Difficult Practical Nurse Interview Preparation Guide

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★ I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment.
★ From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting the gym every evening. It's a great stress reducer.
★ Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of what needs to be done when, has helped me effectively manage pressure on the job.
★ If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.
★ I find that when I'm under the pressure of a deadline, I can do some of my most creative work.
★ I am not a person who has a difficult time with stress. When I'm under pressure, I focus and get the job done.

Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem.
Keep your answers positive (Even though it was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.) and be specific. Itemize what you did and how you did it.

When I was working on a software implementation team at ABC Company, we took over another company and had to transition many clients to a new product in a short amount of time. It took a lot of planning, time, hard work and effort, but we were able to complete the project in a timely manner.

I was part of team responsible for evaluating and selecting a new vendor for our office equipment and supplies. The inter-departmental team reviewed options, compared pricing and service, chose a vendor and implemented the transition to the new vendor.

An answer that works well is:
It depends on the situation and the personality of the supervisor.
To elaborate, give examples:
My prior supervisor was more easy-going and if I told her "You know, I think it might work better if I do what you asked in such and such a way," she would say "Okay, try it."

In your answer, you should be cognizant of the type of job you are applying for. Whereas a large corporation might place all their emphasis on the bottom line, a non-profit would measure success not in money but in social impact.

I can be flexible when it comes to my work environment in nursing.

I am equally comfortable working as a member of a team and independently. In researching the company, your mission statement and the job description, I could see similarities to my previous position where there were some assignments that required a great deal of independent work and research and others where the team effort was most effective. As I said, I'm comfortable with both.

I am sure if you asked my friends that question they would say you should hire me because I have the skills outlined in the job description and I bring 10+ years of expertise to this position. Words they have used to describe me are:
★ Hard working
★ Professional
★ Trusted and a team player.

The best way to answer this type of question is to emphasize how well this particular position fits your interests. Review each element of the job description and note the responsibilities that are most interesting to you. Think of parallel roles you have had in the past and be ready to describe how fulfilling any of those activities have been for you.

Fortunately, this should not be a difficult question to answer. To start, you should be honest and engaging. If you get the job, your interviewer will likely take your response into account when assigning and prioritizing your tasks, so it is important to be genuine and forthright in your answer.

Since an employer is essentially assessing your adaptability, you need to convey how you have adjusted to new situations and demands in the workplace. Take an inventory of the transitions you have negotiated in the past. Consider the variety of bosses for whom you have worked and their different supervisory and leadership styles. If your workplace has retrenched, reorganized, merged or undergone any other challenges in the past, be ready to discuss how you dealt with those changes.

I am actually very satisfied with the career I have chosen and how it has progressed. I have learned important things at every stage and from the people I have worked with.

You might reference a fascination with how groups function or the dynamics of effective communication.
Example: Think about projects you have completed or specific courses which you have taken in your major that have the closest connections to the job. Use them as examples during the interviewer.

In most work roles, being respected should be given greater emphasis, since it is typically linked more closely to competence and productivity. However, a significant factor to consider is the nature of your relationship with your colleagues.

Finally, pick three aspects of your past or current job that held the least interest to you. Make sure that any tasks you mention are not likely to be prioritized by your target employer nor should they be frequently performed or highly important aspects of the position.

One important dimension of your interpersonal style is how you motivate others, especially if you will be supervising staff, managing projects or leading teams of co-workers. In addition, you may also encounter this type of questioning while interviewing for jobs in sales and public relations, where you need to motivate customers and clients.

Organizations look for employees who are plugged into the latest trends impacting their field and eager to keep pace with changes in technology and best practices. They also recognize that no employee is perfect and look for evidence of self-awareness and a willingness to address any weaknesses.

Your answer should contain two components, first a description of the situation that angered you and then a reference to how you processed the event and handled your anger.

The thing to remember with the tricky questions is that it is fine to take a moment or two to frame a response. Then be honest, relatively speaking, so you are answering the question but not in a way that would make the interviewer not want to hire you. Keep it positive as much as you can.

You should be ready to share an issue or two that has surfaced over time. Pick a performance area that is not central to the job you're applying for. If possible, pick an issue that you have addressed and improved upon.
Example: If in your past job, your supervisor critiqued your public speaking skills, leading you to take steps to enhance your skills, you might share that story. This approach would work best if excellent public speaking skills are not crucial in the new position.

There is no on-going criticism. I'm open to personal and professional growth and welcome the opportunity to improve. One of the things that I am sometimes criticized for is being too much of a perfectionist. I tend to expect very high standards of work from myself.

If something is bothering me, I step back, analyze "why" and find a good solution. If you asked my teenage daughter she would tell you my pet peeve is the volume of her music and the mess in her room.

Your response doesn't need to be work focused but do be sure that what you share isn't something that could potential cut in to your working hours.

If possible, tell about a personal disappointment i.e. the early death of a parent, child or school friend. Believe it or not, it is okay to have not had a "greatest" disappointment.