Preparing for Your Nursing Program Interview
Getting ready for an important interview can make anyone anxious, but we hope the advice from nursing professionals below can make you feel confident and well-prepared. Although there’s a shortage of nurses, nursing programs still have more applicants than available spots. A report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found that over 75,000 qualified nursing school applicants were denied admission for the 2018-19 school year.
Some schools conduct interviews to choose from the candidates who pass the initial application screening. Interviews also help students see if a program fits their needs.
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During nursing school interviews, you can show how suitable you are for the program and profession. Schools don’t aim to eliminate applicants during interviews; they want to assess your communication, interpersonal skills, and how you manage stress.
Nursing interviews can be in person, over the phone, or virtually using platforms like Zoom or Skype. Common questions explore why you want to be a nurse and why you chose that program. They also ask about your career goals, strengths, weaknesses, academic background, and knowledge of current nursing issues.
Being nervous before an important interview is normal, but the advice from nursing professionals can help you feel confident and prepared for the process. If you’re invited to an interview, it often means the school is interested in you as a candidate.
Tip #1: Understand the Nursing School Interview Format
Nursing program interviews have different formats depending on the school. Research how many people you’ll be talking to and their backgrounds.
Interviewers might be admissions counselors, faculty members, or others from the program. Interviews can be in panels, one-on-one, or small groups, and they might happen over multiple sessions.
Dr. Debra Sullivan, a nurse educator, suggests, “Research the program you’re applying to. Find someone who interviewed there, or check blogs or Facebook groups of other applicants.” Practicing interviews in the expected format can be helpful.
Tip #2: Prepare for Common Nursing School Interview Questions
Get ready to answer various types of questions about yourself and the profession. Questions could be about your personality, behavior, or hypothetical situations.
Dr. Anna-Lise Krippaehne, a family nurse practitioner, says interviews let you tell your story about why you’re applying to the nursing program.
Besides your motivations, personality questions might ask how friends describe you or what personality traits you’d change. Behavioral questions look for examples of how you handled past situations or would handle hypothetical ones.
Interviewers might ask about your knowledge of current nursing and medical issues.
Tip #3: Understand the Types of Answers Nursing School Interviewers are Looking For
Besides knowing what questions to expect, know what kind of answers show you’re a strong candidate.
Krippaehne says interviewers want thoughtful answers with examples. For behavioral questions, they look for specific situations that demonstrate how you handled them.
Use examples from your own experiences to highlight your traits. Sullivan says most interviewers want to see someone patient, compassionate, flexible, and a good communicator.
Tip #4: Come Prepared With a Plan for Your Nursing Future
Interviewers often ask where you see yourself in five or ten years. Having a career plan shows you’ve thought about your future.
Research different specialties and approaches to nursing care to guide your plan.
Tip #5: Understand the Differences Between Interviewing for an Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Program
For undergraduate programs, interviews focus on your qualities, background, values, and why you want to be a nurse.
Graduate program interviews may focus more on your clinical or nursing experience. You might need to discuss how to handle challenging patients and families.
Remember, being passionate about nursing and its principles will make you shine during the interview.
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