35 Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions (with Answers)

1.

What is the best way to handle a patient who is refusing their medications?

Most often, patients have the right to refuse their medication. As difficult as it is to accept their decision, it is their right in most instances to refuse. However, it is your responsibility to assure they are knowledgeable about the medications and possible consequences if they miss a dose or stop taking it altogether. Your job as a nurse is not to convince them to take their medications, but to make certain they understand and are informed as to why the medication is necessary and what may happen if they refuse. If there is anything you can do to aid in educating the patient, be sure to do it. If language is a barrier, an interpreter should be provided. Consider if the patient is confused or if they simply don't understand the need. If they do refuse, your job will then be to document refusal and the rationale for the patient's refusal, as well as your attempt to educate and inform.

Dianne's Answer

"I worked with a patient who had just started on an SSRI a couple days prior, and she stated she didn't want to take it because it didn't work, and it was making her nauseated. Being that I understand that it takes at least 4 weeks for this type of medication to work, and sometimes patients experience temporary side effects before the desired effect, I was able to explain that to her in a way she could understand, and she was much more willing to comply."

2.

Describe a time where you needed to get crucial information from someone who wasn't helpful or responsive and how you handled that.

Nurses need information to assess the patient and devise a plan of care. Even the smallest of details may be relevant, and while the nurse needs to be succinct and organized with their queries, they also need to be able to access the necessary information. From patients reluctant to disclose details, to calling to see if someone can open the kitchen and get a late-night tray, a nurse needs to be able to figure out quickly how to get the right information from the right person at the right time. A delay in any information or action may result in less than optimal outcomes, so the nurse needs to communicate clearly, efficiently, assertively, and respectfully to the correct individual. Nursing has been described as both art and science, and the importance of effective communication cannot be underestimated.

Dianne's Answer

"I received a late night transfer from the ICU. We were very busy, and the nurses brought the patient down, put her in the room, and told me they called report to the other nurse on the floor. It was close to 11 PM and while I was working a 12-hour shift, I knew the ICU nurses were probably leaving. I called up to the floor and asked to speak with the nurse who was caring for the patient. The unit secretary was brusque and stated that she was leaving, and that I had all the information and orders I needed and I was a nurse and could figure it out. I was upset, but I took a second to compose myself and stated directly and plainly that I needed to speak to the discharging nurse, per protocol and excellent patient care, but if she wasn't available I would speak to the charge nurse. Before I spoke, I worked it out in my head that this was the professional and right request, and I dismissed my initial feelings of annoyance and dismissal. When the nurse answered the phone, she was clearly annoyed. The first thing I did was to acknowledge that I knew it was time for her to leave, and that I really appreciated her coming back to talk with me to provide excellent patient care. Her voice softened and I got a great report. I was really proud of the way I handled myself professionally, and that I advocated for the patient."

3.

Describe a time when you did not communicate well, either in writing or verbally. What was the outcome and how did you handle it?

Great nursing care depends on great communication. It's often said in nursing, 'If it is not written, it wasn't done'. Documenting in the medical record is a legal entry which can be used in court, so learning how to communicate succinctly, correctly, legibly, and timely is extremely important. Oral communication is equally as important and can be muddied with body language, colloquialisms, slang, dialect, accents, and even volume. By definition, effective communication is the process of exchanging knowledge and information in a way that its purpose or intention is understood by the receiver.

Dianne's Answer

"When I first became a nurse, I was nervous and probably too chatty and talked way too fast. I remember one patient just looking at me and nodding her head. She was an elderly woman and a little confused at times, and she was saying she didn't like the pink pill. I smiled and chatted over her and just really didn't stop to hear her, and she always took the pink pill so I didn't think anything about it. I was encouraging her to take her pills when her daughter spoke up and said, 'I think the doctor discontinued the Prozac which was the pink pill today!' My patient was trying to tell me something about her pill and because I didn't listen closely, I almost made a medication error!
I didn't make the error, but I still reported the incident to my nursing supervisor as a near miss. The doctor had just left the room and had not entered the order yet, but I still should have listened to my patient. I apologized to her and her daughter, but I learned an important lesson that day, and that is to talk less and listen more to my patients."

4.

Due to emerging technology, the nursing career has evolved, and technology is incorporated in many aspects of modern nursing. How do you handle a situation in which new technology is introduced that changes your nursing practice?

The interviewer is asking this question to determine how the candidate will respond to changes in their nursing practice due to innovations in technology. Just as technology has changed the way the general public lives, it has significantly changed the practice of medicine and nursing. From Electronic Health Records to electronic instruments, health care does not look the same as it did a few years ago, nevertheless, a few decades ago. If the candidate is unable to adapt to ever-changing technology, they will be unable to effectively care for patients in the modern health care environment. To effectively answer this question, you should be honest about your technical skills, whether they are limited or advanced, and discuss the effort you will put forth to adapt to the new technology. A more successful answer to the question would include an example from your nursing career when you successfully adapted to new technology.

