In this article, we explore what a nurse practitioner is and 11 questions to consider asking a prospective employer during an interview for a nurse practitioner role.
- How do you evaluate success in this position? …
- Am I expected to be a mentor? …
- Why is the current nurse practitioner leaving the position? …
- What challenges do you see your company facing over the next year?
Top 5 Most Common Questions Asked During Nurse Practitioner Job Interviews and Top Questions to Ask
What is a nurse practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is a healthcare professional who assesses patients, diagnoses illnesses and prescribes medicine and treatment for the well-being of specific patients and communities.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) have specific qualifications and educational background and often work in a variety of specialities. They can work in settings like:
What is the patient caseload like, and how many patients am I expected to see daily?
A question about patient caseload is important to best gauge a typical day as a nurse practitioner at a certain workplace, especially because appointment times and daily work can vary drastically from practice to practice, or depending on your speciality.
What one considers a hectic day in one setting others may consider a slow day. You can get even more specific information about daily patient workload expectations through leading questions like:
What are your thoughts on mentorship—am I expected to mentor and will someone mentor me?
This question can help clarify boundaries, expectations and prospects for a nurse practitioner role in a certain setting, and some may welcome the response as an opportunity while others view it as an imposition.
Gaining insight into the amount of leadership you expect to give and receive can help you figure out if your skill level and preference match the job. For example, recent nurse practitioner graduates may not feel comfortable being leaders in a clinic and giving direction and guidance to others when they have questions themselves.
You can also ask about:
What challenges do you see the organization facing in the future?
This question shows you think beyond your role as a nurse practitioner and hold the success of the company in high regard. While it can impress interviewers, the question also can reveal what situations, challenges or issues you as an employee may face if they offer you the position and you accept it. Other similar questions you can consider asking include:
Have you ever considered becoming a Nurse Practitioner? Our contributor, Tricia Alegado, mapped out some of the reasons to become one!
People often ask me, “What do nurse practitioners actually do?”. It’s a great question, really. Nurse practitioners can practice in both clinical and non-clinical settings as well as in both inpatient and outpatient settings. In my opinion, this is one of the best parts about being an NP. Nurse practitioners are not limited to a specific practice setting, population, or specialty. Many people do not realize the breadth of career opportunities that exist for nurse practitioners. As a recent FNP graduate, I needed to determine what direction I wanted my career to take me. I wanted to understand all of my career options as a nurse practitioner before I determined my desired path. This important decision allowed me the opportunity to research various NP career paths, and I hope to share some of the knowledge I gained with you. I am going to outline ten unique NP career opportunities below, that I found very interesting during my research. I hope this helps you in your quest for the perfect
An inside look at the advantages of utilizing Lyle Healths temporary and permanent staffing services. The secret recipe for recruitment success!!
Locum tenens physician assistants fill in for other PAs on a temporary basis for a range of a few days to up to six months or more.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arizona leads the nation in job growth for both physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
Share your comments below. What are some red flags in interviews you have experienced? What other questions are not covered in this list
3. What can I expect a typical workday to be like? What is the typical workload? Number of patients I will be expected to see daily?
Asking questions to the interviewer shows you have an interest in the role, but also a desire to make sure its the right job for you. It can also help you to find any red flags that may guide your decision between multiple job offers. There may be other questions that you may want to ask as well before accepting the job, but these should be a good start for things to consider.
9. What is the schedule going to be like? Will I be expected to take call? Holidays? Weekends?
Finding the right NP job fit for you is important in the success of the NP role. You should be prepared with a few questions to ask at the end of the interview that can help you better understand what to expect if you were to accept an offer. Often an interviewer may cover some of these questions within the interview but make sure you have the answers to most of these questions before accepting the offer.
Tell me about a time you had a patient with asthma. How did you come to understand the level of risk and explain treatment options?
The majority of patients that a nurse practitioner encounters on a daily basis will have visited the facility because they’re feeling unwell, so there’s a high chance that your new hire will work with people who suddenly become dizzy. It’s essential that they make sure the patient is okay and that they’re comfortable while the dizzy spell passes.
Every patient is different. A large and very important part of a nurse practitioner’s job is to be able to ask the questions necessary to get a good understanding of their patient’s symptoms and medical history. They should also feel comfortable explaining different treatment options to patients to boost understanding and provide assurance.
The answer to this question will give you a sense of culture fit—and help you evaluate whether the candidate will enjoy the work environment at your practice. It can also give you a sense of their typical comfort levels and preferences in terms of the nurse-to-patient ratio, length of shift, schedule, and so on.
Nurse practitioners must maintain strong working relationships with all colleagues. Medical settings can be fast-paced, high-stress environments where emotions can run high, but it’s important for employees to keep a level head and focus on what’s best for the patient—even if that means working with people they don’t always like.
FAQ
What questions should I ask at a nurse practitioner interview?
- How is success measured in this role? …
- Who will be in charge of my training and how long will the training period last? …
- Will I be expected to mentor/ precept new employees or students? …
- Why is the last NP leaving or why are you hiring an NP for the first time?
How do I prepare for a nurse practitioner interview?
- Research the site and the people you’re going to meet.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a first impression.
- Remember to ask some questions yourself.
- Update and review your resume.
- Keep your application in mind.
- Check the job description again before going in.
What are good questions to ask prospective employers?
- How long have you been with the company?
- Has your role changed since you’ve been here?
- What did you do before this?
- Why did you come to this company?
- What’s your favorite part about working here?
- What’s one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?
What makes you a good fit for this nurse practitioner position?
