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

"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."

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 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."

"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."

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?

"It has been interesting to see the rise of telehealth. I have used telehealth services during the pandemic and have enjoyed my experience. I would say that telehealth services are a tool that should remain available after the pandemic is over. In cases where patients have follow-up appointments to monitor conditions like diabetes and discuss medications, it would be possible to maintain care standards. However, telehealth medicine cannot completely replace in-person visits when problems are more acute."

It can be easy to memorize methods of answering general questions. Interviewers will ask topical questions like this to see if you can form an opinion and provide reasoning to support it based upon your own beliefs. There is no wrong answer as long as you answer the question entirely.

"I have used telehealth services during the pandemic and have enjoyed my telehealth experiences overall for instances like going over my lab results. However, telehealth medicine I don't believe should completely replace in-person visits when problems are more acute such as cardiac issues or pulmonary function issues because of the necessity to auscultate the lungs or listen to a patient's heart."

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

"Being an ethical nurse would mean that I have a strong conviction of right and wrong. As a nurse, I have a duty to protect patients and to promote their safety, health, and well-being. I will demonstrate ethical behaviors in the workplace like being truthful to patients, immediately reporting abuse, harassment, or theft, maintaining accurate documentation and records, protecting patient privacy, and making good decisions in patient care."

Nurses must adhere to high ethical standards, no matter the setting they work. Working with people every day requires a strong moral compass to ensure the highest quality of patient care and compliance with many laws and regulations. Talk about why ethics are important, what that means to you, and how you can demonstrate ethical behavior as a nurse in the workplace.

"Ethical behavior in the workplace means always doing the right thing, even when it's difficult. It means protecting patients and doing what is in their best interest. Ways I can demonstrate ethical behavior in the workplace include honoring a patient's wishes, respecting differing cultural or religious beliefs, protecting patients from illness and diseases by proper handwashing and wearing PPE, maintaining truthful and accurate documentation, and protecting patient privacy."

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

"One ability that will help me in nursing school is my positive attitude. It has helped me in the past. It can be easy to look at the negative side of things, especially when you get a bad grade or you do not get a job that you really wanted. However, I always try to remember the positive of any situation and appreciate the unpleasant outcome as a lesson learned rather than a failure."

The goal of a nursing program is for students to graduate. When answering this question, be sincere. Recognize that there will be difficult periods during nursing school, but emphasize the abilities you have to rely on to push you through when things get tough.

"The qualities that will help me succeed in nursing school are time management and persistence. My persistence is important because when I set a task, I don't stop until I complete it, and it will enable me to stay focused on my studies. However, I am human, and as such, I have limits and will need to take breaks every once in a while. Time management is vital here because I should have fun during my breaks, which will help me absorb the information that I study."

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

"If I were admitted to your nursing school, I would bring my strong organizing and leadership skills. I often fill the role of the group organizer in these types of settings. Usually, I am the first to get everyone's number to study together and stay on track of our work. I find it very important to form a positive collaborative learning environment so that we all are achieving our best result and that no one in the class is left behind."

Nursing school is competitive, and there are lots of qualified candidates that the program could accept. Show them what makes you unique and how you can contribute to the program or to the other nursing school students. This question evaluates if you are a personality match for their program.

"If I were to attend your program, I would bring my leadership and mentorship skills. When I was in graduate school, students often sought my help, and I did my best to make sure that they understood the material, and they succeeded under my guidance! Student mentors are very important in any program, especially in healthcare-related programs."

How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback?

"In my previous jobs and when I played sports in high school, I welcomed feedback from my peers, managers, and coaches. I appreciated regular feedback to know what I was doing well and what areas I needed to improve. I find that it's important to be open-minded and to truly listen when receiving feedback from others. I try to take time to digest the information, self-reflect when I receive criticism, and find ways to implement changes or improve my performance."

