Applying for a nursing job can feel stressful, but once you land the interview, you’re already halfway there! The secret to walking in with confidence? Preparation.

We’ve pulled together advice from nurse recruitment experts, plus real insights from nurses who’ve been through it all before, so you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to shine.

What to Expect in a Nursing Interview

Interviews aren’t just about your clinical skills; they’re about how you think, how you communicate, and how you’d fit into a team.

Nursing interview questions will be specifically targeted to each advertised position. Ensure you know the key selection criteria inside and out, advises Anette Smith, Recruitment and Retention Nurse Manager at Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia.

“From the key selection criteria, you really need to think about the questions that are possible. It helps to talk to people about what questions could come from that.”

Recruiters usually cover:

• Key selection criteria – brush up on these before you walk in.
• Safety & quality standards – expect questions linked to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
• Scenario-based questions – “What would you do if…?”
• Teamwork & leadership – how you collaborate, support others, and lead when needed.
• Patient focus – how you provide safe, compassionate care.

Hot tip: Many recruiters use behavioural questions to test how you’ve handled situations in the past. That’s where the STAR technique comes in handy:

Situation – what was happening
Task – what your role was
Action – what you did
Result – how it turned out

Common Nursing Interview Questions

While every hospital or health service will have its own spin, here are some examples you’ll likely come across (broken down by career stage):

For Graduate Nurses
Recruiters want to see enthusiasm, resilience, and a caring personality. Expect questions like:

• Tell us about yourself.
• What qualities will make you a great RN?
• What areas of nursing interest you?
• Give an example of working well in a team.
• What do you know about AHPRA registration and the Safety & Quality Standards?

Graduate tip: Don’t stress if you don’t have loads of experience. Use examples from uni, placements, or even part-time jobs that show communication, teamwork, or problem-solving.

For Early-Career Nurses

You’ll be competing against more experienced nurses, so be ready to show growth, flexibility, and passion. Expect:

• How do you perform under pressure?
• Tell us about a challenging patient and how you handled it.
• Why are you leaving your current role?
• What are your career goals?
• Give an example of teamwork under stress.
• What do you know about this area of nursing?
• What have you enjoyed the most about nursing?

For Clinical Nurses
Specialty roles need both knowledge and passion. Questions could include:

• What do you think this role involves?
• How do you prioritise your workload?
• Tell us about a time your work was criticised.
• How would you apply research to improve your practice?

For Nurse Practitioners
Expect higher-level questions around leadership and scope of practice, like:

• Why did you choose this specialty?
• How do you stay current with evidence-based practice?
• What’s your biggest career challenge and how did you handle it?
• How would you describe your patient approach?

For Senior Nurses & Managers
At this level, it’s all about leadership, management and vision. Questions might include:

• How do you motivate and mentor your team?
• Tell us about a time you resolved conflict with staff or a patient.
• How would you help the hospital meet its targets?
• What’s your biggest professional achievement?

Real Nurse Insights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoR5DFRQC_M

Coleen Hong, a new graduate nurse, remembers her first interview as “daunting and nerve-wracking”.

“After my first interview, I realised there was more prep I could do, and it made me think a lot more about different situations I saw in my training and rotations.”

But practice made all the difference:

• She role-played questions with her flatmate.
• She researched the organisation before walking in.
• She prepared questions to ask at the end of the interview.

Her favourite question to answer? “Why did you become a nurse?”. It gave her the chance to show her passion.

Quick Tips to Nail Your Interview

• Research the organisation – know their values and be ready to speak to them.
• Practice out loud – it helps you sound clear, not scripted
• Bring examples – think of real-life scenarios that highlight your skills.
• Show your passion – let them see why you love nursing.
• Prepare questions to ask them – it shows initiative and interest.

Job interviews can feel intimidating, but remember, the panel wants you to succeed. They’re looking for someone who’s not just skilled, but also caring, adaptable, and ready to grow.

With preparation, confidence and a few STAR answers up your sleeve, you’ll walk out knowing you gave it your best shot.