A registered nurse typically works in a hospital, medical office, or other healthcare facilities. A registered nurse may provide direct patient care or work in a support role.
One becomes a registered nurse by completing an accredited nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
Scope of Registered Nurse Interview Questions:
When attending a registered nurse interview, be prepared to answer questions about your clinical experience, nursing skills, and patient care philosophy.
The interviewer will also want to know about your ability to work in a team and handle stress.
Clinical Experience Questions
Interviewers will want to know about your clinical experience.
Be prepared to discuss any relevant experience you have working with patients.
If you have no direct patient care experience, you can discuss your clinical rotations in nursing school or any volunteering you have done in a healthcare setting.
See also: Clinical Nurse Specialist Interview Questions
Nursing Skills Questions
Your nursing skills will also be of interest to the interviewer.
When asked about your nursing skills, be sure to discuss both your clinical skills and your interpersonal skills.
Clinical skills are the technical aspects of nursing, such as taking vital signs or administering medication.
Interpersonal skills are important in nursing because you will be working closely with patients and their families.
These skills include effective communication and empathy.
Patient Care Philosophy Questions
Your patient care philosophy is your personal beliefs about the best way to provide care to patients.
This can include your beliefs about:
- the role of nurses,
- the importance of communication,
- and the use of technology in inpatient care.
In this case, the interviewer is interested in hearing about your personal beliefs and how they would guide your practice as a registered nurse.
Ability to Work in a Team Questions
As a registered nurse, you will be working closely with other members of the healthcare team.
The interviewer will want to know if you can work effectively in a team.
Be prepared to discuss your teamwork skills and give an example of a time when you worked effectively as part of a healthcare team.
Stress Management Questions
Working in a healthcare setting can be stressful.
The interviewer will want to know how you deal with stress.
When interviewers ask about stress management, they are interested in both your coping mechanisms and your professional skills.
Be prepared to discuss both.
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Common Registered Nurse Interview Questions and Answers
Preparation for registered nurse interview questions starts with understanding the type of questions that may be asked.
Reviewing common registered nurse interview questions and answers can help you better understand what to expect during the job interview.
We have provided registered nurse interview questions that are commonly asked, along with example answers to help you prepare for your next job interview.
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is perhaps the most common interview question asked, regardless of the industry.
It’s also one of the hardest questions to answer.
When the interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself, they are looking for an overview of your professional experience and qualifications.
You may start with some personal information, but be sure to keep the focus on your professional life.
Example answer:
I am Annie Jones, a registered nurse with five years of experience working in a hospital setting.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of XYZ and I am currently working towards my Master of Science in Nursing.
I am passionate about providing high-quality patient care and I am looking for a position where I can continue to grow and develop my skills.
2. Why did you choose nursing as a career?
Nursing is a demanding and challenging profession, so the interviewer wants to know why you chose nursing as your career.
This is an opportunity for you to discuss your passion for nursing and your desire to help others.
Example answer:
I chose nursing as a career because I want to make a difference in the lives of others.
I know that nursing is a demanding profession, but I am up for the challenge.
I am motivated by the opportunity to provide high-quality patient care and make a positive impact on the lives of those I care for.
See also: ICU Nurse Interview Questions
3. What are your nursing skills?
As a nurse, you have a unique set of skills that are essential to the provision of high-quality patient care.
The interviewer wants to know about your nursing skills so that they can gauge your ability to provide care.
Some nursing skills that you may want to highlight include patient assessment, wound care, medication administration, and IV therapy.
Example answer:
I have a wide range of nursing skills that I have acquired throughout my career.
I am confident in my ability to provide high-quality patient care.
Some of my nursing skills include patient assessment, wound care, medication administration, and IV therapy.
See also: Wound Care Nurse Interview Questions
4. What are your professional goals as a nurse?
Professional goals are important to discuss in a nursing interview because they show that you are committed to your career and are looking to grow and develop as a nurse.
Remember, every employer wants to hire nurses who are committed to the profession and are looking to further their careers.
Example answer:
My long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner.
See also: Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions
I am currently working towards my Master of Science in Nursing and I hope to complete my degree within the next two years.