As a nursing student, you will need to be able to accept criticism and feedback throughout your training and clinical program. The interviewer needs to know that you have an open mind when it comes to receiving feedback, that you are coachable, and that you don't have a know-it-all attitude. The ideal candidate will view feedback as an opportunity to improve and grow; someone who responds negatively to feedback will be a red flag to the interviewer.

"I always try to manage my response by leaving emotion out of it and not getting defensive. I actively listen and try to put myself in their shoes so that I can better understand their perspective. If I'm unclear on the message, I will ask for specific examples so that I better understand the feedback. I take the feedback seriously, consider the potential benefits of the information, self-assess and try to implement the changes asked. I usually follow up with the person to ensure I've made the expected changes and am on the right path."

How do you approach giving someone bad news?

"As a mom, one difficult conversation that I have had with my kids is telling them that a pet has died. To deliver the bad news, I go to my kids and ask them to sit down with me. Once we are at the same level, I tell them the bad news that their pet has died. I give them the opportunity to talk about any emotions that they may be feeling or if they do not want to speak; we sometimes just sit together while they are processing the news."

This question asks you to evaluate two things: your communication skills and your ability to be compassionate. Give an example where you could deliver bad news while still considering the other person's feelings. Illustrate to the interviewer that you would give bad news to a patient but still express care for them.

"Bad news is unfortunate but necessary. If I were to deliver someone bad news, I would, first of all, think about how someone would feel if they heard it. I would then think about how I would deliver the news while displaying empathy. Once I finish formulating a plan, I would deliver the person the bad news, and then ask if they would like to talk or if they want to be left alone. People process bad news differently, so I would adhere to what they want to do while they are processing it."

"I believe that having to deliver bad news to anyone is never easy, first, we have to assess what age we are delivering this news to. I would inform the person I have something to inform you and after giving them the news ask them if would they like to talk about it. Would they like to be alone now?"

Tell me about your favorite teacher in school.

"Looking back, my English teacher was my favorite, even though she was tough on us! She had a strenuous syllabus and strictly adhered to her deadlines. If you were even five minutes late on an assignment, she would not accept it, and you got a zero. At the time, I found her to be so difficult, and I didn't understand why she was so strict. As an adult, I appreciate the lessons she taught me on accountability and time management. Those lessons have helped me to succeed as an adult and I feel will continue to help me succeed if given the opportunity to enter this program."

The interviewer wants to learn more about which teacher had the greatest impact on you and why. Your response gives them insight into what you find valuable in a teacher and what types of people you work well with. Give a genuine answer and share which teacher was your favorite and why.

"My science teacher was definitely my favorite. He was always so positive and encouraging and never got frustrated with anyone. He was always willing to spend extra time with a student who didn't understand something and never put anyone on the spot or went out of his way to embarrass anyone if they were falling behind. I always thought to myself what a great example of a leader he was, and I have always aspired to be more like him as a professional."

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

"I have thought a lot about this, and for me, working long hours will be an adjustment. It can be hard to maintain the required focus and concentration over so many hours. To prepare me for this challenge, I have started meditating before my job as a Tech at the rehabilitation facility. I have noticed a significant improvement in my focus that lasts the length of my work shift."

There are aspects of nursing that are grueling. The interviewer evaluates whether or not you are knowledgeable about what nurses actually do and have considered the hard parts of the job before deciding to apply to nursing school. You could talk about the long shifts, heavy patient loads, or extensive charting. Just be thoughtful in your response.

"I have thought about this very deeply, and I think the most challenging aspect of nursing will be communicating with uncooperative patients. Not every patient will want to cooperate with me because they may expect an instant cure, which does not exist. My plan for this is to inform the patients that they would be in great care under me, and if they still refused to cooperate, I would apologize that I could not help them, and refer them to one of my colleagues."

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?

