nursing interview questions

STAR

- describe the situation - The task you were involved in - Detail the action you took in the situation - Outline the results of your action. What did you accomplish or what did you learn.

Describe yourself using three words or phrases

Accountable, Compassionate, determined

How do you make sure you're constantly improving your skills?

During a volunteer church mission we practiced setting weekly and monthly goals. Even though I am no longer on my mission I still practice making goals on a monthly basis. In order to make sure this goal is moving forward I set milestones to see how it is going. I also work hard to use proper expectations for myself so I do not get frustrated when I do not reach my goal. Another way to continue getting better is to be confident enough to acknowledge weak spots. That way we can work on them and become better. I also like to attend public training sessions on how I can be better at my job. I like to stay up to date on medical information by reading new ideas and skills online.

What is the role of the nurse?

Holistic care of patient Collect data Make judgments Identify what is important for each patient Carefully watch & listen Determine what additional questions to ask Watch for subtle changes in the patient

Tell me one of your personal strengths

I am a fantastic listener. When someone is having a bad day and needs to vent I can be very patient and listen until they feel like they have gotten everything off their chest. I enjoy listening because it helps me get to know people better. listening allows me to understand what is going on in their brain and I love being trusted with that. Often times in order to help people feel open with me I will be vulnerable myself. That way they know that I can be a safe and trusted space.

Why do you think that you will be a good fit at UVU's Nursing program?

I am accountable. I have a strong understanding of the rules and I respect them. I understand that I have the responsibility to report any misconduct that happens either from me or from a coworker, classmate, or RN. And that not reporting any misconduct will result in getting kicked out of program. I am a hard and dedicated worker and have a strong desire to become a nurse. I have a lot of respect for my classmates and I value academic collaboration with them. I will work hard to support them by creating study groups in which we can support one another in this program. I believe that the relationships that I gain with my classmates may help prepare me to have more professional relationships in the future. Together we can work to gain requisite nursing skills and competencies help acknowledge others strengths and weaknesses so we can all together be better prepared for our future careers.

How do you respond to stress?

I am an introvert, usually after a long day of being surrounded by people I will go somewhere where I can be by myself and unwind from the day. Other times there are days where I need to be around people after certain stressful situations the that happens I go visit family in pleasant grove. I have a 2 year old niece and a 1 year old nephew and they are always the best distraction after a long and hard day.

When did you first decide nursing as a profession?

I am not sure if I can identify a specific moment. But I know when I have had moments that confirmed my decision to go into nursing was the right idea. - shadowing a nurse in high school. - helping my mom recover after surgery - saving a roommate who tried to take her own life. - getting experience in the medical field by working as a CNA.

What concerns do you have about the program?

I am worried about staying in a very competitive environment for the rest of my college experience. I am not a competitive person this being said I have worked very hard to overcome any challenges that I have faced while completing my prenursing requirements. I have done this so I can be qualified for this program. I hope to remain this same hard work ethic while also having a more collaborative experience.

What problems and challenges do you anticipate using nursing school?

I believe that Time management will be a very important skill to use while in the nursing program. In order to fully support myself while in this program I will need to keep my part time job. Balancing this, my classes and my social life will be quite the chore but I am so excited to part of this program and It is my dream to become a nurse so I will always put this program first.

What is your proudest academic achievement to date?

I believe that it would be qualifying for this interview. I want to be here and so badly want to get into this nursing program. I am hoping that you can sense that today as well as other accomplishments that allow me to be qualified for this program.

What is your least favorite thing about humanity and why?

I believe that my least favorite thing about humanity is that each of us has a preconceived social concept. I hate when others do not fit what we had in our head we can exclude them, belittle them, etc. Although it is normal for us to follow the social norm, I find it important for us to be kind to those who sometimes stand outside of the box.

Why do you want to become a nurse?

I have never envisioned myself working in an office or selling something. I know there are a lot of careers but there are very few where you can help so many people and be surrounded by people all day. I find the education behind nursing to be so important. I am thrilled that it is not an easy education path and I am proud of being competent enough to get passed the first phase of applications because of my grades. I have always wanted my future to be a path where I can help the world be better. I believe this education and training will allow me to fulfill my dreams.

What would you do if you had a conflict with a professor?

