What qualities do you think make a good nurse, and why?
Nursing is a demanding profession; the interviewer wants to see if you know what skills you will need to succeed as a nurse. Stick to 2-3 important qualities and give examples as to why nurses need these qualities. It is also good to reference these qualities in later questions when talking about yourself.
"Good nurses have compassion and good communication skills. As a nurse, you never know who you are going to encounter that needs care. A good nurse is compassionate because they see a variety of people and circumstances. The diversity of patients is tied to the need for good communication skills. Every patient is different, and you cannot approach every patient in the same way. Good nurses can tailor their communications with the patient to that patient's needs."
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
Good nurses have Empathy, which is the ability to feel what another person is experiencing from their point of view. For nurses, it means putting themselves in their patient's shoes and trying to understand how they perceive what's going on around them. Another great quality is communication, which is therapeutic tool healthcare providers use to build interpersonal relationships with their clients.
Marcie's Feedback
You're definitely right that good nurses need to be both empathetic and effective communicators. You might mention that they tend to be compassionate and patient as well, in addition to being critical thinkers who can problem solve on their feet. Finally, you might want to add a sentence or two connecting some of these qualities to yourself so the interviewer realizes your personality and skills fit the role.
Anonymous Answer
Qualities that make a good nurse include empathy, diligence, and intelligence. Empathy is important because it is used for understanding patients' emotions and relating to them. Diligence is also important because nursing is a difficult career, and a nurse should work hard to ensure they are treating patients to their utmost ability. Lastly, intelligence is important because nurses must be able to solve problems.
Chad's Feedback
Great insight – the qualities you include in your response would be highly desirable and contribute to the makeup of an excellent nurse. To strengthen your answer, consider including a sentence or two connecting these qualities back to yourself. This will demonstrate to the interviewer that your personality and skills will enable you to succeed in your future career.
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