Addiction Nurse Interview Questions

Is honesty always the best policy? Talk to the interviewer about your thoughts on openness in the workplace.

"Sometimes full disclosure can damage someone's self-esteem, and reality isn't always best expressed in full and can be self-indulgent based on the person's intention. In those instances, honesty isn't always the best policy."

"I do feel that honesty is the best policy so long as the honest comment does not come with the intention of being hurtful."

"Honesty is always the best policy. Often, it is just a matter of how you communicate and deliver your message so managing this with each situation is critical to building honest and trustworthy relationships."

This question is checking your self-awareness. Do you realize when you are stressed? Respond in a way that shows your understanding of stress and how it affects you. Be careful to reveal that you cannot handle pressure. You absolutely can! Sharing a weak moment doesn't show you are weak. It shows that you are human and affected by stress just like everyone else. Focus more on how you cope with stress than how stressed out you get. Knowing your triggers is critical!

"I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, but it can be stressful to keep the pace. I have noticed that when I get too wrapped up in going through the motions with each patient without taking a break I can feel my heart rate go up and I feel anxious. At this point, I know I need to take a step back and go outside for some fresh air. Since I've learned my limitations, I am getting better at communicating with my team what I need."

"I've noticed when I'm stressed, my eating habits suffer. As long as I meal prep and bring in healthy options to work, the minimal amounts of sugar and carbs keep me feeling my best, even at work."

"If I am under an unusual amount of stress, I sometimes become shorter than I need to be with co-workers. This was brought to my attention last year, and I have been diligently working on improving this downfall. Now, I take a moment to breathe deep, have a glass of water, or walk away for a moment before responding. It works every time!"

Part of your role as an addiction nurse is helping people to feel calm and comfortable. It's not just in the words you say but how you present yourself. Maintaining a relaxed demeanor, regardless of the situation, is essential. Many patients anticipate the worst when they go to treatment. You are expected to stay poised and confident.

"With all my patients I like to be consistent and use simple terms they can understand. I educate them and encourage them to ask questions. I try to talk about topics that interest the patient and engage them as much as I can in distracting them, especially if the work I'm doing is uncomfortable."

"Simply holding someone's hand during an emotional moment or procedure can help alleviate any anxiety or fear the patient has."

"I continually check in with my patients to ask how they are feeling, and what I can do to alleviate their stress or discomfort. I assure them that my job is to help them in every way, onto their road to recovery."

The interviewer wants to know that you are aware of the need to always lead by example. As a leader, your actions, decisions, and demeanor are always under some form of scrutiny. The most stressful workplace situations often surround change or trauma so it's a great idea to talk about a time when your organization went through a major change or you faced a traumatic experience involving a patient.

"I lead by example every moment of every day! My nursing team keeps a close eye on my actions and, in our industry, it is very easy to over-dramatize situations. I think you're always showing who you are and either demonstrating your leadership qualities or lack thereof. That's why I believe it's so important to always act as though someone is watching."

"One specific example I can think of was when I was interning at a private addiction facility. When they announced they were closing their doors due to a merger, everyone was quite upset. I kept a positive attitude maintained a high level of patient care during that time."

"I often lead by example when it comes to mandatory overtime. I work in a reactive environment and sometimes we have to work late to get the job done. I don't let my peers see me get upset at last minute announcements."

When you answer this question, you want to emphasize your positive experiences with travel. Don't be too quick about shooting the idea down. This could just be the interviewer's way of seeing if this would be something you would be interested in the future. Talk about how travel in previous situations has benefited your education or training. Relay to the interviewer that you commit to completing your job responsibilities, regardless of where they take you.

"I am willing to travel for work. If you need me to visit different sites or train other addiction nurses, I am your person!"

"I am able to travel for work. If a week's notice is possible it would be appreciated so my spouse and I can coordinate our schedules."

"I have traveled for work in the past and found the variety quite nice. I am happy to travel when required."

