"As a nurse, the exhausting stress that comes with seeing patients in their most vulnerable state and witnessing things some people go their whole life without seeing is a necessary part of this rewarding career. Early in my career as an emergency nurse, I was working a night shift during the winter when a bus accident brought in 10 critically injured patients. When we received the call that the ambulances would be showing up, I went into immediate triage mode with our current patients. This mode continued when the accident victims arrived as well, and I prioritized those with the most traumatic injuries first and worked down the line. I try to remember that I am one person who can only truly focus on one task at a time. In these situations, this sage advice keeps me focused on the patient in front of me and not letting my mind wander to the other patients."

Think of a specific time you had to manage a stressful situation, describe how you handled it, talk about what tools or resources you used, and explain what the outcome was of the situation. If possible, talk about specific coping techniques you used to help you through that particular situation to prove your ability to handle the mental and physical toll that working as a NICU nurse will no doubt involve.

"During my nurse training, we had a simulator where we practiced various emergency situations. It was high-pressure and stressful because we were still lacking some skills and experience and all of our peers and instructors were watching us. It was really valuable practice to help us prepare for real-life situations and we learned how to perform under pressure and scrutiny. While it was uncomfortable, I really learned a lot and it eased my nerves the more frequently we went through the practice exercises. By the end of clinicals, I was going through the simulations without any problems and was even able to mentor and help coach some of my peers who were struggling a bit."