When you are interviewing for a position as a nursing assistant, your potential employer will want to learn more about your ability to care for patients and your dedication to their well-being. The following nursing assistant interview questions and answers represent those that potential employers ask most often.
Why Do You Want to Be a Nursing Assistant?
The purpose of this question is to allow your interviewer to determine what drives you to be successful. You should never provide a short answer or simply say that you need the money. Rather, you should provide an answer that reflects your dedication to patient care and your employer’s overall success. “I want to be a nursing assistant because people who cannot care for themselves need caring and compassionate people to care for them. I want to provide the best care possible and help my employer become well-known for its dedication to the well-being of its patients” is a great answer. It proves that you are a career-oriented individual who is vested in your employer.
What Personal Traits will Help You Be Successful?
Nursing assistants perform a wide variety of tasks on a daily basis and therefore must possess several personal traits to enjoy a real level of success. As an example, you could say “I am a compassionate individual and I believe in building relationships with patients so that they can maintain a level of trust with their caregivers. Although I am very empathetic and I get close to my patients, I do not allow grief or worry to affect my performance and care of other patients. I pay attention to detail and take pride in a job well done” is perhaps the best way to answer this question.”
What Would You Do if You Felt a Patient Was Being Abused?
Unfortunately, the patients who are cared for in hospitals and long-term healthcare facilities are not always treated with the respect they deserve. Your potential employer is aware of this, and this question is aimed at determining how you would handle a suspicion of abuse. “I would immediately report my suspicions to my direct superior without allowing my personal feelings to interfere” is the only correct answer to this question. You should never let a suspicion of abuse be neglected or uninvestigated.
What Are Your Career Goals?
This question will allow your employer to better determine your intentions as they apply to the length of time you will be working for the facility and if you expect to be promoted. If you are unsure of your career goals, simply say “Right now I am focused on providing the best patient care possible. I hope to develop goals during my time working for your facility.” If you have career goals in mind, simply state them to the best of your ability. “I want to work as a nursing assistant for a year or two before returning to college to become an RN” is a great and honest answer.
Nursing assistants are the backbone of many healthcare facilities, and interviewers must ensure that candidates are capable and compassionate before they are hired. Understanding what will be asked of you as well as the best ways to respond will help you stand out as the best candidate.
