- What things do you look for when conducting patient rounds? …
- What do you do to handle the stress of the job? …
- How would you handle a conflict with staff or patients? …
- What traits would you look for when hiring new nursing staff?
Nursing Interview Tips with the Director of Nursing Education Services
6 Director of Nursing Interview Questions and Answers
What qualities do you feel are most important for a nurse?
This question helps you understand the particular values of the candidate and whether they align with those of your department. By extension, you’ll discover more about how this candidate might recruit new nursing staff and what kind of department he or she would create. You’ll also learn what he or she expects from nursing staff and whether these expectations are appropriate for your particular hospital.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence of appropriate expectations
- Potential to recruit high-quality nurses and improve department
- Values that align with your hospital’s vision
What would you do if a new nurse on your team was intentionally disregarding standard protocol because they thought their personal methods were better?
Because the director of nursing is responsible for crafting and upholding policies among their nursing staff, they may come across situations where they have to deal with inconsistency or noncompliance issues. A director of nursing should be able to uphold consistent standards while also listening to feedback, input and new ideas that could benefit their staff and patients. This question addresses the director’s ability to guide their nursing team and provide strong reasoning policy decisions while keeping staff morale strong.
A good answer may include:
- Conflict management skills
- Prioritizing patient health
- Respect and understanding
Here is one sample response:
Why do you want to work at this particular hospital?
This question gives you insight into whether the candidate has sufficiently researched the offerings at your hospital. You’ll discover whether he or she has the necessary enthusiasm and dedication for this position, and you can also gauge his or her overall attitude and what he or she could be like as a manager. You’ll learn about any previous experience he/she may have had as a director of nursing.
What to look for in an answer:
- Applicant’s enthusiasm for this specific working environment
- Sufficient level of research into your hospital
- Dedication to this role
What do you do to create a respectful working environment for all nurses and medical staff?
This question lets you in on more details about the candidate’s managerial style. You’ll find out whether he or she is professional and how he or she may interact with members of your nursing department. This question will help you eliminate any candidates who do not respect others and who could create potential conflicts or become a liability to your hospital.
What to look for in an answer:
- Prioritizes respecting others
- Interacts well with entire team
- Demonstrates leadership qualities
How would you handle a conflict with an angry family member of a patient?
This question helps you understand whether the director of nursing applicant would truly be an effective, independent leader for your nursing department. You may gain insight into whether he or she has had frequent conflicts at other hospitals and whether he or she can resolve difficult situations while being considerate and practical. This question shows whether the applicant has a solid understanding of appropriate conflict-resolution strategies.
What to look for in an answer:
- Knows how to respond calmly and respectfully
- Clearly explains the situation and offers practical solutions
- Successfully resolves conflicts independently
What type of patients did you treat as a nurse yourself?
This question reveals the candidate’s prior experience in a short time. You’ll discover whether the applicant’s previous work makes him or her suitable for your hospital, and you’ll find out how recent his or her nursing experience is. For example, if an applicant states that he or she last worked with cardiac patients five years ago, he/she may not be the best fit at your cancer department. You’ll learn whether the applicant’s work experience was broad or more specialized.
What to look for in an answer:
- Nursing experience matches needs of your department
- Previous work is suitably broad or specialized
- Applicant’s prior nursing experience is fairly recent
Give us a thorough description of your personal strengths and qualities that enable you to tackle difficult problems within a limited timeframe.
Answer:- Some of the major qualities that I possess are effective problem solving and smooth management of hurdles. When a problem arises it is essential that we pay close attention to the overall objectives as well as the small and significant details. Paying attention to both aspects of the problem have helped me resolve many issues in the past. Additionally, collaboration with other people is also essential if one needs to get problems solved quickly and efficiently. Teamwork is absolutely a necessity in order for an organization to reach its final goals. I do a thorough interview of nurses that I hire and make sure that they are amongst the best in the field. I make sure that my team works in harmony and that all the problems are resolved peacefully and in joint efforts.
How do you handle customers or employees who tend to test your patience and can be extremely frustrating?
Answer:- Encountering people who are difficult and stubborn is a part and parcel of any job in any field. I am well aware of this and truly have accepted that I will meet all kinds of people in this industry. Just because I have been brought face to face with a difficult person does not affect me or bring about a change in my demeanor or personality. I have enough past experience and judgment to handle all kinds of frustrating individuals. Whether the issue is related to a patient, a colleague, or even to the management, I hear both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion and making a decision on how to handle the problem. I’m a very fair judge and make decision in an unbiased and neutral manner. I also handle sensitive matters smartly as I’m well aware that in the health care management service industry, dealing with frustrated clients is a part of the job description.
FAQ
What questions should I ask at a nursing director’s interview?
- What do you look for when recruiting nurses?
- What’s your experience in evaluating staff?
- How do you ensure efficiency of nursing operations?
- What do you do differently when managing newly trained nurses as opposed to experienced ones?
- What kind of patients did you deal with as a nurse?
What is the job description of an assistant director of nursing?
How do I become an effective director of nursing?
How do I prepare for a dean interview?
- Prepare a list of questions to ask ahead of time. …
- Write down your philosophy. …
- Prepare for behavioral questions: The typical day-to-day responsibilities of a dean may vary, meaning hiring managers may ask a series of behavioral questions.