I have never had a conflict with a professor before. They are always so kind and helpful. If a conflict ever did come up I believe that it should be handled discreetly. I would not get the other students involved or anyone else that did not need to be. In the Undergraduate Nursing Student handbook it mentions going to the department chair under certain circumstances. I would reach out to my academic advisor before doing this to make sure that I have my information right and that I will be prepared to do this if I needed to. If the situation is not this serious and I could resolve it personally I still might confirm with my academic advisor for advice and then work with my professor for a solution.

What do you know about UVU's Nursing program?

I know that they have an NCLEX passage rate about 12% the national average in 2018. I know that the academic standards for this program are high and work hard to create compassionate and team-oriented emphasis on being professional, skilled, and caring nurses. I know that there are hands on stimulation labs as well as clinicals within our community to help prepare us to be the best possible nurse. I know that we will have many procotored exams and that will be taken in testing center located in this building.

Why did you choose to apply to UVU'S Nursing program?

I love UVU's motto of everyone is welcome here. I believe that UVU works very hard to accommodate every student in every circumstance. This being said they still have high standards of what the student needs to accomplish in order to prepare them for a competitive and professional world. I want to be a part of UVU's nursing program because you have to accomplish something to get in. It is not just about paying your way in like some private universities. Once i get into UVU's nursing program I know I will be with other classmates that are willing to work hard and be competent at their job.

What are some of your hobbies and passions?

I love to waterski. My family has always been big boaters and so anything that has to do with water sports I enjoy but my favorite has always been to waterski.

Tell me one of your personal weaknesses

I struggle with ADHD. I often start working on many different tasks all at once and then get distracted and forget to complete them. In a class room setting I often get distracted and all the sudden realize that I haven't been listening. I have a couple of symptoms of ADHD and I was diagnosed with it at a young age. Because I was so young I have been able to find coping mechanisms for a while. I need to be actively engaging in a classroom setting in order to be paying attention. In order to make sure I get certain important and urgent tasks done before a deadline I mark them on my calendar and set goals and milestone markers to make sure that I get that certain task done on time.

A nurse at a clinical practicum site is acting unethically. What would you do?

I understand that when we are accepted into the program we are also held accountable and responsible for reporting any unethical behaviors or practices. If I saw a nurse acting unethically, I would discretely report it to my teacher and ask them how they would like me to proceed. If I needed to report it to the clinical site I will not hesitate.

Tell me about a challenging problem you faced at your last job? How did you handle it?

I was working at a call center in Rexburg ID for a company called Kuubix that worked to sell and install solar systems. I worked as a customer service rep for about 9 months. The companies main center of operations was located in California. All of the company executives, project leaders, and installation teams worked out of the California building. Because I was working in a different location from the companies project leaders and install teams I often had a difficult time communicating with them. I would often feel stuck when working on a project because a lot of the solutions began to feel out of my control. In order to fix this I shared this concern with the Rexburg customer service team leader. During a team meeting we discussed ways that we could work on communication with the office in California. Eventually we found better ways of communication by using a program called salesforce instead of Microsoft teams. We would create a customer service case that everyone in the company could see, update, and comment on. This allowed us as a company to work more fluidly to solve a customer complaint or issue. It has also broadened my horizons using technology platforms in order to communicate with your company in a public and professional manner. I believe that this has benefited me for my future career in nursing as the information that we will be documenting will be need to be reliable, clear, and professional and it is often documented on a computer or a programmed platform. I hope to use many of the skills that I used at Kuubix in nursing.

How do you excel in your work?

I work as a home health aid for aspen Senior Care and travel to clients all over Utah County. I have been recognized at work multiple times as being a dependable caregiver and having a positive relationship with my clients. In September I was the Caregiver of the month. Management thanked me for my willingness to help out with last minute shifts and working extra hours when my clients needed extra help. I work hard to represent the company that I work for well. I always wear a proper uniform, have proper hygiene, and show up on time to my shifts. I work hard to communicate and be patient with my clients and their family members as well as communicate or document any concerns back to Aspen. Aspen is great company to work for and they work hard to be reliable and so do I.

Tell me of a time when you had integrity?

I work as a home health aid for the elderly. Often my clients are too tired to go to the store and they will send me to the store to pick up groceries for them for a week. Depending on the situation they are in they have given me their credit card/cash to use for the groceries that I am picking up. I have never betrayed their trust. I have only used the card or cash to purchase the items on a list that they have given me. If anything seems out of their price range I always call to make my client aware. I always bring back the receipt so they can confirm the total and have documentation of every transaction I made while on shift. I leave a copy or a picture in the binder where the management team can confirm its total as well. My clients have trusted me to drive their car, handle medication reminders, and have given me codes to their houses. They depend on my to help keep not only their belongings safe, but to keep them safe as well.