"My mother was a nurse, so I'm very familiar with the demands of the job. I understand that nursing is an around-the-clock job, and there will be times I have to work off-shifts, come in early, stay late, and take my turn on weekends and holidays. I have no problem doing so and will not have any obstacles that prevent me from committing fully to my classes and eventually my shifts."

The interviewer wants to ensure you understand the demands of being a nurse and that you are prepared to work off-shifts, overtime, weekends, and holidays. Assure the interviewer that you are familiar with the scheduling requirements and that you are prepared and willing to work those required shifts.

"I understand that patients need care 24/7, and as a nurse, I'll be required to work various shifts and hours, including weekends and holidays. I am eager to start my journey and am willing to work whatever shifts necessary to gain experience and skills as a new nurse."

How often do you call off work or miss classes?

"Since I have not had a paying job before, I do not have prior work history to share with you. I have held responsibilities in a volunteer capacity in the past and also attended high school full-time, and I took those commitments seriously. I rarely missed class, and if I did, it was once or twice a year because I was not feeling well. In my volunteer role, I understood that anytime I would miss an event or project, it created a heavy burden for others, so I did not call out from my responsibilities. If I need to miss class, I will notify my instructor right away."

Healthcare organizations rely on their nursing staff to be at work when they are scheduled so that patients are cared for. The interviewer wants to know that you take this seriously and are a reliable person who will not miss class or scheduled shifts as a professional. Discuss your commitment to the program and speak to times you've had to call out of work in the past. If you don't have work experience, think about times you've missed class, internships, or other volunteer responsibilities. No matter the situation, demonstrate that you handle these types of situations with professionalism.

"I have called off from work twice in the last year, but only when I was very ill and with a doctor's note. If I am not feeling well, I notify my manager with as much advanced notice as possible so that my shift can be covered. I am very committed to this program, so rest assured that I will be at my classes on time and when expected."

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

"As a single mom, time management has become an important skill set for me while balancing work, family, and taking care of myself. I love using schedules to track my time and remember all of my obligations. In my schedule, I outline all of the day's tasks, and I can set up reminders that go to my phone. It has really helped me not miss any family events and stay ahead of work deadlines."

Much of a nurse's workday is spent multitasking and prioritizing tasks. The interviewer wants to know if you can manage your time to prepare you for your future patient load and to see if you will be able to manage your obligations while you are in nursing school.

"As a musician, time management is a crucial skill for balancing work and self-care. When I make a schedule, I plan when I am going to work and when I am going to play music. Hobbies are important for relieving stress, and setting schedules for work and playing music helps me cope with stress."

"Setting up time management skills is important in work, family, and self-care. I use a planner and jot down my appts for the day and upon the start of the day. I prioritize what I need to have accomplished and what needs to be done right away which assists me in meeting deadlines."

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

"In high school, I took a few college prep classes in the evenings. There was a time that I felt very overwhelmed with my regular coursework and extracurricular activities, and I began to fall behind in a few classes. I realized that my grades were failing, and I had to quickly create a plan to overcome the challenges. I gathered my syllabus for each course and used a planner to map out the course assignments and due dates to give me a clearer idea of expectations for each course. I color-coded my planner based on priority and blocked off time each day to complete certain tasks distraction-free. I also asked a peer to study with me on weekends and provide extra support in a math course that I was struggling with. Putting this time management and tutoring plan in place greatly helped me get back on track."

The nursing program can be very demanding and fast-paced. The interviewer is asking this question to see if you're easily overwhelmed by coursework, and if you do get behind, do you give up or persevere and ask for help? It's okay to admit if you've fallen behind before. It's more important that you demonstrate you could take ownership and create a plan to catch up.

"I have always struggled in history class as it was my least favorite. I found that I would often put the class assignments on the back burner, and I would do other homework and assignments that I enjoyed more first. I began to fall behind, and my grades slipped in the class. My parents were disappointed in my grade, and it helped me realize how important that class was to my overall GPA, and I knew I had to figure out a way to get back on track. I found some apps on my phone that were engaging and helped me study. I set up notification alerts that reminded me to study each day and also alerted me to upcoming project deadlines to help me stay on track. I found that supplemental tools like these helped increase my interest in the course and helped me improve my grades."

