Nursing School Interview Questions

Congratulations on getting to the interview stage! Before you start preparing for the dreaded nursing school interview, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you made it this far for a reason. The best way to make it even further is to be prepared! I’ve put together a list of a few common nursing school interview questions as well as some tips on how to answer them. Incredible Health also has a great article with sample answers.

I have been asked one or all of these at every single nursing school interview. I’ve also included some important questions for you to ask your interviewer. 

If you are looking for nursing job interview questions, check out this huge master list of nursing job interview questions here. These helped me immensely while interviewing for my first new grad position!

Questions you might be asked

Tell me a little bit about yourself

Keep this brief and professional. While you can start with ONE personal fact about yourself (not too personal, something like where you’re from), you should focus on the education and jobs that have gotten you to this point, why you are here now, and show excitement for your educational future. This is a great time to mention your relevant educational and job experiences (just make sure you’re not reading off of your resume. Add something new!)

Why *insert school here*?

Some things you can mention:

• Do you have any personal connection to the school? That’s a great thing to mention here. For example, “I have always wanted to attend this school because ____ “
• Low student to preceptor ratio / small class size – important for really getting to build and maintain friendships and mentorships with other students and professors.
• Number of clinical hours and diverse clinical experiences offered by this program
• Location – For example, you grew up going to beautiful campus, you’d like to stay close to home and loved ones
• Study abroad opportunities (if there are any) – if you have an interest in global health this is great
• Opportunity to take other exams – for example does your program prepare you to take the CNL exam? Discuss how you want to take on leadership roles & inspire people they way you have been inspired
• The degree offered – for example are you excited to get your masters? Are you getting your ADN in hopes of going on to get your BSN, MSN, or NP? Show your ambition and state how you think the school will help you get there
• School’s reputation within the community
• School’s mission and values align with your own (*this is a great one because it shows you did your research)
• NCLEX pass rates
• How supported students are
• Volunteer opportunities

The list is truly endless here. Think about why you are putting all of this time, effort, and money into applying to THIS particular school. Schools love to feel special during an interview. They think they are the best nursing school, so show them why you think so too, and why it’s a perfect fit!

Why nursing?

Only you know this answer, but this is a great time to tell a story. Stories are memorable. Tell a BRIEF (60-90 seconds) story about an experience you had that made you want to go into nursing. I have interviewed many people throughout college and can confidently say that specific examples are the best way to stand out and be remembered.

What are your future career goals? Where do you see yourself in five years?

While it is great to strive for further education (ie CRNA, NP), most people start with this part, and it can end up being a very generic answer. If this is your end goal, it’s fine to mention this, but there are some things you can discuss first.

There is something to be said for small goals throughout these 5 years. Stating that you want to be great at your job, feel comfortable taking on leadership roles (resource, charge nurse), become a peer mentor (precept or teach nursing students), and obtain certifications to be an expert in your field. Continuous learning and growing looks very attractive to an interview panel. They want to see the heart you have to bring to the nursing profession, so it’s okay to mention your advanced degree goals at the end.

Can you tell me one strength and one weakness and what you’ve learned from them?

Remember to always spin your weakness into a strength. For example, I have always struggled with time management, but here is what I am doing to fix it, and here is how I continue to learn, grow, and improve upon this skill in the future. This is also a great time to tell a story!

How would you describe your leadership style? Can you tell me about a time when you showed qualities of an effective leader?

You can use this to showcase any community or volunteer experiences you have, leadership roles you have held at previous jobs, or how you have led by example (which is a great one if you’ve never had a leadership role). Make it clear what

What questions do you have for me?

*Tip: ALWAYS have questions! It makes you look very unprepared to have no further inquiries about the program. I’ve put some examples below, but keep in mind that some things might be available online. Do your research. If it’s covered on their website, it’s okay not to ask about it. It’s actually a great opportunity to show that you have read up on the program before coming in.

Questions you can ask the interviewer

• In your opinion, what characteristics does the ideal candidate for this nursing school possess?
• In your opinion, what does it take to be successful throughout this program?
• What is the average workload per week? Are most students able to work throughout the program?
• What does a typical week look like in terms of classes / clinicals?
• How many students are in each clinical group?
• Where are clinical placements? (think location and unit)
• Does the program find clinical placements and preceptors for its students, or is it the students responsibility to find their own?
• How many clinical hours can we expect to complete upon graduation from the program? (*only if this isn’t listed elsewhere)
• What are the chances of being hired at a local hospital upon graduation? What percentage of your students get hired within the first 3 months after graduation?
• What is your NCLEX pass rate?
• I saw that the schools NCLEX pass rate is ___%. Does the program help with NCLEX prep?
• Are students eligible to sit for any other exams upon completion of their coursework? (*some programs let you sit for the CNL, some are direct entry NPs, etc)
• Do students participate in any job interview prep before graduation?
• What is the nursing student retention rate?
• What type of extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, or community service opportunities are offered that can enrich my time throughout this program?
• What can I expect in terms of next steps?

I hope this list of nursing school interview questions helps you get started! Good luck!