Dianne's Answer

"I am not the best at adapting to new technology, so new technologies are always a bit of a challenge for me. However, I am always able to eventually adapt, because I remain determined to learn how to use it. For example, when my last company changed to a new EHR system, it was completely different and extremely hard for me at first. But, instead of giving up, I took extra training, took copious notes, and made help-sheets for myself so I could remember specific shortcuts for how to use the system. This helped me adapt to the system more quickly than most nurses who were having the same challenges as me. If I could help myself get through that difficult situation, I feel that I could get through any challenge with technology."

5.

Describe a time you effectively instructed a patient on something they were struggling with learning?

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Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions

What is the best way to handle a patient who is refusing their medications?

Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions

What is the best way to handle a patient who is refusing their medications?

Describe a time where you needed to get crucial information from someone who wasn't helpful or responsive and how you handled that.

Describe a time when you did not communicate well, either in writing or verbally. What was the outcome and how did you handle it?

Due to emerging technology, the nursing career has evolved, and technology is incorporated in many aspects of modern nursing. How do you handle a situation in which new technology is introduced that changes your nursing practice?

Describe a time you effectively instructed a patient on something they were struggling with learning?

Tell me about a successful team project that you've collaborated on. What was your role?

You are caring for a pediatric patient whose parent is refusing routine vaccinations due to information she has read on the internet. How do you respond in this situation?

You have had a friendly relationship with one of your nursing colleagues for quite some time, but recently, she has been demonstrating passive-aggressive behavior and has been unwilling to cooperate with you. Tell me how you respond to this situation.

Workplace violence is a common issue for nurses. We have protocols in place to prevent workplace violence, but sometimes patients and family members still become violent. Tell me how you would handle such a situation.

You are very busy and a bit overwhelmed with your daily tasks, but it is time for your morning team huddle. What do you do?

Describe a time you effectively handled a hostile patient or family situation? What was the outcome?

Despite our best efforts in providing care, sometimes there are family members who are unhappy with the care the patient is receiving. Tell me how you would handle such a situation.

How would you handle a situation where a new manager or supervisor starts on your unit and immediately starts changing everything about the way the unit has operated for the past few years?

How will you approach coming into a team of nurses who have been working together for quite some time, who have already solidified their working relationships, and who clinically, have a very specific way of doing things?

Nursing can be extremely stressful. What do you think your personality strengths are in regards to handling the stress of nursing?

What do you do when one of your patients takes unexpected additional time to provide quality care and you have other patients waiting?

You are a floor nurse in your unit and have close relationships with several of your colleagues. When your supervisor goes on vacation, she appoints you to be in charge. How do you approach supervising the nursing staff in your unit?

Your patient’s family brought too many boxes of candy, and the patient wants you to take the unopened one. How do you handle this scenario?

How do you prioritize tasks when things on the unit get unexpectedly fast moving?

Tell me about a time where you developed empathy by stepping into a patient's shoes?

Explain your decision making process when you are challenged with a novel or challenging situation in nursing.

Describe a time you set a goal for yourself and achieved it. What did you do to ensure that you met your goal?

Describe a time you set a goal and did not achieve it. Explain why you were not successful.

Would you call yourself a team player? How do you handle yourself when you disagree with the team consensus on how to handle a situation?

Tell me about a time in your nursing career when you made a big mistake. How did you handle the situation?

Tell me how you would handle a situation where you thought you saw one of your nursing colleagues pocketing a dose of medication that was supposed to be given to a patient.

You are caring for a patient nearing the end of their life who has a clear Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in their advanced directive, but when the patient codes, their family member who is present begs you to take action. How do you respond?

Tell me how you would handle a situation in which you are pressed for time and it would be easier for you to provide care to your patients if you did not follow established procedures and protocols.

How would you handle a situation where you were curious about what was documented in a friend or family member's electronic health record?

What would you do in a situation where you needed household medical supplies, such as adhesive bandages, and you were aware that there was an abundance of them in the supply room at work?

Often in Electronic Health Records, generic drug names are used in lieu of brand names. Tell me how you would handle a situation where you know the brand name of a drug you need to place an order for, but you are unsure of its generic name.

As clinical healthcare professionals, we have all been in situations where we have developed special bonds with patients and their families. Explain how you handle such situations when these patients face difficult diagnoses or unexpectedly pass away.

Tell me how you would handle a situation where you feel a patient is suicidal or a danger to themselves, but they deny these feelings.

You are in a situation where you have been putting forth a lot of effort at your nursing job, but you received critical feedback from your supervisor during a bi-annual review. How do you respond to this situation?

Many times, we require our nurses to cross-train in other departments so they can be available to float when needed. How do you feel about the potential of cross-training and floating on short notice?