If you see a classmate stealing what do you do?

I would intervene immediately I know that the nursing program values accountability. I believe that if a fellow student made the active decision to steal something then should be held accountable for their actions. I believe that it is my responsibility to intervene. I would first go to the teacher and let them know what happened. I would let the teacher either inform me of what to do next or let them handle the situation from then on.

What would you do if a patient or family member threatened you?

I would report it immediately to management or my leader at the moment. Then I would do my best to continue to do my job as much as they will allow me. I would try to come up with a solution with the patient or family member. Or continue to do whatever my leadership has advised.

Tell me about a time you served as an effective member of a team

In 2021 i worked as a customer service agent on a customer service team for Kuubix Energy. When I started working there the company was brand new and had a lot of improving to do. I was an effective member of the team by getting involved when there was a customer case (complaint or issue) open

Tell me one of your professional strengths

In September I was employee of the month. My management team recognized me as being dependable. I believe that being dependable characterizes someone as being reliable and loyal. I work for Aspen Senior Care in Orem Utah. My role for their company is to be an in-home care aid. I work for clients all over Utah County. I am very loyal to my clients. I work extra hours when ever they need extra help. Make sure to take care of all their personal needs and communicate and document well for family members and for management. I believe that management, and my clients family members have come to rely on me to help give the best care to my clients.

What is your task prioritization process?

In order to be most productive I work on the most important tasks first. This means any crisis, problems, and deadlines. Next I schedule the other tasks that I need to accomplish in order to complete them before their deadline and delete task that are neither urgent or important. Third I will begin to work on tasks that I can complete quickly or any large project that I can get started on early.

Describe an occasion where you received conflicting advice from two members of your team.

Last year I was working at a call center for a solar company. I was on the customer service team and was one of the first employees to begin working there. There was a lot to learn in a short amount of time. Our first team manager came from the sales department. He was fantastic at pumping up the team and getting a lot of energy and motivation. Yet when a problem became too difficult for him he would often pass it off to someone else or have the attitude of not my job. He eventually moved to the sales team and we had a new boss oversee the customer service team. She worked very hard to change this "not my job attitude" that many of us had learned. She wanted us to work on taking responsibility for each case we had made on the costumer service team. We would no longer wait for someone else to take care of it but would work hard to do what we could until it was customer service case was closed. Because of the additional training that she taught us we were able to close customer service cases much faster. Even though I worked with these bosses at different times I was still confused by the conflicting instructions they shared with us. Ultimately I moved to appreciate the leadership of my second boss more because of the respect and effort that she put into the company. I saw that she was able to get cases closed faster and that she had better relationships with her customers. I wanted to have the same success and started implementing the skills she was teaching us into my personal calls and open customer service cases.

Describe a time where you disagreed with your manager and had to express your position.

Last year in 2021 I was working at a call center for a solar company called Kuubix. I was working on the customer service team. While working there I had a boss that would always pass a customer service case on when it got passed a certain point. He had an attitude of not my job. This often left the rest of the customer service team to deal with a very angry customer that felt like his complaints had been ignored. When we brought specific cases up when this had happened to them he would continue to avoid it and pretend like he never had a part in it. In order to continue to show respect to him when one of this cases arose I would ask him questions to see if I could get more details on what happened and what he did to try and fix this case. I would then ask him what steps he would like me to take next. When I did this eventually both of us were working together to close the case. This allowed me to not hold resentment toward him. The more we worked together the more respect that I gained for him.

What are your current goals?

My current goals are to start waking up earlier every day, go to bed earlier. Have Save money to buy new scrubs for work. Check email everyday. Prepare a more solid back up plan. Check in with roommates more often. etc.

What criteria are you using to evaluate potential nursing schools?

NCLEX passing rates. Prices. distance to where I live, mission statements, and accreditation's.

Has there ever been a time when you chose not to act in line with your organization's policy?

No, I have always acted in line with company policy. Currently I am working as a CNA. All of the policies that have been put in place are there to protect or to guide us as the most efficient way to care for our clients. I respect those policies and I am not interested in going against them.

What is your understanding of the UVU's nursing values and mission?