What made you choose to our nursing program in particular?

"I have several friends who have gone through the program at your school, and they shared nothing but positive feedback. They spoke highly of the coursework, instructors, and clinical experiences. I have looked at some of the professor and faculty profiles on LinkedIn, and I was impressed by their background and experience. Overall, I've been very impressed by the information I've found on the school and the program."

The interviewer would like to better understand what factors impacted your decision to apply to their particular school and program. Perhaps you knew someone who attended the school or did research and compared their program success rates and reviews to other schools. Try to avoid giving a generic answer, even if you've applied to other schools as well.

"I live locally, and the nursing program is well-known and respected in our community. I researched a few other programs, but yours was the highest rated, and I appreciated all of the information the school provided on its website about the program and vision for students. Affordability is also important to me as I live on my own and work part-time to support myself. I felt like the program offers high-quality courses and instructors for a reasonable price."

What type of setting are you most interested in working?

"During high school, I had a friend who was diagnosed with cancer and went through chemotherapy. I often visited her in the hospital and witnessed firsthand the impact the nurses had on the children in the oncology unit. That sparked my interest in becoming an oncology nurse, and I have always had a passion for working with children, so I think the pediatric unit would be the natural fit. I realize that I may need other nursing experience before that role, so I'm open to working in other settings that will allow me to gain the necessary experience and skills."

The interviewer would like to see if you've thought about the types of settings you would like to work in. Maybe you enjoy working with a certain patient population more than others; children, adults, geriatric, special needs, etc. Nurses can work in many settings, including home health, hospice, nursing homes, emergency rooms, cardiac units, oncology, outpatient clinics, surgical centers, and many more. Share what settings you are most interested in, but also acknowledge that you may have to explore other opportunities as you start out your career.

"I have always enjoyed working with the geriatric population, and as a CNA, I have worked for several years at our local nursing home on the long-term care unit. I hope to stay at the facility I'm at and continue working in long-term care as a nurse eventually. I'm also open to working on the memory care, assisted living, or post-acute rehab units at the facility. If none of those are an option, I'm willing to explore other settings and opportunities that would also me to start my career."

Why do you want to be a Nurse?

"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."

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.

"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."

"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."

"I feel the call to be a nurse because I want to care for people directly and compassionately. Although 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 for the delivery of my children my nurse would provide comfort and reassurance regarding the new identity of being a mother. I wanted to have that direct interaction and take an active role in their recovery."

What was your favorite non-nursing related class?

"My favorite class that was not nursing-related was culinary arts. My high school offered it as an elective class. I learned a lot about food, and I was able to specialize in making pastries. The knowledge that I gained I still use today when I bake desserts for my family and friends. I have even been asked to bake a wedding cake!"

Sometimes people get nervous when interviewers ask questions that do not appear directly related to nursing school. Don't be nervous! There is no correct answer here either. Use it as an opportunity to leave an impression with the interviewer and showcase other interests that were not addressed in your application.

"My favorite non-nursing-related class was a survey on jazz. I am a musician and am always trying to expand my taste. I already know a lot about rock music, so I wanted to learn more about the history of jazz. I gained a greater appreciation for jazz and incorporate elements of it into my own music thanks to this course!"

"My favorite non-nursing-related class was a music appreciation class. Although I have been a pianist for 12 years and have played the music of composers such as Bach and Beethoven I wanted to know about the composers, their youth, what prompted them to create the music they wrote, and what era of time their music was. I wanted to learn and have a greater appreciation of the history of music."

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

"I think that our medical system would be improved if we moved to a universal healthcare system. Access to healthcare is a big problem in our country, and a universal system could alleviate some of those problems. It would definitely be a big undertaking, but looking at countries like the United Kingdom and Canada, I believe we could create a system that helps people more than it harms."

