Nursing interview prep — what hospitals actually ask
Lesson 2 of 4 in IEN Job Search & Licensure Interviews · 24 minutes
Canadian nursing interviews follow specific patterns — clinical scenarios, behavioural questions, equity questions. This lesson covers what to expect and how to prepare.
What you'll learn
- Prepare for clinical scenario questions
- Use STAR for behavioural questions
- Address equity and cultural safety questions
- Manage second-round interviews
From the lesson
Nursing interviews are predictable in structure. Most have 2-3 rounds. Most ask similar question types. Knowing what's coming lets you prepare specifically. This lesson covers the patterns and how to ace them.
1. The interview structure
Round 1: Phone screen / initial interview (30-45 min): • HR or nurse recruiter. • Background, motivation, basic match. • Behavioural questions. • Salary expectations. • Filtering — not yet detailed clinical.
Round 2: Clinical/manager interview (60-90 min): • Hiring manager + senior staff (charge nurse, educator). • Clinical scenarios. • Behavioural questions in depth. • Sometimes panel format. • Sometimes a practical assessment (patient simulation, written…