Interview Questions for Nursing Leadership Roles Candidate

Interview Questions for Nursing Leadership Roles

Candidate Name:

*DOB:

*Last 4 digits Social Security Number:

Name(s) used While in School:

Date Completed:

*DOB and SS# are used to verify licensure and credentials only and will not be shared with the employer.

Please respond to each of the following questions by typing in the box provided. Provide as much information as you feel necessary using the space provided, however, it is not necessary to use all the space provided.

Describe your leadership & management style.

I am a caring and committed leader, but one that requires a high degree of professionalism and a high level of skill from my direct reports. I like to model the same type of quality care that I expect other employees to practice.

Describe how you believe each of the following individuals or groups would describe you.

a. Your Peers:

My peers would describe me as a person who builds and sustains relationships through cooperation. They would tell you I am a positive person with high standards, who is always willing to do everything within my power to help the organization.

b. Your Staff:

My staff would remark upon my ability to motivate employees while also acting as a sympathetic ear when necessary. They would tell you that I can be tough, but I can also be their greatest ally. I pride myself on the camaraderie I can engender in a team, but I also create an environment of mutual respect.

c. Your Direct Supervisor:

My supervisor would relate that I am a reliable, conscientious, and motivated employee. He would say that I am equally good with patients and fellow staff. He would also tell you that I can handle stressful, high pressure situations and that I have developed strong management skills.

d. Medical Staff:

The medical staff that I have had contact with would describe me as an asset to their workplace. They would say that I can be called upon to undertake any task, great or small, with the certainty that it will be accomplished thoroughly and efficiently.

3. Describe your top three strengths.

Relationship building -- I have an ability to create positive therapeutic relationships gained through my experience as a staff nurse and ER manager,

Conflict resolution/problem solving -- I have learned many strategies for trouble-shooting any one of a variety of issues that come up in a day-to-day patient care context,

Organizational/multi-tasking -- I have had a great deal of experience working in large, complex organizations and putting together systems to make them more efficient.

4. Describe your approach to conflict resolution.

I think the best way to handle conflict is to deal with it head on as soon as it appears, so that it does not inflate into a larger issue. I think laying a foundation of cooperation and understanding with employees is of key importance, so that they understand that everyone is working toward a common goal. When conflicts arise, it is important to mediate them. I always encourage both parties to allow their side to be heard, while exploring any relevant evidence. I think it is important that employees know that I am impartial. Together we would discuss the implications of the conflict and the outcome that will best suit the organization as a whole, rather than either individual.

5. Describe the hardest thing you have ever had to do as a leader/manager. How did you handle it?

The hardest thing I ever had to do was suspend an employee. Since you do develop close relationships with employees and learn the circumstances of their lives, it is hard to divorce oneself from emotion when doing such a difficult thing. I had to keep in mind that this employee's actions were detrimental to both the organization and the employee himself, and that I was acting in everyone's best interests.

6. List the most important lessons you have learned in your career.

I have learned a great many lessons in my career, but the most important one was to put the needs of the organization over my own personal needs. It can be difficult, because we all take jobs to better ourselves and our station in life. But I have found that when I operate best, it is when I have created a happy, efficient, and cooperative working environment. So even if it means putting my own needs second, I realize that in the long run, doing what is best for my organization will make me more fulfilled.

7. Describe the professional accomplishment of which you are most proud.

I am most proud of my record of excellence when it comes to clinical work. In my nursing career, I have been at several hospitals and all of them have allowed me to gain an array of experiences both from a patient care and an administrative perspective. That diversity of experience has led me to focus on management, as I believe I have honed my understanding of patients, staff nurses, and management to the degree that I can work with all of them effectively.

8. Describe any professional decisions and/behaviors that you would like to change.

I think that I often take on too much and I have had to learn to delegate better. While I enjoy teaching others, if someone is struggling I am prone to want to help them and ease their stress. Of course, this can cause my own stress to build. I have developed a number of coping strategies for this behavior, including the practice of time management.

9. Describe your experience with financial management including budget development, implementation and monitoring.

In prior positions, I have had a role in budgetary decision-making, including allocation of funds needed for departmental functions. On a personal level, I have undertaken a great deal of education about medical administration and I believe that I have a good financial acumen.