Sample Nursing School Interview Questions and Answers with Tips

From doing your homework to selling yourself, these are the steps to take to earn your spot.

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Nervous at the idea of facing nursing school interview questions? Don’t worry! Nursing school interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience indeed, but you can crack them with the right preparation and mindset.

As a nurse practitioner, you’ll be one of the most important professionals in a healthcare facility. You’ll provide personalized patient care, assess conditions, administer medicines and treatments and be the bridge between patients and physicians.

With such great responsibilities attached to the role of a nurse, the purpose of nursing school interview questions is to understand if you’d be a good fit. In this article we’ll show you how to tackle nursing program interview questions with real examples. You’ll also find actionable tips to help you ace the interview with ease. Below, are some of the most common questions you’ll find and an example of how to answer each one.

Nursing School Interview Questions

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. What are the most important characteristics for a nurse in your opinion?
  3. Do you have any areas that you would like to work on for self-improvement?
  4. How do you handle stressful situations?
  5. Tell me about a time you experienced a disagreement with a teacher or superior.
  6. What makes you a good candidate for the nursing program?

Question #1: Tell Me About Yourself.

Among all the nursing school interview questions, “Tell me about yourself” is almost guaranteed to land on you. Recruiters use it to break the ice so that both of you are comfortable.

Watch out though as this question may show up in other forms. They might phrase it as “Why did you choose this career?” The substance of what they’re asking is the same. They want to know how your professional background and experience could be a fit for their program.

  • Avoid repeating all the information included in your resume.
  • Touch on your motivations to pursue the course, relevant work experience, volunteering activities, and future goals.
  • Shoot for an answer that is concise and takes a maximum of two or three minutes.

How You Could Answer

Hi, my name is Mary and I just moved to Durham to start my career path to become a nurse. I’ve always been interested in healthcare and helping others, but I only recently realized that’s my call. During high school, I volunteered at a local hospice and collaborated with the nurses there, which ignited my passion for nursing.

I completed an undergraduate degree in biology and worked as a medical assistant in a primary care clinic, where I gained experience working with patients and healthcare professionals. I also participated in a medical mission trip to Cusco in Peru, during which I was able to help the local community.

Throughout these experiences, I realized that I want to make a positive impact on people’s lives by becoming a nurse. After completing nursing school, I hope to specialize in Pediatric Nursing and keep learning and growing as a professional.”

Question #2: What Are the Most Important Characteristics for a Nurse in Your Opinion?

Awareness of what the nursing educational path and career involve is key. That’s why you’ll have nursing school interview questions like this to enquire about what nursing skills you think are necessary to succeed in the role.

There’s no clear-cut answer here, just different approaches to the profession. Therefore, don’t feel pressured to give an answer that doesn't align with your beliefs. The important thing is being able to support your position.

  • You can tackle the question by talking about the medical or interpersonal side of the job, or even refer to both, depending on your values.
  • Whichever you choose, don’t forget to acknowledge the importance of the other branch of skills as well.

How You Could Answer

In my opinion, the most important qualities for a nurse to possess are compassion, empathy, and communication. Nurses that demonstrate these characteristics provide emotional support and a caring presence, which improves patients’ overall experiences in such a delicate time.

That is not to say that medical knowledge is not important, however. Quite the opposite. However, while technical knowledge can always be learned, the human touch is often a natural gift.”

Question #3: Do You Have Any Areas That You Would Like to Work on for Self-Improvement?

Recruiters and admission counselors use nursing school interview questions like this to find out what your weaknesses are. On top of that, they want to assess if you have the humility to recognize where your skills are lacking, which is a necessary quality necessary in such a complex job.

  • You don’t need to present a full list, just think about one area for improvement that could make you a better nurse. Be genuine about it.
  • Avoid saying you can’t think of anything. This tells recruiters that you’re not capable of self-reflection.
  • The trick is to mention your weakness and then quickly move to what you’re doing to tackle it.

How You Could Answer

“One area I am constantly working to improve is my time management skills. I believe that this is going to be very important both in nursing school for balancing coursework, clinical rotations and personal life, and later on in my career as a nurse.

To strengthen my time management skills, I’ve started setting clear priorities, breaking tasks into smaller assignments, and using planners and other organizational tools to make sure I meet my deadlines without getting overwhelmed.”

Question #4: How Do You Handle Stressful Situations?

This is without a doubt one of the favorite nursing school interview questions of every admissions counselor. This is because not only is nursing school a fast-paced environment as it is, but resilience, self-control, and calmness are crucial skills for a nurse, given the type of situations you’ll deal with daily.

  • Explain your techniques for managing stress and what helps you keep your nerves under control.
  • Mention a specific example of how you dealt with a stressful circumstance in the past.

