If you're sitting in an interview for your next nursing job, and the nursing supervisor or manager starts their questions with phrases such as “Tell me about a time when” or “Give me a specific example of," chances are you're in a behavioral interview. Show
Behavioral interview questions for nurses are common; however, these types of behavioral questions can be difficult to answer. Check out these sample behavioral interview questions for nurses along with answers to help you prepare — and ace — your next nursing behavioral interview. What are Behavioral Interview Questions for Nurses?Behavioral interview questions for nurses are asked to get a sense of how you will perform or behave under specific circumstances In general, it's best to answer these questions with real-life examples and stories from your experiences as an intern or while at a previous job. Many behavioral interview questions for nurses fall under these specific themes:
Examples of Behavioral Interview Questions for NursesSome behavioral questions you may be asked include:
How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions for NursesIn general, according to an article in American Nurse Today, the official journal of the American Nurses Association, you should take the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach to answering behavioral interview questions.
When you keep these tips in mind for how to answer behavioral interview questions for nurses, you can help make sure you land your next job that lets you utilize your skills and expertise. When attending any nursing interview, it is important to have an understanding of the type of questions that will be asked. Knowing this information beforehand can help you formulate both your responses and who you will be as a nurse. One of the most common types of nursing questions is behavioral questions. As the name
implies, these questions are asked to assess your behavior in certain experiences or situations. Behavioral nursing interview questions are often the same ones you were asked by your professors to consider as part of the clinical portion of a class. Themes of Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions: During nursing interviews, interviewers will ask behavioral questions as per the following themes. Patient Care Behavioral nursing
interview questions regarding patient care may ask you to talk about your role in the treatment of a patient. These questions will help determine if you are good at communicating with patients and other professionals. They will also determine if you know how to prioritize your care tasks, as well as your medical knowledge. Communication Style A good nurse must be able to communicate to relay vital information about the patient’s condition. Questions
regarding your communication style ask you to describe how you act in certain situations in which you are required to relay information on time. Teamwork Working with a team requires cooperation and collaboration to provide the best patient care. Behavioral questions about teamwork will ask you to discuss your role within the team. Furthermore, questions may try to determine if you:
Adaptability Nurses must be able to adjust their behavior to handle many situations, especially when the patient’s condition changes. Behavioral questions about your ability to adapt ask you to describe a difficult situation and how you handled it. They may also ask about how your behavior was impacted by a change of plans or an unforeseen event. Motivation and Core Values To provide good patient care, a nurse must have the motivation and drive to do so. Behavioral questions regarding your motivation as a nurse ask you about this, as well as your values. Furthermore, they may ask how you handle challenging situations or what you think is the most important thing in a patient’s recovery. Time Management Nurses must be efficient in coordinating their responsibilities and tasks. Behavioral questions about your time management skills ask you to explain how you prioritize things if you are punctual, and your ability to handle multiple tasks at once. With that in mind, what are the frequently asked behavioral nursing interview questions? Those are coming up next. Pin me on Pinterest!