I am also interested in pursuing a career in nursing education and hope to teach at the university level one day.
See also: Short-Term Goals for Nursing Interview
5. Stress is a common experience for nurses. How do you deal with stress in your work?
Nursing is a demanding profession and it is not uncommon for nurses to experience stress in their work.
The interviewer wants to know how you deal with stress so that they can gauge your ability to cope with the challenges of the job.
Example answer:
I have developed a few coping mechanisms that help me deal with stress in my work.
I make sure to take breaks when I can and I also try to stay positive.
I find that speaking with a colleague or a friend can also help me manage my stress.
See also: Dialysis Nurse Interview Questions
6. Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult patient.
As a nurse, you will encounter patients who are difficult to care for.
However, as a registered nurse, it is your responsibility to provide high-quality care to all patients.
See also: Quality Assurance Nurse Interview Questions
The interviewer will want to know how you deal with difficult patients so that they can gauge your ability to provide care in challenging situations.
Example answer:
I had a patient who was resistant to care and was often uncooperative.
I knew that it was important to provide this patient with the best possible care, so I took the time to get to know him.
I learned about his interests and his family.
I found that by taking the time to connect with him, he became more cooperative and easier to care for.
See also: PCU Nurse Interview Questions
7. Colleagues can sometimes be difficult to work with. Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague.
Working with difficult colleagues is inevitable in nursing.
Despite the challenge, nurses must work as part of a team to provide high-quality patient care.
The interviewer will want to know how you deal with difficult colleagues so that they can assess your ability to work as part of a team.
Example answer:
I remember one time I had to work with a colleague who was constantly trying to take credit for my work.
It was frustrating, but I knew that I needed to work with her to provide the best care for our patients.
I spoke with her and explained how her actions were affecting me.
We were able to come to an understanding and we were able to work together more effectively after that.
8. Why did you choose this institution?
When applying for a registered nurse position, there are those things that fascinated you about the organization.
For example, their philosophy of care, or an opportunity to work with a certain type of patient population.
This is your chance to express to the interviewer what it is that attracted you to this organization.
Example answer:
I was attracted to this organization because of its commitment to providing the highest quality of care to its patients.
I was also impressed by the organization’s dedication to nursing education and professional development.
I knew that this was the type of organization where I could grow and develop as a nurse.
See also: Mayo Clinic Nurse Interview Questions
9. Teamwork is an important part of nursing. If we hire you, how will you contribute to our team?
Nurses must work as part of a team to provide high-quality patient care.
Teamwork is what makes it possible for nurses to provide the best care possible.
Therefore, the interviewer wants to know how you will contribute to the team if you are hired.
Example answer:
If I am hired, I will contribute to the team by providing high-quality patient care.
I will also work to build positive relationships with my colleagues.
I believe that teamwork is essential to providing the best possible care for our patients.
See also: What Can You Bring to Our Team Nursing Interview
How to Prepare for the RN Interview Questions?
Preparation for RN interview questions goes beyond simply knowing the right answers.
There are those things that you should do to ensure that you are prepared for the RN interview questions.
1. Do proper research
When preparing for the RN interview questions, it is important to do your research.
This means that you should research the organization, the position, and the type of patient population that you will be working with.
By doing your research, you will be able to better prepare for the RN interview questions.
2. Revise your resume
Your resume serves as a snapshot of your professional qualifications.
Therefore, it is important to revise your resume before the RN interview questions.
This will ensure that you can effectively sell yourself to the interviewer.
3. Practice your answers
It is also important to practice your answers to the RN interview questions.
This will help you to be more confident when answering the RN interview questions.
Registered Nurse Interview Questions and Answers PDF
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Conclusion: Interview Questions for Registered Nurses
Registered nurse interview questions are designed to assess your ability to provide high-quality patient care.
Interviewers will come up with questions that:
- assess your clinical knowledge,
- your ability to work as part of a team,
- and your commitment to nursing.
If you are preparing for an interview for a registered nurse position, it is important to do your research, revise your resume, and practice your answers to the RN interview questions.
This will help you to be more prepared and confident when answering the RN interview questions.
Good luck with your upcoming registered nurse interview!