the way that you prefer to interact with patients and the ways that you try to relate to them and make them feel comfortable in your care.

See also: Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions

3. Are you comfortable working with patients of all ages? 

As an FNP, you will see patients ranging in age from infants to the elderly.

Every age group needs very different care in terms of what to look for and how to best communicate with them.

It can be very challenging for FNPs to be able to pivot quickly between patients to meet the needs of each patient. 

Share with the interviewer the reason why you chose to work as an FNP and whether the diversity in patients’ ages is something that drew you in.

Tell them how you plan to stay up to date on healthcare trends and topics that are important across all ages so that you can properly serve your full patient base regardless of age group.

See also: Interview Questions for Geriatric Nurses

4. How would you handle a patient asking for medication that they don’t need? 

It’s an unfortunate reality that working in the healthcare setting means that you will encounter patients who are coming to you just looking for prescriptions.

Although their intent isn’t always malicious, it’s important to know how to handle these situations with finesse while also keeping your patient safe.

Show the interviewer that you are comfortable dealing with requests like this by telling them some tools you plan to use to deflect situations where patients are asking for medications they don’t need

Whether it’s a patient requesting an antibiotic over the phone or someone requesting pain medication for a vague injury, there are countless situations like this that you should be prepared to deflect and manage with care in the family practice setting.

See also: Labor and Delivery Nurse Interview Questions

5. What does an ideal day at work as an FNP look like? 

The interviewer will want to see that you have at least a general understanding of what a day in the life of an FNP at their practice will look like.

Video made by: Nurse Liz

A question like this where they are asking for your ideal day is your chance to show that you are willing to work hard and that your values align with their practice’s values as well. 

If you are asked this question, be prepared to:

  • highlight the ideal caseload of patients you hope to see,
  • what types of cases and appointments do you hope to handle,
  • and how long of a shift you’d like to work. 

Do some research beforehand to make sure you know what the practice expects of their providers so that you can tailor your responses appropriately.

See also: Interview Questions for Nursing Home Administrator

How to Prepare for Family Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions?

When you are getting ready to interview for a family nurse practitioner position, make sure you are ready to talk through your career goals and what your hopes are if you get the position at their practice.

See also: Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions

It’s important to be approachable and let your personality shine through since this is a role that requires a personal touch

Being ready to answer FNP interview questions like the ones listed above is the key to going into your interview with confidence.

See also: Interview Questions for NICU Nurses

FNP Interview Questions and Answers PDF

Download our comprehensive PDF guide featuring expertly crafted FNP interview questions and model answers.

Gain the confidence and knowledge you need to excel in your upcoming job interviews.

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Conclusion: Family Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions and Answers

You are more than qualified for your position as an FNP and now you’re ready to nail your interview.

Ensure that you are comfortable talking about:

  • your clinical experience,
  • your personal and career goals,
  • and what excites you about the particular role you are applying for.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the interviewer as well to better understand their qualifications and learn if the practice is a fit for your needs as well.

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