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Entry-Level Nursing Mock Interview

Question 33 of 40 for our Entry-Level Nursing Mock Interview

Entry-Level Nursing was updated by on December 21st, 2022. Learn more here.

Question 33 of 40

Aside from your clinical rotations, tell me about your experience caring for patients.

"Once I decided to change my major to nursing, I obtained my nursing assistant license and got a part-time job at a nursing home. During the last two years in college, I worked at the nursing home and cared for patients by changing them, bathing them, helping them to the restroom, taking vital signs, and getting them up to socialize and attend daily activities. It wasn't the most glamorous job, but it allowed me to get experience caring for patients, and I was able to care for some great people."

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How to Answer: Aside from your clinical rotations, tell me about your experience caring for patients.

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Entry-Level Nursing job interview.

  • 33. Aside from your clinical rotations, tell me about your experience caring for patients.

      How to Answer

      While required clinical rotations that are a part of nursing education programs ensure entry-level nurses have hands-on practical experience, employers like to see additional patient care experience on a candidate's resume. This experience does not have to be nursing experience, especially for entry-level nursing; you can mention your experience as a nursing assistant, care partner, paramedic/EMT, hospital volunteer, or other position that provides direct patient care. This patient care experience gives entry-level nursing candidates a competitive edge over candidates without such experience. The interviewer asks this question to determine if you have additional patient care experience and to what extent. When answering this question, you should be honest about your experiences providing patient care, as your experience will be reflected in your job performance once hired.

      Written by Kelly Burlison on July 16th, 2019

      1st Answer Example

      "Once I decided to change my major to nursing, I obtained my nursing assistant license and got a part-time job at a nursing home. During the last two years in college, I worked at the nursing home and cared for patients by changing them, bathing them, helping them to the restroom, taking vital signs, and getting them up to socialize and attend daily activities. It wasn't the most glamorous job, but it allowed me to get experience caring for patients, and I was able to care for some great people."

      Written by Kelly Burlison on July 16th, 2019

      2nd Answer Example

      "My official experience caring for patients is limited to my clinical rotations, as I had to maintain my full-time job as an accountant while in nursing school. However, while I do not have additional official experience caring for patients, while my mother was undergoing cancer treatments, I was her primary caregiver. I was there to care for my mother on her best days, her worst days, and all days in between. I know this isn't what you are looking for, but I believe this experience will help me empathize with the patients and family members I am caring for when they are facing their best and worst days."

      Written by Kelly Burlison on July 16th, 2019

      3rd Answer Example

      "During the final year of my program, I worked as a student nurse extern on the cardiac step-down floor. During most shifts, I assisted the nurses by taking vital signs, obtaining blood glucose readings, and helping patients bathe and use the bathroom. On some shifts, I was assigned to be the sitter for a patient who was confused or a fall risk. As the nurses on the unit got to know me better, they often pulled me into a patient room to help them with other skilled tasks, like IV insertion, inserting a urinary catheter, or changing a dressing."

      Written by Kate Buckley on December 21st, 2022

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "I became a CNA before I started nursing school. I worked in an assisted living facility before getting a per diem position on a postpartum unit. I learned many valuable skills and gained experience through my time at both positions. Time management, prioritization, and critical thinking were all skills I gained experience of."

      Marcie's Feedback

      Excellent answer. It's great that you have a lot of prior experience caring for patients; the interviewer will appreciate this. Consider adding some more details to your answer about those experiences. For example, what did you enjoy most about the assisted living and postpartum positions? Perhaps include a brief example of a specific patient you cared for who impacted you as this will make your answer even more memorable to the interviewer.

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    About the Author

    Jaymie Payne

    I began my healthcare career when I was a sophomore in high school and became an STNA (state-tested nursing assistant) at a local long-term care facility. I then went on to work as a nursing assistant at a local hospital and home healthcare agency. During that time, I pursued my Bachelor's in Business Administration: Human Resource Management and transitioned to working for one of the largest long-term care and post-acute rehab companies in the country. I supported the talent acquisition function and in the span of 8 years, I screened and interviewed over 1,500 nurse aides, LPNs, and RNs.

    I hold a very special place in my heart for nurses, as it's often a thankless and tiresome job. Not everyone is cut out to be a nurse and I have great respect and admiration for those that choose this career path. As a content writer and interview coach for MockQuestions, my goal is to help you prepare and succeed in your upcoming interview. This article offers interview tips and advice along with 40 practice interview questions and answer examples to help you better understand what to expect and prepare for interview day! Wishing you the best of luck!

    Learn more about Jaymie Payne