How to Answer: What is your work availability? Are you able to work nights? Weekends?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Nursing job interview.
36. What is your work availability? Are you able to work nights? Weekends?
How to Answer
Heading into the interview, you should have a pretty good availability of the work expectations of the position through the job posting that you read or the advertisement you saw. In truthfulness to yourself and potential future employer, you should be as honest as possible in what your availability is in regards to evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts.
Written by Elisabeth Walter
1st Entry Level Example
"As a new nurse entering the workforce, I am ready to work any shifts on any days that I can. I want to let you know that I do have my son every other weekend and would like the chance to not be on the schedule on those particular weekends or be given the opportunity to trade shifts if I were scheduled on those weekends."
Written by Ryan Brunner
1st Experienced Example
"I am open to working any shift on any day as long as the schedule for particular shifts is out at least two weeks ahead of time. With my spouse having a full-time job, I need to be able to plan ahead for childcare should the need arise."
Written by Elisabeth Walter
2nd Experienced Example
"After working years of swing shifts on a Med/Surg unit, I am at a point in may career where I would like to work solely day and evening shifts. Upon reading the job posting, I understood that this was primarily a day shift position with every other weekend coverage and occasional evening shifts to help pick up for vacation days."
Written by Ryan Brunner
3rd Experienced Example
"While I would prefer to work daytime hours, I am willing to pick up evening and weekend shifts as needed to cover for my colleagues. I am a team player, and I am always willing to help out when needed. However, because of family obligations, I will need at least a 24-hour notice when picking up additional shifts, especially evening shifts."
Written by Kelly Burlison on March 17th, 2019
4th Experienced Example
"As a nurse, I know and understand the need and requirement for weekend and holiday rotations. Being part of a nursing team is important, and I am happy to take my rotation for both weekends and holidays. I tend to be more of a nighttime person and so I would prefer to work the night shift. I am open to helping out on a day or evening shift as well if needed from time to time."
Written by Tabitha Cumpian on January 31st, 2023
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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