Nursing interview questions and tips for landing the job

The latest data shows strong projected growth in the field, with the number of employed registered nurses in Australia expected to grow from 290,800 in 2021 to 331,200 by 2026.

Postgraduate nursing courses are a popular and effective way to take the next step in your nursing career. While the job market is competitive, skillfully addressing nursing interview questions can put you on the front foot. Armed with your experience and education, you possess the sought-after skills. Excelling in your interview involves showcasing how you’re the perfect fit for the role, highlighting your comprehensive skill set and expertise.

Here, we help you prepare for your nursing job interview with questions you can expect to face, as well as general hints and tips for interview success.

Your next nursing interview: tips and hints to help you prepare

While preparation for the interview is crucial, Sarah Roberts, Acute and Midwifery Lead Consultant of Cornerstone Medical Recruitment, says you can also make the mistake of overthinking or over-preparing. She suggests focusing on these six key points as the interview day draws nearer:

• Be confident. “Back yourself, you’ve got the skills,” Roberts says. “You’ve done your job. You know you can do it.”
• Jot things down. “Run through everything you’ve done in your career, but just write a few dot points down as you prepare,” she adds. Doing this keeps you focused on your key accomplishments and experiences relevant to the role.
• Know the job description. Roberts urges job candidates to thoroughly read and understand the job description and develop some examples of how you can show how you meet the job requirements. “Use the EAR technique – example, action, result.”
• Do a little background research. Know details about the health service. It will also help to have background on the organisation advertising the role.
• Stay calm. “When they ask you scenario-based questions, whatever you think first is usually the right answer,” Roberts advises.
• Converse and connect. Go prepared with your own questions. “Feel free to ask questions within the interview. It’s like a conversation. Connect with the interviewers.”

It goes without saying that you should also be punctual, dress appropriately, maintain eye contact and generally act positively and professionally throughout the entire process. If you’ve been asked to complete a task or bring something to the interview, remember to tick those off your list during preparation for the meeting.

Nursing scenario interview questions and answers: examples to help you land the job

You might be the best person for the role on paper, but to secure the job, you’ll also need to shine during the interview. You will be asked to showcase your skills, education and experience by answering a series of questions.

Becki Thompson, who works alongside Roberts at Cornerstone Medical Recruitment as an Acute and Midwifery Recruitment Partner, says that while today’s interview questions are clinical and scenario-based, there are some common nursing job interview questions to consider – and a little preparation here means you can go into the interview with confidence.

1. Frequently asked questions:
2. What do you know about this area of nursing?
3. Tell us why you’ve applied for this role.
4. Describe a difficult situation in nursing and how you handled it.
5. What nursing areas pique your interest and why?
6. What qualities do you possess that will make you successful in this role?
7. How do you keep calm when faced with aggression from a patient?
8. How do you not get overwhelmed in these situations?
9. What do you enjoy most about nursing?
10. What are your career goals?

Remember that your answers to these questions allow you to tell the interviewers about your background, skills and experience. Prepare by writing down your ideal answers and identify keywords, phrases and points that you can call on during the interview.

1. Thompson also provides some more detailed, scenario-based nursing interview questions to prepare for:
2. The ability to prioritise workload is an essential aspect of nursing. Can you please explain how you would prioritise the following patients and why:

   - a patient has just returned to the ward following a surgical procedure 

   - you have another patient with an SBP of 85mmHg

   - a new admission has just arrived from ED

3. An elderly patient has been cleared for discharge. How do you ensure that this patient is safely discharged home?
4. You are asked to perform a drain removal but have not done it before. Please outline the steps you would take.
5. You are concerned about one of your patient’s conditions and you have paged the doctor to inform them. Can you please outline how you would communicate your concerns with the medical team?

Leverage your experience, education and training, honed skills and pivotal career milestones to effectively address and answer these nursing interview questions. Always answer questions clearly and directly and remember the EAR technique. Showcasing your expertise and demonstrating how each step in your education and career has equipped you to excel in your next role will help you navigate the interview process with ease.

Highlighting your competitive advantage during the interview

Competition is fierce in the current job market and it may be the slightest detail that prevents you from being offered your dream job (and potentially boosting your nursing salary). Prepare for your interview by considering what might set you apart from the pack and how you can communicate that clearly.

In today’s workplace, diversity and inclusion is an area of focus. Employers may ask about your experience working in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. For example, if you have had placements or short durations of work in regional areas or working with diverse cultural communities, talk about that experience. Share your knowledge of working with people from different communities and backgrounds, as well as your international healthcare experience and how you effectively integrate your understanding of cultural appropriateness into your work.

Have you undertaken a nursing course? Do you have specific leadership experience or special qualifications such as a Master of Nursing (Leadership) or a Graduate Certificate in Nursing Majoring in Leadership & Management? Make sure you find an opportunity to weave that into your responses.

If you’re looking to advance your career in nursing, Thompson says it’s important to highlight any of these other specific education, training and skills you have (all of which are highly valuable, and in some cases mandatory, to employers):

• ALS (Advanced Life Support) for all nurses
• triage: for emergency department Nurses (in some states, such as Victoria, you must do a postgraduate degree in Emergency Nursing to get your triage qualification)
• FSEP Level 3 (Fetal Surveillance Education Program) for midwives only or dual registered nurses/midwives
• neonatal resus for midwives
• resus in general for emergency department nurses
• basic skills like cannulation
• experience in a tertiary hospital: high level, fast turnover, quick pace – skills and experience that are very attractive for employers
• emergency department experience is great if you are considering a role in remote nursing
• up-to-date cultural awareness, hand hygiene, medication management, elder safety and blood safety training

Feeling interview-ready?

Even if excelling at interview questions is not your strong suit, these nursing interview tips and example questions should give you a better idea of what to expect. Face the interview with confidence and clarity by knowing your strengths and what you will bring to the job – and using the EAR technique of providing an example, action and result – to help seal the deal.

Ready to take the next step in your career and start a new qualification before your next interview? GlobalHealth Education partners with universities offering nursing courses that can help you attain new opportunities.