Registered Nurse interview questions and answers
This Registered Nurse interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions.
10 good registered nurse interview questions
- What led you to pursue a career in healthcare?
- What’s challenging about being a nurse?
- How much experience do you have in [this specialty area]?
- What measures do you take to continually increase your knowledge of [this specialty area]?
- Describe a time you faced a crisis at work. How did you overcome it?
- How would you handle disagreeing with your colleagues on the management of a patient?
- How do you ensure smooth collaboration with other members of a patient’s care team?
- Recall a time you calmed down a distressed or difficult patient. What did you do?
- Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to a patient’s family.
- Describe a time you had to make a time-sensitive decision regarding a patient.
Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.
1. What led you to pursue a career in healthcare?
This question aims to understand the candidate’s motivation and passion for healthcare.
Sample answer:
“I was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare after volunteering at a local hospital. The impact nurses had on patients’ lives fascinated me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
2. What’s challenging about being a nurse?
This question assesses the candidate’s understanding of the complexities and challenges of the nursing profession.
Sample answer:
“The most challenging aspect is balancing the emotional toll with the physical demands of the job. However, the rewards of helping patients outweigh the challenges for me.”
3. How much experience do you have in [this specialty area]?
This question evaluates the candidate’s expertise in a specific area of nursing.
Sample answer:
“I have five years of experience in pediatric nursing, where I’ve honed my skills in patient care and communication.”
4. What measures do you take to continually increase your knowledge of [this specialty area]?
This question gauges the candidate’s commitment to professional development.
Sample answer:
“I regularly attend workshops and read medical journals to stay updated on the latest practices and technologies in pediatric nursing.”
5. Describe a time you faced a crisis at work. How did you overcome it?
This question tests the candidate’s problem-solving and crisis management skills.
Sample answer:
“I once dealt with a patient who went into sudden cardiac arrest. I initiated CPR immediately and coordinated with the team to stabilize the patient.”
6. How would you handle disagreeing with your colleagues on the management of a patient?
This question assesses the candidate’s communication skills and ability to handle conflicts professionally.
Sample answer:
“I would present my concerns backed by evidence and be open to a constructive discussion to reach the best decision for the patient.”
7. How do you ensure smooth collaboration with other members of a patient’s care team?
This question evaluates the candidate’s teamwork skills and ability to collaborate effectively.
Sample answer:
“I make it a point to maintain open communication and regularly update all team members on patient status to ensure cohesive care.”
8. Recall a time you calmed down a distressed or difficult patient. What did you do?
This question tests the candidate’s interpersonal skills and ability to manage challenging patient interactions.
Sample answer:
“I had a patient who was anxious about surgery. I took the time to explain the procedure and answered all their questions, which helped calm their nerves.”
9. Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to a patient’s family.
This question assesses the candidate’s communication skills and emotional intelligence.
Sample answer:
“I had to inform a family that their loved one was not going to recover. I chose my words carefully and offered emotional support, making a difficult situation slightly more bearable.”
10. Describe a time you had to make a time-sensitive decision regarding a patient.
This question evaluates the candidate’s decision-making skills under pressure.
Sample answer:
“A patient showed signs of sepsis, and I had to act quickly to administer antibiotics after confirming with the physician, potentially saving the patient’s life.”
What does a good registered nurse candidate look like?
A strong Registered Nurse candidate should possess excellent clinical skills, strong communication abilities, and emotional intelligence. They should be able to work well in a team, make quick decisions under pressure, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development.
Red flags
Be cautious of candidates who lack empathy, have poor communication skills, or seem disinterested in teamwork or ongoing learning. These could be indicators of a poor fit for a Registered Nurse role.
Registered Nurse Interview Questions
Due to the recent boom in the healthcare industry, healthcare centers are rushing to hire Registered Nurses. At the same time, the applicant pool is flooded with both experienced and newly credentialed RNs. Most teams don’t have the capacity to train a new graduate, which means that the one thing that hiring managers are looking for is an RN candidate with the right kind of experience.
These interview questions will work for interviewing nurses in any healthcare field. They are written to help you evaluate the extent of a candidate’s hands-on experience in nursing and have an emphasis on providing high-quality patient care. For best results, add questions that address their nursing specialty, such as oncology, obstetrics, surgical services, etc.
Great nurses are patient, empathetic, observant, and have a knack for problem-solving. They are clear, even-tempered communicators capable of getting the point across to physicians but also demystifying healthcare for patients and their families. Use these interview questions to evaluate your candidates’ communication skills, clinical skills, practical experience and bedside manner.
Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.
Operational and Situational questions
- What led you to pursue a career in healthcare?
- What’s challenging about being a nurse?
- How much experience do you have in [this specialty area]?
- What measures do you take to continually increase your knowledge of [this specialty area]?
- Describe a time you faced a crisis at work. How did you overcome it?
- How would you handle disagreeing with your colleagues on the management of a patient?
- How do you ensure smooth collaboration with other members of a patient’s care team?
- Recall a time you calmed down a distressed or difficult patient. What did you do?
- Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to a patient’s family.
- Describe a time you had to make a time-sensitive decision regarding a patient.
- What would you do if you believed that management gave you incorrect information regarding a patient?
- How do you cope with high-stress situations at work?
- What are some of the frustrations you experience in this job?
- What do you know about our facility and why do you want to work here?