Job Interview Tips for New Nurses

Let’s face it—first impressions mean a lot. Appearances can be especially important for conveying professionalism as a registered nurse, since patients will be placing their confidence in you.
During your interview, you want to look the part. Plan ahead so that you’re well groomed for interview day, with your hair neatly cut and kept away from your face. Your nails should be short and either unpainted or painted with clear nail polish.

One of the most oft-ignored job interview tips is to turn off your cell phone to avoid any interruptions, and never use your phone during the course of the interview. Texting on your phone or letting it ring makes you appear inattentive.
You want the interviewer to see that this job—and, by extension, this interview—is your top priority.

Bring copies of all your paperwork, including your resume, nursing license, BCLS,  ACLS, diploma, and any additional certification to the interview. You may not need any of these documents, but having them goes a long way towards showing that you’re prepared and organized.

Remember, interviews are two-way conversations, so you’ll probably want to learn as much about the nursing unit as those in it want to learn about you. That’s not to say you should be directing the interview, but you should be able to show your prospective employer that you feel comfortable asking questions, being engaged with the process, and that you’re interested in the details of the job.
Often, nursing interviews are conducted in a group setting, involving not only the nurse manager, but the nursing program staff as well. Since teamwork is often a crucial aspect of a nursing career, you want to demonstrate the strength of your communication and listening skills.
When the interview is coming to a close, it’s customary to ask your interviewer any questions you might have. Try to prepare some questions ahead of time. For example, it may be useful to ask how long the orientation/training period would last and what would be involved. Without sounding pushy, you might also ask what you should expect as far as next steps in the interview process.

Nursing school is behind you, but you should nonetheless brush up on those key study areas in case you’re put on the spot. During the course of the interview, you may be asked to recall anything from cranial nerves, bicarb values, and white blood cell and platelet counts to how to auscultate the aortic heart sound and which quadrant of the breast is most likely to develop cancerous cells. If you don’t know the answer to a question during the interview, it’s best to be truthful and admit that you can’t recall it but that you are eager and anxious to learn.