How You Could Answer

When faced with stressful circumstances, I try to remain calm and rational by assessing the situation in the most objective way I can. This helps me avoid becoming overwhelmed and to address what’s happening with a clear mind. I also make a point of following self-care routines outside of my study or working time, which include exercising, mindfulness, and taking time off to relax.

For instance, last year when I was approaching the end of my academic program and had tight deadlines, I had to handle a family emergency. It was a very stressful time, but I was able to manage it with various strategies.

These included taking breaks to walk in nature, organizing my tasks for the time I had, and asking for support from my family. I learned how important is it to prioritize your self-care and ask for help when necessary.”

Question #5: Tell Me About a Time You Experienced a Disagreement with a Teacher or Superior.

Nursing school interview questions that start with “Tell me about a time…” are very commonly used to get you to talk about a specific occasion. This helps the interviewer assess if you possess certain characteristics. In this case, they want to know if you’re able to express your opinions in a respectful way and have a collaborative mindset, which is going to be essential as a nurse.

  • Describe a real-life conflict with an authority like a teacher or a past employer. If you don’t have any examples, disagreements with coworkers would also work.
  • In replying to these nursing program interview questions, it’s important to show that you’re able to stay professional in every situation. Demonstrate that your ultimate goal is finding a satisfactory resolution for both parties, which suggests you have good negotiation and cooperation skills.

How You Could Answer

“During my previous job as a nursing home assistant, I had a disagreement with my superior about the approach we were taking in the care of a patient. I believed that the care plan we were using was not appropriate for her and that it could potentially lead to more issues.

I asked to speak privately with my supervisor, respectfully expressed my concerns and suggested we proceed differently. He listened to my concerns and explained his reasoning, but also acknowledged what I was saying was valid.

By approaching him with respect, we reached a compromise and adjusted the patient’s care to her needs. She was doing much better without complications. By being able to respectfully communicate my reasoning I was able to protect the patient’s interests while maintaining a cooperative relationship with my boss and learning more about his perspective.”

Question #6: What Makes You a Good Candidate for the Nursing Program?

Nursing schools can only accept a limited number of students per year, which means there can be high competition to get a spot. For this reason, expect one of the nursing school interview questions to enquire about why they should choose you among the other candidates.

  • Don’t be shy but stay humble and promote yourself in your own words.
  • It’s a good idea to pick skills and qualifications that reflect both your character and your competencies.

How You Could Answer

“I think I would be a great fit for your nursing program because, as my excellent academic background proves, I have the discipline needed to keep up with the program requirements and the ability to retain medical knowledge easily.

I am also passionate about caregiving, and I believe my empathic nature is a crucial value that allows me to connect with patients. I’m certain that if I was given the opportunity, I would thrive in this program and be an excellent ambassador of your values.”

Nursing School Interview Tips

Along with the above examples of nursing school questions and answers, you might also find it helpful to follow a few general tips that can help you to get into nursing school:

1. Research the School and the Program

As a prospective student, you should do your homework before the interview. All nursing schools have different missions (such as diversity and community) and specialties (acute care or health policy, for example).

Research the school, and familiarize yourself with the curriculum, and any other relevant aspect of the program. By knowing the school’s values and goals, you’ll be able to show your interest for the school more genuinely. On top of that, you also might get an idea of some other nursing school interview questions you’re likely to face.

2. Prepare and Practice Your Answers to Nursing School Interview Questions

Having an idea of what nursing program interview questions you might have to deal with is very useful. Practice your answers until you feel confident, and you’ll be unstoppable. You should:

  • prepare examples to use in your replies
  • stay on top of health topics in the news and nursing journals in case you need to refer to them
  • rehearse in front of someone to get feedback or record your answers to listen back to

3. Be Professional

Treat your nursing school interview just like a job interview. Refresh your memory on what to wear to an interview. Bring extra copies of your resume, official transcripts, admission essays, and other relevant documents, the admission counselors might need.

Arrive early and keep the phone number of the interviewer handy in case of delay. When in front of the recruiter, present a firm handshake and focus on maintaining good posture and eye contact when answering the nursing school interview questions. Finally, smile, your dream of going to nursing school is just around the corner.

4. Ask Questions

Remember that the purpose of this interview is to assess both if you’re a good fit for the nursing school and if it’s a good fit for you. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your own to get all the information you need. Below are a few examples of closing questions you could ask.

Questions to Ask Nursing School Admissions Interviewers

  • How many applicants do you accept every year?
  • What are the next steps in the admission process?
  • What are the school’s NCLEX pass rates?
  • What academic support resources are available for students?
  • Where are clinical placements located?
  • How would you suggest preparing for my first semester here?

Ace the Job Search with Monster

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