Nursing Student Mock Interview

Practice 30 Nursing Student interview questions covering clinical rotations, patient care scenarios, and academic preparation.

Question 1 of 30

Why do you want to be a Nurse?

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Example Answer
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Makayla Donigan

Makayla Donigan is a Certified Nurse Aide, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Medical Copywriter.

Many schools want students to see a career in nursing as a calling rather than just a paycheck. Describe your personal and authentic reasons for pursuing nursing school. Focus on your motivations for pursuing nursing and what makes it the best option for you.

Makayla Donigan

Makayla Donigan is a Certified Nurse Aide, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Medical Copywriter.

"I feel called to join this profession because I want to care for people directly and compassionately. While doctors and other members of the medical team are essential, they do not have the same ability to build relationships with their patients in the manner that nurses do. When I was in the hospital, I found that my nurse could make me feel cared for through small gestures of comfort or taking the time to talk to me. I want to have that direct interaction with patients and take an active role in their recovery."

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Jaymie

A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.

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Anonymous Answer

My mother was an LPN, and I grew up in that environment where I saw how much she loved what she did every day. It was both inspiring and motivating for me to see the challenges she faced and how she had to think outside the box to come up with solutions. My grandmother had a very bad fall in 2012 during hurricane Sandy. We were in the hospital for days and seeing how well the nurses took care of my grandmother and my family really made an impact on me. But when I really knew it was my passion was on the first day of on-site clinicals where I felt the fulfillment of taking care of my first patient. And I'm so proud of the decision I have made because I'm truly going to make a difference in people's lives which makes it all worthwhile.

Marcie's Feedback

Wow. What a sincere and heartfelt response! The interviewer will appreciate the explanations you have provided. It sounds like your personality is perfectly suited to the role of a nurse in that you feel such fulfillment in taking care of patients and helping others. Nice job on your answer!

Anonymous Answer

Healthcare has been a part of my life ever since I was a child. Seeing my father work as a psychiatrist in a prison to provide for his family made a huge impact on my life. In fact, healthcare was a very common topic at the dinner table. Of all healthcare professionals, nurses spend the most time with patients, which is important to me because I want to spend as much time with patients as necessary.

Chad's Feedback

The desire to spend time with, and help, patients is an admirable trait, and your answer comes across as honest and sincere. The interviewer will undoubtedly appreciate the explanation you have provided and be impressed with your motivation to pursue a career in nursing. Nice work!

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30Nursing Student Interview Questions & Answers

Discovery

1.Why do you want to be a Nurse?

Behavioral

2.What qualities do you think make a good nurse, and why?

Compatibility

3.What aspect of nursing do you think will be the most challenging, and why?

Discovery

4.Can you describe a nursing industry trend that has caught your eye? Why does it interest you?

Discovery

5.What do you see yourself doing as a nurse in 5 years?

Behavioral

6.What qualities do you have that will help you succeed in nursing school?

Behavioral

7.What do you have to offer if you attend our nursing program?

Discovery

8.Why did you apply to this nursing program?

Competency

9.Time management is an essential skill for nurses. Tell me how you practice good time management skills.

Situational

10.Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in, and tell us how you dealt with it?

Experience

11.Describe a time that you worked on a team. What went well, and what didn't?

Situational

12.Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult patient experience and how you resolved it?

Situational

13.Can you tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a patient?

Behavioral

14.How do you approach giving someone bad news?

Situational

15.A cousin you are close to is admitted to the hospital at which you work. Your aunt asks you to look into her chart because she does not think that the doctors are honest about her test results. What do you do?

Situational

16.You are a new nurse working in a busy ER department. You go into the medicine room and notice the senior nurse slip medication into her pocket. How do you respond?

Situational

17.Tell me about a time you failed to reach your goal. What happened, and what did you learn from the experience?

Discovery

18.Do you believe that our medical system would be improved or harmed by moving to a universal healthcare system?

Discovery

19.What was your favorite non-nursing related class?

Behavioral

20.Medical practice is always evolving. As a result of people needing to quarantine, the availability of telehealth services has increased dramatically. Do you think high standards of care can be achieved without physically seeing patients?

Behavioral

21.How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback?

Compatibility

22.How often do you call off work or miss classes?

Experience

23.Do you have any special training or certifications that you feel will benefit you as a nursing student?

Experience

24.In school, did you participate in any extracurricular activities? If so, do you feel you learned anything from those programs that will help you be successful in nursing school?

Competency

25.Have you ever fallen behind in class? If so, what did you do?

Behavioral

26.Tell me about your favorite teacher in school.

Compatibility

27.Nurses often have to work long shifts and shifts in the evenings, during the night, on weekends and holidays. Are you prepared to work this type of schedule?

Discovery

28.What type of setting are you most interested in working?

Behavioral

29.What does ethical behavior in the workplace mean to you? How can you demonstrate ethical behavior on the job?

Discovery

Nursing Student Mock Interview

Why do you want to be a Nurse?

30Nursing Student Interview Questions & Answers

1.Why do you want to be a Nurse?

2.What qualities do you think make a good nurse, and why?

3.What aspect of nursing do you think will be the most challenging, and why?

4.Can you describe a nursing industry trend that has caught your eye? Why does it interest you?

5.What do you see yourself doing as a nurse in 5 years?

6.What qualities do you have that will help you succeed in nursing school?

7.What do you have to offer if you attend our nursing program?

8.Why did you apply to this nursing program?

9.Time management is an essential skill for nurses. Tell me how you practice good time management skills.

10.Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in, and tell us how you dealt with it?

11.Describe a time that you worked on a team. What went well, and what didn't?

12.Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult patient experience and how you resolved it?

13.Can you tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a patient?

14.How do you approach giving someone bad news?

15.A cousin you are close to is admitted to the hospital at which you work. Your aunt asks you to look into her chart because she does not think that the doctors are honest about her test results. What do you do?

16.You are a new nurse working in a busy ER department. You go into the medicine room and notice the senior nurse slip medication into her pocket. How do you respond?

17.Tell me about a time you failed to reach your goal. What happened, and what did you learn from the experience?

18.Do you believe that our medical system would be improved or harmed by moving to a universal healthcare system?

19.What was your favorite non-nursing related class?

20.Medical practice is always evolving. As a result of people needing to quarantine, the availability of telehealth services has increased dramatically. Do you think high standards of care can be achieved without physically seeing patients?

21.How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback?

22.How often do you call off work or miss classes?

23.Do you have any special training or certifications that you feel will benefit you as a nursing student?

24.In school, did you participate in any extracurricular activities? If so, do you feel you learned anything from those programs that will help you be successful in nursing school?

25.Have you ever fallen behind in class? If so, what did you do?

26.Tell me about your favorite teacher in school.

27.Nurses often have to work long shifts and shifts in the evenings, during the night, on weekends and holidays. Are you prepared to work this type of schedule?

28.What type of setting are you most interested in working?

29.What does ethical behavior in the workplace mean to you? How can you demonstrate ethical behavior on the job?

30.What made you choose to our nursing program in particular?