Requiste knowledge and clinical judgement skills. Non discriminatory and view each individual as unique and can succeed in a rigorous yet supportive learning environment. Want us to be able to collaborate with colleges and with fellow students. Teach student ethical standards of practice and behavior and act them to act with integrity. They will be accountable to their teachers and the RN they are shadowing. Evidence teaching and and learning strategies to foster the development of caring nurses that help promote health of body, spirit, and mind in individuals and families, communities, and populations.

What qualities do you think a nurse should possess?

Responsible, accountable, patient, team work, etc.

What would you do if you find yourself struggling in one of the nursing courses?

Sadly it wouldn't be the first time. When I am struggling in a nursing course or in any course I first will talk to the professor to see what they recommend. I would also begin asking other nursing students for help. I would ask them what they are doing to be so successful in the class and if they would be available for a study group. I find it easier to study with someone sometimes. When you teach another person you understand it better yourself. You also have someone there to help keep you focused and help you be prepared for future assignments.

What is the most selfless thing that you have ever done?

Serving a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints orrrrrrr taking time off of school and work to be home with my mother who was recovering after a surgery.

Which skills would you say are critical for working as a team?

These skills have been crucial in the teams that I have worked with in the past is dependability, peace keeping, and honesty. I believe that each member of the team needs to be dependable. Being dependable also means that there is some trust that can be placed on any member of the team to get the job done. I believe that trust often leads to respect. When there is trust and respect between members of the team it allows them to work with one another more willingly. Especially when a conflict arises. There are many skills that are beneficial when it comes to conflict management. The basics of being able to identify a conflict and resolving it fairly and efficiently. To add to those skills Peacekeeping and honesty. Peacekeeping is important because If you are too competitive then you will only work toward what you want and not meet the needs of your other team members. You need to be willing to compromise, and collaborate with your team members in order to resolve conflicts fairly. Lastly I want to add honesty. Many conflicts may arise and be unresolved if team avoid and supresses the conflicts. In order to work together we need to be honest with our team and deal with the conflict in the beginning so we can move past it as quickly as possible.

What is your contingency plan if you do not get into the UVU's Nursing program?

This is my last opprotunity to apply to the UVU nursing program. If I do not get into the program I still have a strong desire to become a Registered nurse. My back up plan at the moment is to apply to Joyce and finish getting my degree there. Although due to the love that I have gained at UVU I may look at other degrees I am capable of getting here.

What is a time that you had a disagreement with a coworker and how did you handle it?

This summer I took a CNA training course in order to help me gain experience in medical careers. During my CNA training I had a classmate that had made me feel uncomfortable. I had asked that he would give me personal space and he backed off but also resorted to belittling and gaslighting me after that. Since this class was almost over I did my best to avoid any further confrontation with him. Yet in one of the clinicals that we had in class they're where not enough experienced CNA's for us to shadow one on one. In order for us to complete clinicals my instructor put two students to one CNA. I was spending this 8 hour clinical with the classmate that I spent much time avoiding. This made me frustrated. I decided to talk to the instructor and we arranged that I shadow another CNA. Sadly this CNA was more comfortable speaking spanish and I was unable to follow her and the spanish speaking student she was working with. In order to have a more productive clinical I went back to the CNA that would allow me help under their supervision which meant working with the other classmate. Although this frustrated me I was able to communicate well with CNA and she allowed me to be more involved with the clients and it ended up being the clinical I learned the most from. I continued to be polite while maintaining boundries with my classmate. While working together we found it best to separate and take turns with tasks. This way both of us gained experience without stepping on one anothers toes.

Tell me one of your professional weaknesses

Timidity, I am a people person but I like small groups of people. when there is a large group of people I often become very timid and some people will call me a wallflower. When it comes to working as a group and studying together I want to become more confident in speaking up in being involved. Often if the group is working together on something I am passionate about like nursing than my passion will overcome my natural tendency to be timid.

Nursing Competencies

cognitive, technical, interpersonal, ethical/legal INTEGRITY We value collegial collaboration as well as academic freedom and encourage the respectful exchange of ideas as a foundational element of the academic setting. Exceptional Accountability: We promote professional and ethical standards of practice and behavior as we encourage both students and faculty to exhibit integrity in all aspects of the educational process. We view learning as a teacher-student-community partnership that highlights the roles of the student, instructor, and nurse as accountable agents to themselves, the University, and the communities we serve.