What Questions Should You Ask at a Nursing Interview?
From a nurse manager whose interviewed hundreds of nursing candidates.
Most nurses spend all their time preparing answers. And rightly so - this is the most essential part of interview prep!
But here’s what separates strong candidates from forgettable ones:
They ask thoughtful, strategic questions.
When you ask strong questions at the end of your interview, you show:
- You’re genuinely interested
- You’re thinking long-term
- You care about team fit — not just getting any job
- You understand this is a two-way decision
Instead of saying “Nope, I’m all good,” here are powerful questions to consider asking — and why they matter.
🔎 Questions That Show You Care About Team Fit
1. What are you looking for in an RN candidate to add to your team?
This helps you understand their priorities — and gives you a final opportunity to reinforce how you align.
2. How would you describe your leadership style?
Asking this signals emotional intelligence. Leadership style heavily impacts job satisfaction, especially for new grads.
3. What do nurses like about working here?
This reveals culture. If they struggle to answer, that tells you something too.
4. What challenges does your team currently face?
Mature question. It shows you’re realistic and prepared to step into real-world conditions — not just the “highlight reel.”
5. What qualities have you seen in nurses who thrive here long term?
This gives you insight into retention, expectations, and culture alignment.
📈 Questions About Growth & Professional Development
6. What opportunities exist for me to get involved in this department?
Signals initiative and engagement beyond basic bedside tasks.
7. What unit projects and initiatives have you been working on?
Shows you care about quality improvement and department growth — something managers value highly.
8. How do you support professional development and continued growth?
Strong long-term mindset. This is how you ask about advancement without sounding like you’re already trying to leave.
9. If I were hired, what would you hope I accomplish in my first 90 days?
This positions you as someone already thinking about performance and contribution.
🧠 Questions That Show Strategic Thinking
10. What is the experience mix on the unit?
This gives you insight into how much support you’ll realistically have.
11. What retention strategies have you taken to retain RNs?
Very advanced question. This shows you understand turnover is real — and you care about stability.
12. What is your process for dealing with issues or staff concerns?
Tells you whether leadership is proactive, reactive, supportive, or avoidant.
13. How do you typically provide feedback to staff?
Critical for growth — especially as a new grad.
14. What is your approach to supporting nurses during high-stress situations?
This reveals how leadership shows up when things get hard — which matters more than when things are calm.
🏥 Questions About Orientation & Success
15. How is orientation structured, and how do you determine readiness to practice independently?
Essential for new grads. You want clarity on support and expectations.
16. What does success look like for a new RN on this unit in the first 6–12 months?
This tells you exactly how performance will be measured — and shows you care about doing well.
Why These Questions Matter
As a nurse manager, I can tell you:
When candidates ask questions like these, we remember them.
It communicates:
- Maturity
- Self-awareness
- Professionalism
- Long-term commitment
- Leadership potential
Strong candidates don’t just answer questions well.
They ask them well, too.
Interviews aren’t just about proving you’re qualified. They’re about showing how you think. And the questions you ask say a lot.
If you want help preparing strategically (not just “winging it”), that’s exactly what we practice inside The Nurse Navigator Membership — from crafting strong answers to knowing how to close your interview confidently.
Because preparation builds confidence. And confidence changes outcomes. Let's do it together!
Jeannie is a pediatric nurse manager and RN career coach who has helped hundreds of nurses successfully navigate interviews and land their first (or next) RN role. Through New Nurse Support and The Nurse Navigator Membership, she teaches nurses how to prepare strategically, interview confidently, and stand out in competitive markets.
