You’ve prepared meticulously for your nursing interview, rehearsed your answers to common nursing interview questions, and researched the facility inside and out. But remember, an interview isn’t just about the hiring manager getting to know you and assessing your suitability for the role – it’s also a chance for you to determine if the healthcare facility aligns with what you want in your career. In this blog, we’re preparing you with a list of essential questions to ask in a nursing interview to determine if it’s the right fit for you.
Good Questions to Ask in a Nursing Interview
You should come to your interview with a few questions to ask the hiring manager – they expect it. Getting to know as much information as you can about the unit, facility, and work culture will help you make an informed decision and show your genuine interest in the position.
Some questions you might ask include:
- What are you looking for in a new nurse hire?
- What skills do you think are the most important for a nurse to be successful on this unit?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
- What is the nurse-to-patient ratio when the unit is fully staffed?
- How does the hospital handle staffing shortages or high patient volume?
- If you could change one thing about the unit, what would it be?
- How would you describe the culture of this unit?
- What charting system is used?
- What resources are available in this unit to support nurses?
- What are the onboarding process and orientation like?
- Would I be with one preceptor or different preceptors?
- What opportunities exist for professional development and continuing education?
- What policies are in place to protect nurses from workplace violence?
- What is the management style like here?
- How does the hospital foster a diverse and inclusive environment?
- What are the expectations for nurses’ involvement in quality improvement initiatives?
Questions to Ask for a Nurse Leader Position
If you’re a candidate for a nursing leadership or management position, you’ll likely have even more in-depth questions that you’ll want to ask since you’ll be responsible for the unit. Some questions you might ask for a nurse manager position might include:
- What is the vacancy rate for full-time employees?
- What is the weekly productivity?
- Are there clinical work environments, physician dyads, or administrative partnerships that I am expected to work with?
- What are the fiscal year goals and is compensation based on those results?
- What is the culture of management with nurses?
- If you had to change one thing about the unit/organization, what would it be?
Get Ready for Your Nursing Interview!
It’s essential to approach your nursing interview as a two-way conversation, where you and the hiring manager mutually assess whether the position and the organization are the right fit for you. As you ask questions, listen carefully to the hiring manager’s answers, take notes, and ask follow-up questions if you need clarification on a topic. Hiring managers want to see that you can communicate well and that you’re confident, but not too confident that you won’t ask any questions. Taking this proactive approach by coming prepared with questions to ask in a nursing interview will help you make an informed decision about your career and find a workplace where you can thrive.
Want to know how else you can prepare for a nursing interview? Read our blog that details everything you’d want to consider ahead of interview day.