Common Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions and AnswersBy analyzing the themes, there are common behavioral nursing interview questions that may be asked during an interview. The 7 most common sample nursing behavioral interview questions and answers are as follows: 1. In the workplace, you might encounter uncooperative colleagues. How would you handle this situation?One of the most common behavioral interview questions is how you would handle a difficult colleague. It is important to note that during the interview, you must give examples of past experiences in which you successfully handled such a situation. Example answer:
See also: Tell Me About Yourself Nursing Interview 2. How organized are you?Being organized is a skill that is very important in the workplace. Organizational skills are an advantage because it allows you to successfully multitask and accomplish many tasks at once. During the interview, it is important to give examples of your organizational skills and how you can multitask. Example answer:
See also: Nursing Interview Questions 3. How do you prioritize things?Giving examples of your time management skills is important in this question. You must show that you can prioritize things and that you are efficient in doing so. Example answer:
See also: Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years Nursing Interview Question 4. Tell us about a time when you had to adapt quickly.Adapting is an essential skill in the workplace and especially as a nurse. It is important to be able to adapt quickly to various situations, especially when you are caring for your patient. During the interview, you must discuss a time when you had to adapt quickly and how you were able to do so. Example answer:
5. Let’s assume you are handling an aggressive patient. How would you handle the situation?It is important to show that you can handle various situations in the workplace, especially with aggressive patients. You must also show that you can remain calm and handle the situation effectively. Give examples of your past experiences where you had to handle a difficult situation. Example answer:
See also: What Are Your Values Nursing Interview Question 6. What do you feel is the biggest challenge of being a nurse? Do you manage to overcome it?It is important to be able to show that you are willing to challenge yourself and overcome the challenges. This shows determination which is essential in the workforce. Example answer:
See also: Diabetes Specialist Nurse Interview Questions 7. There are instances when the patient’s family is dissatisfied with the care plan. How do you handle these difficult situations?You must show that you can deal with conflict and remain calm in such situations. See also: Nursing Conflict Scenario Examples Interview You must also show that you are able to handle the situation in a professional manner. Example answer:
See also: Nursing Care Plan – Full Guide & Free Templates How to Answer Behavioral Nursing Interview Questions?Since you now have an idea of the 7 most common behavioral nurse interview questions, it becomes wise to learn how to answer them in a professional manner. Video made by: Self Made MillenialBelow is a format about how to properly formulate a response. The format is STAR, which is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, and Results. SituationFirst, you will need to provide a context for the question. For example, if they ask you about a time when your patient’s family was not satisfied with your care plan, you must first set the scene and provide a context for the incident. Be sure to give some details such as:
TaskNext, provide a brief explanation of what was being asked of you at that time. Was it to give a report on the patient’s status? Or was it to resolve an issue between the nurse and the patient’s family? See also: Can Nurses Treat Family Members? You must describe the task that you were assigned to do. ActionDescribe what you did in order to accomplish the goal successfully. Be brief in your explanation. Show the interviewer that you are able to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently while also demonstrating how you use resources like co-workers and doctors to accomplish the task at hand. ResultFinally, you should mention the result of what you did. Show the interviewer that your actions were effective in achieving the goal. You can do this by providing proof in the form of numbers or statistics. For example, you might say that after you talked to the patient’s family, they no longer had any complaints about your care plan. Conclusion: Behavioral Interview Questions for Nurses and AnswersWhen attending any nursing interview, it is important to prepare beforehand. The common behavioral nursing interview questions and answers given here will help you gain a better understanding of the kinds of behavioral questions you may be asked as well as the format for how to answer them. It is important to practice your interview skills and ensure that you are fully prepared for any kind of nursing interview. Good luck with your behavioral nursing interview questions! Related articles of ours:
I’d be more than happy if you could give this article a star rating. Thank you in advance! What are the 10 most common behavioral interview questions and answers?Behavioral Interview Questions and Sample Answers. Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure. ... . How do you handle a challenge? ... . Have you ever made a mistake? ... . Give an example of how you set goals. ... . Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.. What are the 10 most common nursing interview questions and answers?Common nursing interview questions. Do you work well with other nurses, doctors and staff? ... . How would you handle a difficult patient? ... . How do you handle workplace stress? ... . What do you do if your replacement does not arrive? ... . How would you handle a disagreement with a doctor? ... . Describe how you manage a busy workload.. How do nurses prepare for behavioral interviews?Review your resume and previous experiences. This can be crucial with nursing behavioral interview questions because they dive into past situations and want to know all about how you have handled it. By reviewing your resume and previous experiences, you will have a fresh memory of what you can give as an example.
What are some examples of behavioral interview questions and answers?Sample behavioral interview questions and answers. Give me an example of a time you had a conflict with a team member. ... . Tell me about a time you made a mistake that affected a customer. ... . Describe an occasion when you had to manage your time to complete a task. ... . Describe an occasion when you failed at something.. |