Anyone can answer questions at a Nurse Manager interview.
The thing that matters is how you answer them by providing the most compelling evidence of your candidacy.
Employers design interview questions with one view in mind – choosing the right candidate. So if you are preparing for an interview, you need to make sure that you do not give just standard answers.
There are “good” answers, and then there are “common” ones. For instance, saying “I like the nursing profession” is a common answer.
All people love the nursing profession, but it takes more than a desire to want to pick a nursing job.
The right thing to do here is to tell a success story or provide a short glimpse of your achievements as a nursing manager.
It must be remembered that you should appropriately dress for the interview.
See also: Nurse Manager Resume
Nurse Manager Interview Questions and Answers
1. What made you choose to nurse as a profession?
My interest in healthcare stemmed from the volunteer position that I held at the SOS Children’s Hospital during high school. Since then, there has been no turning back. I realized I loved the whole concept of nursing and what it stands for.
2. Why should we hire you?
Because I am a very compassionate and experienced nursing manager, I offer 8+ years of relevant experience along with proven skills in nurse management, shift scheduling, staff monitoring, team mentoring, and staff development.
3. What have you done during the previous year to advance your skills and qualifications?
Being an active member of the American Nursing Association, I have attended many seminars on nurse management during the last year. I am also pursuing a short diploma in personnel management.
4. What is your experience working as a nurse manager?
I worked as a registered nurse for seven years in cardiology, pediatrics, oncology, and trauma departments. The most intense work that I did was in the ER/trauma center, where I was expected to be on my toes all the time.
A little tardiness meant that someone could lose their life! I believe it was a success at handling emergencies that eventually helped me obtain a nurse manager’s position.
5. How do you place newly trained nurses in different departments?
My job is to assess nurses during and after the training period and determine which nurse will work efficiently in which department. I make sure that I understand each nurse’s limitations and work with them so that I can place them effectively.
6. How do you handle nurse staffing activities?
I have excellent management skills and the know-how to disseminate duties. I make sure that staffing is sorted out at the beginning of each week and that I have backups in case of emergencies.
7. What, in your opinion, are the typical duties of a nurse manager?
A nurse manager identifies patient needs and mentors the nursing staff to cater to the same through the implementation of effective nursing care strategies.
He/she is also responsible for monitoring the nursing care being delivered and coordinating with hospital management and the nursing team regarding patient care protocols.
8. How do you implement discipline in the staff?
Discipline is an essential factor in nursing practice. I ensure my staff is disciplined by counseling and sending brief reminders from time to time regarding the same.
In case an employee crosses the line, I take suitable disciplinary action to keep all the staff on track.
9. What challenges does the nursing profession face today?
Like the overall medical industry, the field of nursing also faces the problems of staff shortage and accommodating and catering to a high volume population in need of healthcare assistance.
10. What is your most significant professional achievement so far?
My employer has highly commended my contributions to the hospital’s nursing department. Last year I initiated a computerized supplies inventory mechanism in the department, which was also adopted by other departments since it ensured 100% availability of supplies on the floor 24 hours.
11. Define patient-centered care?
By patient-centered care, we mean the development and implementation of individualized patient care plans that are designed specially and are adaptable according to the patient’s needs.
12. Describe a time when you were not sure of the protocol required to be followed. How did you handle the situation?
Two years back when the clinic I worked for was upgraded to hospital status, we were short of staff, and the protocols for registering a patient who needed care from more than one department had not been communicated. I took an extra minute to confirm the protocol from higher management and communicated the same to my team the same day