Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in, and tell us how you dealt with it?
Dealing with stress is a large part of nursing school and working as a nurse. This is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you can handle stress and describe the stress-management techniques that will help you in the future. The STAR method is an excellent approach to answering the question.
"One of the most stressful academic situations that I have ever been in occurred my freshman year, where I missed a class final. I was devastated because it was entirely my scheduling error, and you could not pass the class without taking the final. After shedding a few tears, I immediately contacted my professor and discussed letting me take the exam on another date. I was able to have it rescheduled but with an automatic penalty on my grade. It was a very humbling experience. It taught me that even small mistakes can have drastic consequences and that you need to be detail-oriented and always check behind yourself."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
The most stressful academic situation I was in was when I was stranded for a week in Dominica following Hurricane Maria. The water supply had fallen, homes were destroyed, and food was sparse. My school and I sheltered the citizens while keeping each other company. I volunteered to be among the last students to evacuate to spend more time with citizens. I formed a bond with One little boy in particular named Aiden. The fact that Aiden remained positive and sought me for support meant so much, and I did my best to ensure that he felt at home. While the citizens of Dominica didn’t evacuate with us, I am grateful for the opportunity to provide them with shelter.
Chad's Feedback
Wow! That sounds like a very stressful and difficult time, and you demonstrated a lot of bravery by volunteering to be among the last students to evacuate. If you were able to take anything away from the difficult situation you experienced following Hurricane Maria, be sure to highlight it in your response to demonstrate how the stress-management technique will help you in the future
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