Section 1: Introductory Questions
1a. what skills and qualities do you possess that will enable you to practise
Competently in the role of a Registered Nurse?
1b .As a registered nurse, what do you believe are you responsibilities and
what skills do you bring to the role of registered nurse?
Section 2: Clinical questions
2a .You return from morning tea and are handed the keys to the drug
cupboard by an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse. He tells you that he has
administered Pethidine 100mg to Mr. Green. What would your actions
be? And why? (ANMC Competencies 1, 2, 4)
2b. You are asked to care for Mr. Brown immediately post-op, when his
respiratory rate falls to 6 per minute and his colour becomes pale. What
would your actions be? (ANMC Competencies 7, 8)
2c. what would you do if you were placed in a situation where you felt “out
of depth”, e.g. Placed in charge of the ward on night shift? (ANMC
Competencies 4, 11, 14)
2d .An elderly, confused non-English speaking patient is trying to tell staff
something, but as nobody speaks her language she is not able to be
understood. What actions can you take to increase her dignity and
integrity? (ANMC Competencies 3, 11, 12)
2e .The family of a man with terminal cancer currently receiving
chemotherapy asks about his prognosis and the option of stopping
chemotherapy and focusing on pain relief. What can you do? (ANMC
Competencies 3, 9, 11, 14)
2f. Tell us about a time during your clinical practice when your written or
verbal communication about a patient has made a difference to his/her
ongoing care. (ANMC Competencies 4, 12)
2g. You are asked to give Mrs. Black some tablets which have already been
dispensed into a medication cup. She needs help to take them as she
has limited eyesight and hearing. You are not familiar with Mrs. Black or
her condition. What do you do? Why? (ANMC Competencies 4, 9, 11)
2h. Identify three criteria you would use to determine whether or not a
patient was ready to be discharged. (ANMC Competencies 7, 9, 12)
2i .When a work colleague arrives at work and you suspect they may be
under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, what ethical issues should
be considered? (ANMC Competencies 1, 4)
2j .When you commence work as a Registered Nurse you will be faced with
many decision-making situations. Typically, you may be caring for four
patients:
• One patient’s oral medications are due
• Another requires an indwelling catheter for urinary retention
• The third patient has low blood oxygen saturation
• One patient is verbally abusive towards others in the ward
Can you tell us how you would prioritise the care of these patients
and explain your reasons? (ANMC Competencies 5, 6 7, 8).
Section 3: Professional Questions
3a .Tell me about the most difficult situation (personal or clinical) you have
had to face and how you tackled it?
3b. Describe a time (personal or clinical) when you were faced with
problems or stressors that tested your coping skills?
3c .What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
3d. Name one limitation that may affect your clinical practice and how will
you address that limitation?
3e .How do you plan to maintain the currency of you practice as a registered
nurse? (i.e. maintain CPD points)
3f. How do you handle criticism of your work?
3g. How could you compare yourself as an UTS nursing graduate to a
Nurse graduate from other universities?
SOME EXTRA Examples of questions for new graduate nurse
1. Why did you choose this hospital?
2. What can you offer us?
3. What is your understanding of the core values (Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment) of NSW Health? What do these mean to you?
4. What is normal urine output for an adult? Child?
5. How do you use social media and how does it cross over in nursing? (Identify both the positives and the negatives of social media here)
6. What is your experience and ideas of what an interdisciplinary team is and how it works?
7. Are Doctors important?
8. You have a verbally abusive patient how would you deal with them.
9. Discuss your most difficult patient. What made them difficult and what did you do about it.
10. Discuss your most memorable patients.
11. Did you ever go above and beyond for a patient?
12. Be able to discuss delegation and the importance of effective communication.
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
14. What makes someone a caring person?