Opinions about medicine and healthcare are always changing. The purpose of this question is to see if you are engaged with societal discussions about healthcare. There is no right answer to this question. It is only important that you can explain your position on the topic.

"A universal healthcare system is when all of a country's citizens have access to health services without financial trouble. Canada is an example of a country with universal healthcare, and more citizens have access to healthcare. This healthcare system may help to solve the problem of healthcare access, so we could develop a system for it."

Why did you apply to this nursing program?

"I was attracted to this program because of the school's commitment to integrity. A lot of what you do as a nurse is based upon acting with integrity. Another factor that drove me to apply to this program over others is the feedback I received when speaking with current students. They all seemed to enjoy the learning experience and their interactions with professors."

The purpose of this question is to evaluate how well you have researched this nursing program. Schools want to know that you aren't applying blindly and have taken the time to understand how the program operates. Be sure to read the program's mission statement and reference it in your response. It is also good to talk to current students of the program and mention the things they said that you liked about the school as well.

"I am a former student at USF, so I am very familiar with the school. Evidence-based clinical practice is one of my peak interests, and USF emphasizes this for patient care, as stated in its mission statement. Should I be accepted, I would study evidence-based practice further and incorporate it into my practice."

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

"In my fifth year of practice, I hope to be CCRN certified and working in a trauma ICU. I have always been attracted to critical care nursing because of the dynamic nature of the care and how you can give patients individual attention. Nurses who work in trauma ICUs build robust skill sets and have the opportunity to learn new things because trauma cases can vary widely."

Likely, you will not stay at your first nursing job for more than a few years. The admissions team wants to see if you have thought about your long-term career goals. This question tests your motivation for nursing school since you are likely to be more motivated to finish if you have a future goal in mind.

"In 5 years, I see myself earning a DNP degree and being a nurse practitioner. One field that piques my interest is emergency medicine due to its fast pace, which I enjoy working at. Nurses in the ER are required to think quickly to provide the best acute care possible."

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

"I am very interested in technology and how it integrates with health for more positive patient outcomes. As a result, one area of nursing that has caught my eye is nursing informatics. There are many different things you can do in nursing informatics, like engineering or brain mapping. Though I would wait a few years after graduating, I would be very interested in pursuing coursework in this area."

Healthcare is a very dynamic field, and nursing is no different. Nurses work in a lot of different areas, not just at the bedside. The interviewer wants to see if you have thought about long-term career goals and stay updated on what is happening in the field.

"One nursing trend that catches my eye is telehealth. The services for telehealth increased dramatically during the pandemic, which helped many patients get medical treatment when they weren't leaving their homes. Telehealth has become a valuable tool in bringing healthcare to underserviced areas. With telehealth growing rapidly in a short period of time, security and privacy issues have to be addressed. Telehealth has its share of pros and cons, but moving forward, telehealth, with a combination of in-hospital visits, may be the optimal way to treat patients."

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

"In high school, I volunteered for the American Red Cross during my senior year. Through that organization, I obtained my CPR certificate and learned how to use the defibrillator. I think both of these gave me knowledge and skills that would benefit me in the nursing program."

Many nursing school applicants have some form of experience in healthcare, either through high school courses, jobs, or through volunteer experience. The interviewer would like to know if you have any training (informal or on-the-job) or certifications that will benefit you in the program. Consider areas like CPR, first-aid, lifeguarding, phlebotomy, home health aide, certified nursing assistant, medical receptionist, etc.)

"I have worked part-time as a receptionist at my local nursing home for the past year. While I didn't earn any special certifications in that role, I learned a lot about healthcare, medical terminology, and the roles that CNAs and nurses play in that setting. I think being exposed to healthcare in this way gave me skills and knowledge to help me be successful in this program."

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?