This question is the perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the medical facility. Tell the interviewer if you found out about the position through a friend or professional contact or if you discovered the company position through an event or article.

"I found the listing through a job board. Your ad was clear and eye-catching. I appreciated the fact that there were so many job details."

"I heard about your position from a former professor. He recommended that I apply to the position after seeing it on an industry-specific job board."

"A former colleague of mine told me about your position. She was your lead LCSW the past four years before she moved to California 2 months ago."

The interviewer wants to know that you can handle the workload required of you in this position and that you will not become overwhelmed if/when workloads unexpectedly increase. When workloads increase, stress levels do too. How do you react?

"When I have a large workload on my plate, I do not stress over the tasks that are in front of me. Rather, I make a simple plan of which tasks are a high priority and which tasks are a lower priority. The higher priority tasks, I complete first. Through this system, I can focus on my tasks individually, rather than stress out by the multitude of tasks ahead of me."

"Here are some suggestions on how to handle a large workload: - List your tasks and prioritize them - Exhale. Relax for a minute and collect yourself - Organize your tasks by which ones you can complete independently and which ones you need help with - Take sufficient breaks, so you do not exhaust yourself - Communicate your struggles with your leadership or team"

"I find it is important to keep myself on a tight schedule as well as a bit of administrative time. I make it a point to take a lunch break each day even if it is just 15 minutes to avoid burnout. Staying on a schedule helps me manage my large workload."

As an addictions nurse, you offer support to your patients in different ways. You may assist with medication or merely a friendly squeeze of the hand. Tell the interviewer a story of a time that you offered support to your patient.

"I had a patient come to group every Monday afternoon. Each week I greeted her with a smile and a short conversation. After attending months of meetings she told me that my simple greeting offered her the amount of support she needed to come back each week."

"Every patient is offered my support through a friendly greeting. Each patient can also be assured that they will receive diligent patient care from me. I am detail oriented and ready to help in any way that I can."

"I offer different support based on the patients need. It is important for me to provide emotional, educational and motivational support to patients."

As an addiction nurse, you don't work on your own but, instead, in a multidisciplinary team to treat the patients. Tell the interviewer how you have been a successful team member in the past, what has worked and what you will continue doing when you move to a new team. If you have difficulty working in a team environment: "Depending on the scope of the project, I sometimes prefer to work autonomously; however, I am more than capable of being a positive and contributing member of a team-based project."

"Depending on the scope of the project, I sometimes prefer to work autonomously; however, I am more than capable of being a positive and contributing member of a team-based project."

"Because I just finished my degree, the majority of my recent experience is from a team environment. I have no difficulty working in a team environment."

"I have many years' experience working in a multidisciplinary team environment. I prefer working as part of a team because the collaboration ensures that each patient gets the best care possible."

As an addiction nurse, you are very familiar with 12-step programs. You may lead 12-step group discussions or merely encourage your patients to seek out a 12-step program based on your treatment goals. Tell the interviewer about the success your patients have found by attending 12-step classes, the recovery techniques taught in the classes and the empowerment instilled in the members that participate.

"I learned a great deal about 12-step programs while attending my post-secondary studies. I understand that the twelve steps include admitting being powerless over alcohol or drugs, visiting past mistakes and making amends for them, learning to live by a new code, and helping others who suffer from addiction as well."

"I've taught 12-step classes for the last six months in my current position. It is encouraging to see patients be part of their recovery and embrace the recovery techniques that I teach them."

At the end of a job interview, you may be asked if there are any questions you want to ask the employer before you leave. Be sure to have a few questions written down to keep you on track. Feel free to jot down notes as the interviewer answers your questions. Consider asking the interviewer what a typical work week would look like or what they would like you to accomplish your first month on the job. This is a great question to flip the table on your interviewer and find out if the opportunity you are interviewing for is the right fit for you. Ask the interviewer any questions that weren't covered.

"Could you walk me through a day in the position? Also, what do you like best about working here?"

