Top Nurse Manager Interview Questions & Answers:

1. What are the duties of a nurse manager?

Nurse manager job duties:
☛ Identifies patient service requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand service requirements.
☛ Maintains nursing guidelines by writing and updating policies and procedures.
☛ Maintains nursing operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operational, and personnel policies and procedures.
☛ Assures quality of care by developing and interpreting hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care; enforcing adherence to state board of nursing and state nurse practice act requirements and to other governing agency regulations; measuring health outcomes against standards; making or recommending adjustments.
☛ Maintains nursing staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training nurses and auxiliary staff.
☛ Completes patient care requirements by scheduling and assigning nursing and staff; following up on work results.
☛ Maintains nursing staff job results by coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.

2. Tell us about yourself?

Instead of giving a chronological work history, focus on your strengths and how they pertain to the role. If possible, illustrate with examples.

3. What are the job responsibilities of a nurse manager?

Promotes and restores patient's health by developing day-to-day management and long-term planning of the patient care area, directing and developing staff, collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary professional staffs, providing physical and psychological support for patients, friends, and families.

4. Why should you be hired as a nurse manager?

A good answer will reiterate your qualifications, and will highlight what makes you unique.
Good answer:
"I've been a Nurse Practitioner for the past ten years - my boss has said time and time again that without me, the hospital would fall apart. I've also taken the time to educate myself on some of the latest industry issues I regularly use (but didn't really understand the ins and outs of). What's good enough for most people is never really good enough for me."

5. How will your friends describe you?

While being a good listener is a great personality trait, your employer probably does not care all that much. It is unlikely that they are hiring you to be a shoulder to cry on. You will want to keep your answer relevant to the job you are interviewing for and as specific as possible. If you can, insert an example.

6. What does motivate you?

It is not that this answer is wrong. It is just that it wastes an opportunity. This question is practically begging you to highlight your positive attributes. So do not give a vague, generic response. It tells them very little about you. Instead, try and use this question as an opportunity to give the interviewer some insight into your character, and use examples where possible.

7. Describe a time when you did not get along with a nurse?

Interviewers do not like these types of "easy out" answers. And besides, they know you are probably not telling the truth. Think of a relatively benign (but significant) instance, and spin it to be a positive learning experience.

8. What did you like least about your last job?

Try and stay away from anything that draws on the politics, culture, or financial health of your previous employer. No matter how true it might be, comments like these will be construed as too negative. Also, you do not want to focus on a function that might be your responsibility in the next role. So think of something you disliked in your last job, but that you know for sure will not be part of this new role.

9. When was the time when you were most satisfied in your job?

Do not give vague answers. Instead, think about something you did well and enjoyed that will be relevant at this new job. This is an opportunity for you to share your interests, prove that you are a great fit for the job and showcase your enthusiasm.
Good answer:
"I'm a people person. I was always happiest - and most satisfied - when I was interacting with patients, making sure I was able to meet their needs and giving them the best possible care. It was my favorite part of the job, and it showed - I was rated as "Good or Excellent" 95% of the time in peer reviews. Part of the reason I'm interested in this job is that I know I'd have even more interaction with patients, on an even more critical level."

10. How would you explain your gap in employment?

Employment gaps are always tough to explain. You do not want to come across as lazy or unhireable. Find a way to make your extended unemployment seem like a choice you made, based on the right reasons.
Good answer:
"My work is important to me, so I won't be satisfied with any old nursing job. Instead of rushing to accept the first thing that comes my way, I'm taking my time and being selective to make sure my next role is the right one."