How to Answer: Tell me a bit about yourself.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Nursing job interview.
26. Tell me a bit about yourself.
How to Answer
Having recruited in the nursing and healthcare industries for many years, I know that nursing leaders are looking to ideally hire well-rounded individuals that come to their team with great clinical skills, great people skills, and are excellent humans outside of the workplace. While a lot of things may be tough to gauge for the nursing leader while interviewing you for a short period of time, they open the door for you to give your best sales pitch on who you are as both a professional nurse and person.
Your answer here should ideally lay out chronologically with a bit about your upbringing (personal values), what made you pursue a career in nursing (motivation), and the path you took to get you to this interview today (education and work history). Also, be open about your family and personal life to give your interviewer some insight into the fact that you will be a nurse on their team that hold strong family and personal values, which will reflect positively on the patients you will be caring for.
Written by Ryan Brunner
1st Entry Level Example
"As you can see from my resume and application materials, I'm about to graduate with my bachelor's degree in nursing and I'm very proud of my journey to get where I'm at today. Having hit the work force out of high school for five years in customer service jobs, I wanted to make a change for me and my family so I applied to college to obtain this degree at the advice of a couple of great friends that are RN's. I continued to work full-time and obtain my degree. As I've gone through my classwork and clinical rotations, I've continued to love and gravitate towards care for the elderly and your opportunity is really my dream job. If I'm fortunate enough to join your team, you'd be getting a down-to-earth and hard working nurse that is able to connect with patients and your entire team in a collaborative manner."
Written by Ryan Brunner
2nd Entry Level Example
"I have been interested in healthcare since I was young. My mother worked as an Activities Director at a local nursing home, so I often got to go to work with her to spend time with the residents and help with activities and recreation. Through my experiences there with her, I realized that I enjoyed working with the elderly, and when I was in high school, I became a nursing assistant and worked at that same nursing home part-time. After graduation, I continued my nursing program and am excited to start my career. On a personal note, I am the oldest child of five girls! I enjoy spending time with my family, and we often spend time outdoors hiking or kayaking together. I love animals and have two Boston terriers!"
Written by Jaymie Payne on December 18th, 2022
1st Experienced Example
"Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to talk more about who I am as a professional and a person. My nurturing personality was fostered from a very young age, where I was brought up in a small community where families all knew each other. The sense of brotherhood among neighbors was a great feeling. I grew up in a family as the older of four siblings, so caring for my younger brothers and sisters when they were sick was common with a father and mother both working full-time. I knew that I wanted to pursue a nursing degree during high school and attended University to obtain my bachelor's degree right away. I worked hard to obtain my degree in four years and hit the workforce for the last six years in an exciting critical care unit. In the meantime, since graduating, I've married my soulmate, and we have two amazing sons, ages 4 and 2. Outside of work, we spend most of our free time outdoors on walks, hiking, boating, and grilling as much as possible. My family life helps me keep any work-related stress at work, and it helps me come to work for each shift refreshed and ready to go."
Written by Ryan Brunner
2nd Experienced Example
"A bit about me- I am an avid triathlete and have traveled to 10 countries in the last eight years to compete in various races. I am competitive and enjoy keeping fit to be a good role model for my family and patients. In between my training, I completed my nursing degree and graduated from UC Santa Barbara six years ago. After spending two years gaining experience in the ICU, I returned to college and received my Master's qualification in nursing so I could advance to a managerial position. Currently, I am focused on receiving my Doctorate Degree in Healthcare Administration, and I look forward to working in an administrative role with your organization."
Written by Krista Wenz on January 31st, 2023
About the Author
I began my healthcare career when I was a sophomore in high school and became an STNA (state-tested nursing assistant) at a local long-term care facility. I then went on to work as a nursing assistant at a local hospital and home healthcare agency. During that time, I pursued my Bachelor's in Business Administration: Human Resource Management and transitioned to working for one of the largest long-term care and post-acute rehab companies in the country. I supported the talent acquisition function, and in the span of 8 years, I screened and interviewed over 1,500 nurse aides, LPNs, and RNs.
I hold a very special place in my heart for nurses, as it's often a thankless and tiresome job. Not everyone is cut out to be a nurse, and I have great respect and admiration for those that choose this career path. As a content writer and interview coach for MockQuestions, my goal is to help you prepare and succeed in your upcoming interview. This article offers interview tips and advice along with 50 practice interview questions and answer examples to help you better understand what to expect and prepare for interview day! Wishing you the best of luck!
Learn more about Jaymie Payne