"I was our class secretary for two years, and in this role, I developed strong communication skills that I feel would transfer well into the nursing program. I learned to create written announcements and memorandums that clearly communicated updates and events to the student body. I also learned how to actively listen during meetings and to take exceptional notes. I believe all of these skills will help me work with patients and to adhere to documentation best practices."

The interviewer would like to learn more about your interests as well as your ability to function well as part of a team. Those who are successful in extracurricular activities understand how to work well with others to achieve common goals and likely possess interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. Consider activities you've participated in and describe ways those may benefit you in the nursing program. If you haven't, it's okay to be honest. Try to think of another area you could use in your example, like volunteer experience or student leadership opportunities you may have had in school.

"I played many sports all four years of high school, including basketball, volleyball, and track. Doing so as an underclassman taught me how to be a follower and how to learn from others to develop my own skills. As an upperclassman, I was able to then coach and mentor the younger students on the team. I learned how to communicate effectively, be a team player, and resolve conflicts within the team. I feel all of these skills will transfer well into nursing school and help me be more successful as a student nurse."

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

"When I was in college, I participated in a pitching competition as a requirement for my business class. The professor assigned our teams, and I worked with four other students to create a proposal for an anti-bullying campaign. The thing we did well as a team is delegate tasks so that no one person carried more responsibilities than the other. An area that I think we could have improved upon is group communication. We showed up and presented successfully, but I felt that it was four parts that were not well connected. If we had spent more time talking to each other and brainstorming together, the project would have been more cohesive, and we would have placed better with other groups who had better-developed ideas."

From working with doctors to relying on the other nurses on your unit, nursing is a team sport. Explain the qualities that lead to a good team with a good outcome and address the qualities that teams should avoid. The goal is to illustrate to the interviewer that you can contribute to a team environment and contribute to improving team outcomes.

"When I was training in my job, I had to move an overweight patient. I couldn't do it on my own, so I called my trainer and my nurses for help. We did well in completing the task and communicating with each other, but we could've improved in recruiting more help. Because the patient was overweight, it took 10 people to move him on the slider from one bed to another. If we called for help sooner, the task would've been completed more efficiently."

"When I worked as a medical assistant in a local pediatric clinic which happened to be my first job in medical assisting, we had to learn to catheterize patients with my LPN manager showing us how to perform one, and the next time we would do the catheterization ourselves. There was a 15-year-old CP female patient that we needed to catheterize and I assessed that we would need help in holding her still for the procedure. I realized we would need a few more medical assistants to assist with this procedure in holding the patient still. However when we opened the cath kit I believe it was the lubricating jelly that was not in the kit, so we had to stop and get another sterile kit. In retrospect, you should always have another kit on hand when you might be dealing with a patient that is developmental disorders just in case."

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

"I set a goal for myself to pass my CNA exam on the first try. Unfortunately, I made a mistake during the skills portion and did not pass. I was devastated when I found out that I did not pass. However, I tried not to dwell on my failure and instead used it to motivate me to work harder. I practiced all the skills with friends and family and created a flashcard study routine to remember all of the information. These actions allowed me to pass the exam on my second try."

The interviewer is looking to see how you handle failure. In nursing school, there will be moments of failure, personally or academically. Show the interviewer how you are willing to learn from your failures rather than give up when things get difficult.

"When I was at Ross med school, I was determined to pass my final exam for semester 2. Unfortunately, I did not pass it, and I missed the minimum passing score by 5 points. Rather than being sad about it, I thought about what I needed to do to change my study skills to succeed in a future program. I developed the strategy of building a model, which helped tremendously during my time at Barry, and will help me in the accelerated BSN program."

"I was taking my Anatomy and Physiology 2 lab and lecture online and was excelling in the A and P 2 tests but having difficulty with the lab tests where the lab tests were bringing my average down at first. I realized that I had to devote more time and study to going over the physiology aspect of the course by keeping up with the classes and devoting more time to reviewing the structures and with that I received a high B almost an A in the class."