"Here are some sample questions: - When would you like to have this position filled? - How long has this role been vacant? - Is this a replacement search or a newly created role? - What is your favorite part of working here? - What is the company's primary goal for this position in the next 12 months? - Is there anything from my background and experience that I can clarify for you? - What do you see as the most significant change in this industry over the past three years? - Is there any reason why you would not hire me? "

"Thank you for asking - I do have a few questions. What is top of mind when it comes to filling this role? Also, what types of career growth opportunities would follow this position? And lastly, do you have internal candidates who are also interviewing for this position?"

Addiction issues often come with a dual diagnosis such as bipolar disorder or depression. This can make treatment extremely difficult. What can make treatment even more difficult are those who don't cooperate or follow through with the treatment plan. Tell the interviewer about a particular situation or patient. Be sure to respect patient confidentiality when sharing any examples.

"When a patient doesn't take responsibility to start making changes that are constructive in their life, I feel the difficulty. I do my best to empower them because ultimately they are the ones who can change their own lives. If they choose not to do the work, treatment is a whole lot harder."

"I believe that, once I am working as an addiction nurse, I will have difficulty treating patients that aren't ready to help themselves. As a medical professional, you so badly want to see everyone make their own breakthroughs but I realize this may not be realistic. That will be challenging, for sure."

"I have come across some difficult patients in my career as a nurse.I would say the most challenging patients are those who do not follow their treatment plan yet tell me that they are. It's hard to work around dishonesty, so I gently remind these patients that the only person they are hurting is themselves."

Even if it's true, do not mention salary, hours, or commute as the primary reasons you want the job. Those goals will not impress an employer when it comes to how well you fit their open position. Avoid making the interviewer feel that you are just in it for the benefits and will bail as soon as another opportunity comes along. Tell the interviewer how your skills match the position you are interviewing for, how you fit into the workplace culture. Express more profound enthusiasm for the job.

"I am looking for a position that offers a career challenge while providing a healthy workplace culture at the same time."

"Your hospital's mission and vision line up with my values which is very important to me. I am looking for a long-term fit, and workplace culture is of great importance to me."

"This is the type of position that I have been looking for, for quite some time. As a nurse, I have always been fascinated with the topic of addiction. The subject is close to my heart as I had a brother who passed from an overdose five years ago. I want to help others who are in a similar predicament."

This question is a great way to be able to showcase your technical skills and your compassion. Briefly, walk the interviewer through the steps you take to check in a patient. The way you describe this scenario will show your bedside manner to the interviewer. Calm, knowledgeable and with a smile is how you must tell the interviewer that you greet all your patients.

"I briefly ask about the patients family history as well as their history of illness, surgeries, and hospitalizations. I ask the patient why they are there and how we can help them. Once I've asked the required questions, I will assure them that they are in the right place."

"For initial assessments, I will ensure that all protocols and templates are followed to a tee. My goal is to treat each patient the same. Proper patient treatment includes being thorough, and respectful."

"Each patient I see deserves the best care and the most attentive part of me. I utilize a standard template to get started and keep me on track to ensure the initial assessment goes smoothly and covers all required bases."

The interviewer wants to know why you specialized in addiction nursing. Was it a personal situation that guided you in that direction? Did caring for an addicted patient in your past make you want to do it on a full-time basis? Whatever the reason may be, be sure it comes from the heart.

"I decided to pursue addiction nursing because of a close friend that died after losing their battle to addiction. I knew that I wanted to help others that were suffering"

"Addiction has always fascinated me even early on in my studies. I knew during my clinical studies that I chose the right path when I saw the impact I could have as an addiction nurse."

"I have been working in the area of addictions my entire career. While completing my nursing degree, I took an abnormal psychology course that touched on addiction and the link to genetics. It fascinated me. Since then, I have had friends and family struggle with addiction. I've been able to give them some insight and send them in the direction of recovery. Addiction nursing has been a very fulfilling career path for me."

