Sample RN Interview Questions and Answers

Without nurses, the patient-care dynamic would cease to function. Thankfully though, there's no shortage of spunky nurses, and demand for healthcare services continues to increase—especially for registered nurses (RNs). Following your studies and completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), you'll need to successfully respond to a series of RN interview questions at a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office to assess how well you can handle patients in sensitive and stressful settings before you land a job as a registered nurse.

Whether you already have some experience or you're searching for your first RN job, Monster will help you prepare answers to several customary nursing interview questions, which will measure your capacity for empathy, how you work in high-strain environments, and your reactive abilities in various scenarios (from frustrating patients or families to sudden viral outbreaks requiring a formidable sense of readjustment and dedication). Browse through our career advice library for nursing, and keep reading to learn how to thoughtfully respond to typical RN interview questions.

RN Interview Questions

1. What Motivates You to Pursue a Career as a Nurse?
2. Do You Work Well Under Pressure?
3. How Would You Deal With a Particularly Demanding Patient?
4. How Do You Create a Rapport With Other Nurses and Doctors?
5. What Makes a Shift Satisfying to You?
6. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

Question #1: What Motivates You to Pursue a Career as a Nurse?

As you answer RN job interview questions, your choice of career will inevitably come up, given that nursing can be a challenging, sometimes all-consuming field. The trick here is to be sincere without giving a hackneyed or overused response so that you come across as a genuine candidate who's really thought out this career path. And don't be afraid to offer a personal anecdote that can help illustrate your decision. Here's what to consider in your answer:

• What were the true motivators that made you want to become a nurse?
• Why did you choose this career despite the challenges (such as long hours and unusual schedules)?

How You Could Answer

"During my childhood, a close friend of mine got sick, and I was devastated. My parents tried to console me, but it was only after I visited her in the hospital that I began feeling better. A very kind nurse displayed such composure, warmth, and optimism—guiding me through the regimen my friend was going through and reassuring me that she'd be fully recovered soon enough. And indeed she was. I then told my parents I'd decided I would become a nurse myself. Basically, I fell in love with the field early on—and I knew that I could transmit that passion to diligently caring for patients with a team of nurses and physicians."

Question #2: Do You Work Well Under Pressure?

RN interview questions may vary depending on the kind of healthcare setting you want to work in, but you'll be dealing with stressful situations in one way or another. When responding to this question, you can point out how your personality fortifies you against buckling under pressure, but make sure to also give some concrete examples of what you do to shield yourself from stress. Think about:

• What techniques have you developed as safeguards against stress?
• What activities do you pursue for stress relief?

How You Could Answer

"By nature, I'm very even-tempered, and that has given me strong foundational protection against stress. I also practice mindfulness and meditation daily, which has helped to further strengthen my mind. Additionally, I'm a runner, and I've found that jogging a few miles every weekend always helps me to clear my head and brace myself for the coming workweek. And recently, I attended a symposium on workplace stress, which taught me about stress-reduction techniques, such as taking walks during my lunch breaks to avoid burnout."

Question #3: How Do You Deal With a Particularly Demanding Patient?

Some RN interview questions may ask you to zone in on very specific patient-nurse interactions, but you should be ready to respond on a more generic basis too. One answer you'll want to steer away from is bringing in the doctor to provide a solution—at least not right away. You have a responsibility for the patient and will need to build up a thick skin to remain in control of the situation. Before responding, ask yourself:

• What mindset do you need to do this kind of work?
• What examples can you give of a time when you had to deal with an uncooperative or overly anxious patient?

How You Could Answer

"I stay focused on the patient's needs, and I do my best to not take any disparagement personally. I understand that a patient's attitudes may be colored by whatever pain or condition is afflicting them. During my last job as an RN at a continuously busy hospital, I faced many, many difficult patients. It came with the territory. But I realized that most of them were not being difficult just for the sake of being difficult. If you treat them with respect—sitting down to speak with them, taking the time to listen carefully to their needs despite your tight schedule—you'll be able to find a solution."

Question #4: How Do You Create a Rapport With Other Nurses and Doctors?

Working well with others on a team of nurses, doctors, and staff is central to the success of an RN—interview questions will test your ability to collaborate. So show your interviewer how aware you are of the importance of being a fluid and adaptable team player by thinking through:

• What interpersonal skills can you highlight?
• How does teamwork factor into positive patient outcomes?

How You Could Answer

"I love working on a team with a sense of purpose. And being part of any healthcare team has always given me true meaning and incentive. I try to remain selfless, flexible, and dependable. When a fellow nurse once asked me to look after her patient for an hour—while she attended to a personal emergency—I ran over to the hospitalist to get briefed on the patient, and I was then able to care for him in addition to the other two patients under my care by forgoing my lunch hour. Of course, the team was very grateful, and I knew they'd do the same for me."

Question #5: What Makes a Shift Satisfying to You?

A full day's work helping and caring for people can be truly rewarding to an RN. Interview questions like this one allow you to extend your own perspective on your work. Your interviewer will likely want to see that you enjoy what you do, so be sure to discuss:

• What constitutes a good shift?
• How do you cope with longer, more strenuous shifts?

How You Could Answer

"At the end of a long shift, I feel really fulfilled when I see how my team has effectively followed all safety procedures, using the proper documentation; how we supported each other throughout some grueling hours; and how we all displayed enough resilience to get up again and conquer another workday."

Question #6: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

Some common registered nurse interview questions may not seem directly related to the nursing field, but make no mistake—this one still is. Healthcare employers want to determine whether you're here for the long run or just trying to fill an employment gap. Explain how you want to thrive in this position by talking about:

• How do you see your career evolving?
• What can you do to reach your goals?

How You Could Answer

"Hands down, I'm looking to become one of the most productive nurses on your team. I want to be indispensable. And eventually, I'd love to raise my status to a nursing team leader and even help with training. But before that, my plan is to obtain my Master of Science in Nursing so that I can become an advanced practice registered nurse. My dream is to be able to go deeper with patients by evaluating their test results, helping doctors with diagnoses, and referring them to specialists."

Nurse Your Passion With Monster's Help

After you master these initial RN interview questions, you'll be able to respond to anything else more comfortably. Now all you need is an interview! We'll make it easy for you to apply to nursing jobs once you create a Monster profile. In addition to customized job alerts for your role and location, we'll also send you loads of priceless tips from our career experts to help you throughout your job search.