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?

"As a new nurse, this would be a tough situation to encounter. I would expect more experienced staff to be a role model of what I should do as a nurse. I do not know why the nurse took the medication or what the drug was, and it could be something like Tylenol or a more controlled substance. In this case, I think it is important to talk to the nurse that day alone and tell her that you saw her take the medication and that you will have to report her to the nursing manager. I would also use that conversation to say to her that I am here for her personally if she needs support through whatever caused her to take the medication in the first place."

Ethical questions that schools may ask can also involve peer relationships at work. They want to test your ethics in situations that have different power dynamics. Discuss your thought process when answering this question so they can see how you came to your conclusion.

"A senior nurse should be a role model for new nurses. If I saw this, I would wonder why she did so. Maybe she will give it to a patient? To ensure the integrity of care, I would approach her and ask her why she did it. If she did it to give it to a patient, I will let her do it. But if she did it for another reason, I would report her to the nursing manager. I would also inform her that I would be there for her."

"As a new employee and nurse, this would be I think a tough situation because I would not be sure why the nurse took the medication but still, I would confront the nurse to inform her that I saw her take the medication and put it in her pocket and report it to the nurse manager. I would also tell her that I am here for her for whatever made her take the medication in the first place."

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?

"This scenario shows the difficult positions that I may encounter as a nurse. I empathize with the aunt in this situation. She's concerned about her child and wants to make sure that she is receiving the best care possible. It is also difficult for the nurse because family pressure can be intense. However, as a nurse, your first responsibility to your patients and their rights when receiving care. I would tell the aunt that I cannot look at the cousin's chart because it violates the patient's rights and wrong for me to do ethically. Instead, I would suggest that she speak with the cousin's nurse or ask for a family meeting with the doctor."

Besides questions about your personality, many nursing school programs will ask you an ethical question to see how you make moral decisions. Be sure to discuss all sides of the decision, but keep in mind your obligations as a nurse and your responsibility to maintain patient confidentiality.

"This is a tough question to answer because my aunt is concerned about a cousin with whom I am close. Family pressure can also play a factor in this scenario. Because patient charts should be kept confidential, I would inform the aunt that I cannot look into my cousin's chart out of respect for the patient's rights and ethicality. I would instead recommend that the aunt speaks to a doctor or nurse that the cousin is seeing."

"I would inform my aunt that I can understand her concern for my cousin however patients' charts should be kept confidential and I can't look into their chart because of the rights a patient has and ethically it would be wrong. I would refer my aunt to the doctor my cousin is being treated by."

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

"There was one patient who was homeless and did not have many possessions. They were going to be discharged soon, but social services were not going to supply them with clothes before their departure. I got together with some of my co-workers, and we put in money to get him some outfits and some shoes before his transfer to the new facility. It was gratifying to see how much joy and relief this simple act brought him, even if it was not directly medical services. "

A nursing school does not want to accept students that are only going to do the bare minimum. Show the interviewer that you can do more than expected, even if your work is not recognized. It is an excellent opportunity to show how you can take the initiative and be selfless as a nurse.

"Occasionally, some patients whom I discharge have their rides running late. When they do run late, I’m given the choice to drop them off at the outpatient waiting room or to stay with them. I stay with them as long as they need me to, even if it’s a long time."

"I worked in an interventional pain management office and I can remember a time when a patient needed a medication rx to be dropped off at the pharmacy downstairs from the hospital. I was leaving early but they were still in their appt with the doctor and I told the doctor the pharmacy would be closed before they could fill the RX and if I could drop it downstairs for the patient and the doctor said ok."

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

"I worked as a CNA in a local hospital. There was one patient who was very demanding and asked me to do things that were not associated with their care, like calling numerous relatives from out of state and bring them freshly made coffee every single hour. After trying to talk to the patient independently, I had to ask the nurse to speak to him with me. Having another voice who could be an intermediary between the two of us, the patient relaxed their demands and was amicable for the rest of their time in the hospital."