The best way to discuss your salary expectations is to use your current earnings as an example. Be open, and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary based questions arise.

"Currently, I earn a base salary of $55,000 per year, and I would like to stay in the same range or slightly higher."

"I'm currently making $60k per year- the average for this area. What salary range did you have in mind?"

"I am currently making $80,000 per year with a strong medical benefits plan. I am looking for compensation that is aligned with the role and provides an opportunity for growth."

As an Addiction Nurse, you deal with confidential information every day. Tell the interviewer about the strict HIPAA guidelines you follow with each patient you treat.

"When something is told to me in confidence, I am tight-lipped. If someone confides in me, I only disclose if I feel a patient is going to be a danger to themselves."

"I am trusted with confidential information on a daily basis. I recently passed my exam on HIPAA guidelines and am fully confident in my ability to respect the privacy of my patients, fully."

"As a medical professional, I'm trusted with confidential information each day. I handle and respect the information and provide details to providers on a need to know the basis for further treatment."

Everyone has work stress so make sure you don't just brush this question off, acting as though you don't have stress in the workplace. As an addiction nurse, you may suffer from more work stress than usual. The interviewer is asking this question to see how you manage your work stress, remain productive, and not take the weight home with you. Tell the interviewer if you do yoga after work to relieve stress, spend time with your family or work on a hobby.

"Stress is part of any demanding job and I embrace it to the fullest. I take good care of myself and prioritize my workload to maintain a healthy balance in my stress levels."

"After a crazy shift, I practice yoga for 30 minutes when I arrive home. Yoga helps me recenter myself and avoid any work stress that may come my way."

"I handle stress very well, and when you call my references, they will attest to this fact. When I am under pressure on the job, I focus on the task at hand and make sure not to get distracted. Staying on deadline is very helpful, and I will delegate when necessary to alleviate some stress."

As an addiction nurse, there can be times that you may have a complicated working relationship with someone. Keep your story on a positive note by leaving out ugly details, or names.

"I've experienced difficult situations with co-workers and most times it has to do with miscommunication. When a co-worker is upset, I just let them vent, and I listen to them. I've found that people just want to be heard. Once they vent and realize they've misunderstood me they are thankful that I took the time to listen to their concern."

"I did find some challenges, while in University, with working on team-based projects. Because I am so driven and work fast, I found it frustrating to have to change my pace. I believe that when I am working as an addiction nurse, the pace will be much more conducive to my work patterns."

"My approach with co-workers is always respectful and direct. I have to work with these people every day, so we don't have time for grudges and mistakes, it can cost peoples lives."

The interviewer wants to be sure that you can handle the workload required of you in this position, and that you will not become overwhelmed if/when workloads unexpectedly increase. When workloads increase, stress levels do too. How do you react?

"When I have a large workload on my plate, I do not stress over the tasks that are in front of me. Rather, I make a simple plan of which tasks are a high priority and which tasks are a lower priority. The higher priority tasks, I complete first. Through this system, I can focus on my tasks individually, rather than stress out by the multitude of tasks ahead of me."

"Here are some suggestions on how to handle a large workload: - List your tasks and prioritize them - Exhale. Relax for a minute and collect yourself - Organize your tasks by which ones you can complete independently and which ones you need help with - Take sufficient breaks, so you do not exhaust yourself - Communicate your struggles with your leadership or team"

"I find it is important to keep myself on a tight schedule as well as a bit of administrative time. I make it a point to take a lunch break each day even if it is just 15 minutes to avoid burnout. Staying on a schedule helps me manage my large workload."

As an addiction nurse, you recognize that every decision involves some element of risk. Your work experience has given you the ability to understand and confidently take calculated risks. Show the interviewer that you can make a decision quickly, and confidently. Tell them that you can identify pros and cons when faced with decision making.

"Just last week I had to make a quick decision whether or not to restrain a patient. The patient started to speak and act irrationally, so I quickly decided to call in assistance and restrain the patient. I'm glad I did because the patient then tried to hurt themselves and lashed out at others around them."