The interviewer wants to know if you can stay professional under pressure. It is also a chance for the interviewer to evaluate how well you can problem-solve under stress. When answering this question, it is important to highlight how you overcame whatever difficulty occurred.

"Recently, I had to discharge a patient who was impatient to leave the hospital. The patient would sound irritated and want to get off the wheelchair in the hallway. I could see that the patient didn't have the best experience, so I understood how the patient felt. I acknowledged that to the patient and assured him that I would have him discharged quickly. When the patient's ride came, the patient started being kind to me and thanked me for discharging him."

"There was a patient in my doctor's office who from the moment she checked in was irate with our office. They first informed her she was late and they expected her 10 minutes ago. The front office very strongly stated those were the rules and made her wait for 1 hour to be seen. When I called her back to be weighed, greeted her and asked that if could she give me a urine sample- she screamed she would like to take the urine cup and throw it at me. She said she was upset at how she was treated by the front office. I listened and stated to her I understand how you feel. I know it's frustrating to sometimes find a parking spot. She then apologized and said I'm sorry, I said that to you, I was just angry. And her attitude changed with a smile and understanding."

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

"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."

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.

"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."

"I believe one of the more recent events was when I signed in for my Human Anatomy and Physiology lab 2 final exam and the system in APR glitched where it let me log in but then after 3 minutes or so, it glitched and only 3 answered. Our instructor informed us she was vacationing in Puerto Rico that week and to just call her if there was an issue but she also stated she might not be readily available either. I became nervous at first thinking that I won't reach her but I called the IT department and told them what was going on. IT said they would try to reach the professor and it was my luck that they did reach her but only 1 hour later and I had 2 more hours to complete the lab test which was stressful enough but despite my inner anxiety I did remain calm and rational and passed the test and received a high B in the class although I believe if I didn't lose the hour I might have gotten an A."

Nursing Student Interview Questions

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1. What qualities do you think make a good nurse, and why?
2. 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?
3. What does ethical behavior in the workplace mean to you? How can you demonstrate ethical behavior on the job?
4. What qualities do you have that will help you succeed in nursing school?
5. What do you have to offer if you attend our nursing program?
6. How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback?
7. How do you approach giving someone bad news?
8. Tell me about your favorite teacher in school.
9. What aspect of nursing do you think will be the most challenging, and why?
10. 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?
11. How often do you call off work or miss classes?
12. Time management is an essential skill for nurses. Tell me how you practice good time management skills.
13. Have you ever fallen behind in class? If so, what did you do?
14. What made you choose to our nursing program in particular?
15. What type of setting are you most interested in working?
16. Why do you want to be a Nurse?
17. What was your favorite non-nursing related class?
18. Do you believe that our medical system would be improved or harmed by moving to a universal healthcare system?
19. Why did you apply to this nursing program?
20. What do you see yourself doing as a nurse in 5 years?
21. Can you describe a nursing industry trend that has caught your eye? Why does it interest you?
22. Do you have any special training or certifications that you feel will benefit you as a nursing student?
23. 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?
24. Describe a time that you worked on a team. What went well, and what didn't?
25. Tell me about a time you failed to reach your goal. What happened, and what did you learn from the experience?
26. 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?
27. 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?
28. Can you tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a patient?
29. Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult patient experience and how you resolved it?
30. Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in, and tell us how you dealt with it?

Nursing Student Interview Questions

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

2. 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?

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

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

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

6. How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback?

7. How do you approach giving someone bad news?

8. Tell me about your favorite teacher in school.

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

10. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

16. Why do you want to be a Nurse?

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

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

19. Why did you apply to this nursing program?

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

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

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

23. 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?

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

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

26. 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?

27. 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?

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

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

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