"I was recently tested on my reactionary skills during a trauma unit while finishing my degree. I believe that I am well trained when it comes to decision making. As an addiction nurse, I understand that the decisions I will need to make include calling codes, and administering life-saving medication."

"I have had to make many quick decisions in my career as an addiction nurse. Some of my quick decisions have been whether or not to administer Narcan. It's essential to observe the outcome quickly and decide whether or not to give another dose."

The interviewer wants to know that you have done your homework before this interview. They want to know that this work environment is a fit for you because long-term relationships come from mutual happiness. Tell the interviewer that you prefer to work in a positive work environment where employees help and empower one another.

"I applied for this job not only because it fits my skill- set, but because I believe I will excel in​ this collaborative work environment. As your company encourages both solo and group efforts, I believe that this is a perfect environment for me."

"The work environment that I prefer is one that the employees have positive attitudes and want to lead by example."

"The type of work environment that I see is a positive, collaborative, and encouraging one. I want to learn every day from my peers because they are knowledgeable and excited about what they do."

If you think you will have a hard time answering this question, think of what qualities you look for in your fellow Addiction Nurses. Tell the interviewer about qualities and characteristics of a knowledgeable and empathetic nurse. Stick with a professional answer to this interview question. The interviewer doesn't need to know that you hang out with your co-workers after work and throw back a few pints.

"My co-workers would describe me as someone they could rely on that delivers top-notch work and easily gets along with the team."

"Here are some words that your boss may use to describe you: - Professional - Humble - Determined - Accountable - Dependable - Dedicated - Knowledgeable - Helpful - Eager - Reliable "

"My co-workers would say that I'm dependable. I'm always available to assist, help with the patient workload, and I rarely call in sick. I am always early to work."

We all like recognition in some way for our accomplishments in the workplace. Share with the interviewer how you would want appreciation for your hard work. Some people like to be recognized publicly, through kind words, additional responsibilities, or title promotions.

"I am very much an over-achiever and find that the best way for me to be recognized for a job well done is to receive words of kindness and recognition. I am easily encouraged and the best reward for me is to know that my hard work is being noticed."

"I am very simple. I do not require any formal recognition, but kind words from my coworkers and superiors will keep me motivated and working hard."

"I love accolades given, in sincerity, by those whom I respect. I love the shout-out in the company-all meeting. The atta-girl in a private setting is fantastic, too, but honestly, it's even better when others know that my hard work is not only noticed but appreciated and commended."

It is important that you answer this question in a positive way. MaA good attitude will make it clear that even the tough situations are not that bad. Be honest. Giving the interviewer examples may be helpful.

"The most difficult situation that I've been in was a patient that was noncompliant. Even the most difficult circumstances can be overcome- I learn along the way."

"I think that the biggest challenge I will face as an addiction nurse is learning all of the various terminologies when it comes to the ever-changing narcotics and opiates on the market. With that said, I am prepared to educate myself so that I am always in-the-know."

"Over the years I have found that the most difficult situations are when a patient resists help or treatment. As a trained nurse, I want to make sure that everyone is well taken care of. I have realized over time that not everyone will respond to treatment immediately. It's been a challenge to overcome, but I have learned to let go and focus my energy on those who truly want to see a change in their life."

The interviewer wants to know more about you so that they can determine how well you fit into their organization or cause. It is essential that you have already done your homework on the company or facility, before your interview. Focus on the work experience that sets you apart from the rest and tell the interviewer why you are the perfect candidate.

"You should hire me because I am incredibly passionate about the community outreach work that you do. I appreciate your passion for helping others and will match the enthusiasm of your current team."

"You should hire me because I offer a fresh perspective when it comes to the topic of addiction. I've recently graduated with my nursing degree, with a focus on high-risk patient behavior. "

"I believe that I am the best fit for this position because I bring a dual degree in nursing as well as addiction counseling. My specialty in both areas makes me an expert in your area of focus."