Common Questions for Schools of Nursing Interviews in Nigeria

Memorize these questions and answers if you are preparing for the Schools of Nursing Interviews in any part of the country. Unlike other tertiary institutions where admissions are based on either screening or additional examination, schools of nursing make it mandatory for every candidate to pass through an interview stage. You must know that gaining admission into any school of nursing is a deliberate thing. The decision and preparedness must match the anticipated result. You need to carefully answer the interview questions after you have passed the academic requirement test. I will be providing you with detailed questions and answers in this post. Do well to read till the end.
In the meantime, the body responsible for the regulation of Nurses and Midwives, including institutions of study is the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)
What the Interviewer Seeks to See in Candidates During School of Nursing Interviews
The interview is set to test the candidate in the following areas:
- attitude to nursing
- motivation
- personality
- hobbies
Irrespective of how disjointed these qualities look, they must all complement your prospective career, the nursing career. It is then imperative to be able to structure your answers to suit all these aspects of your life, which you are about to be tested on.
What Candidates Must Display During School of Nursing Interviews
Since the lives of citizens of the country will be committed to the hands of prospective nurses in the future, the interviewer expects to see the following characteristics in the candidates during the school of nursing interviews.
- compassion: Try to show compassion during the interview. Even if you are not, pretend to be for the sake of admission. I am very sure that you will grow to be while practicing. I can tell from experience.
- enthusiasm: You need to display a high level of enthusiasm for the profession. No one will be willing to commit his legacy to a person who is indifferent to his philosophy. The same goes for the noble profession of nursing.
- role identification: As a nurse, you have to be able to understand your role in the society you find yourself. This will position you well enough to assume responsibilities of the profession without stress.
- readiness for responsibilities: It is important to display that you are not a god or a magician here. Let them understand in a rather calm manner that the course of study requires enough hard work and the rigour of workload. Howbeit, you must also show that you are ready to overcome all challenges that may arise in the course of your study.
- composure: Have it at the back of your mind that your nonverbal communication is as important as the questions asked during the interview. Let your attitude and character resonate with your responses. You should not be giving a positive response with negative body language.
18 Possible Questions in Schools of Nursing Interviews
1. Why do you want to become a nurse?
The listed are answers that you must be ready to provide when answering an interviewer during Schools of Nursing interview:
- I want to become a nurse because I am passionate about caring for others and making a positive impact on their lives.
- Nursing is a noble profession that allows me to provide compassionate care, support, and comfort to those who are in need.
- Nursing offers diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am elated about the chance to continue learning and staying up to date with innovations in the healthcare sector.
- Nursing avails me the opportunity to work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. Being part of a healthcare team allows me to collaborate with other professionals – doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive care plans for patients.
- By being a nurse, I can play an active role in addressing health disparities and contributing to the overall well-being of the population.
- Finally, I will be personally fulfilled by helping others and seeing how important I can be to them and their entire family.
2. What did you do to prepare for the nursing school?
Here, you can not have a generic answer. What each individual does to prepare for a programme varies. This can only give you an insight into how you should approach the question.
- I carried out research: To prepare for nursing school, I took several important steps. First and foremost, I conducted thorough research on the nursing profession and the specific requirements of this nursing school. This helped me understand the curriculum, the expectations, and the values of the school.
- I prepared well for the examination: I focused on strengthening my academic performance in subjects like biology and chemistry to ensure that I have a solid understanding of the basic sciences that are essential in nursing education. I also brushed up on my math skills, as medication calculations are a crucial aspect of nursing practice.
- Furthermore, I sought opportunities to gain practical experience in healthcare settings. I volunteered at local hospitals and clinics, where I had the chance to observe and assist nurses in their daily tasks. This hands-on experience allowed me to witness the realities of nursing practice and confirmed my passion for the profession.
- Additionally, I engaged in conversations with practicing nurses and nursing students to gain insights into their experiences. Their advice and guidance will prove invaluable in shaping my expectations and providing practical tips for success in nursing school.
- Lastly, I focused on maintaining a positive mindset and cultivating good study habits. Over time, I developed a study schedule to help manage my time effectively and created a conducive learning environment.
3. Are there any doctors or nurses in your family?
This question is not just a question to know if you have any doctors or not in your immediate family. It seeks to test your relationship with any health practitioner that is a family member to you, and your relationship with that person. This information will help to easily assess you as a person and the aid that such background can provide. In answering this question, you must be calm.
If you have, state the level of relationship you have with the doctor or nurse. If you do not have an immediate family who is in the field, make reference to a friend or relative that is in the profession. Paint a friendly interaction between yourself and such a person. This will ultimately give the interviewer the impression that you are not an alien to the prospective profession of nursing. Moreover, you should not be disadvantaged by not having any family member who is neither a doctor nor a nurse. Howbeit, I am not encouraging you to lie!
4. Why do you want to study at our school, and not somewhere else?
Here, you have to make reference to names of individuals and institutions that you know who are affiliated in one way or the other to the institution. This will validate your claims as listed below.
- Firstly, your school has a strong reputation for producing highly skilled and competent nurses (mention one or two names). I have heard from current students and alumni about the exceptional quality of education and the practical experience they gain during their training.
- Moreover, your school offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of nursing, from theoretical knowledge to hands-on clinical practice. The emphasis on practical training is particularly appealing to me, as I believe it will prepare me well for the real challenges of nursing in a diverse healthcare setting.
- Furthermore, your school has state-of-the-art facilities and resources that are essential for modern nursing education. Access to well-equipped laboratories, simulation rooms, and libraries will greatly enhance my learning experience and help me develop the necessary skills to become a competent nurse.
- In addition to the academic aspects, your school also values the holistic development of its students. I appreciate the focus on personal and professional growth, as well as the opportunities for extracurricular activities and community involvement. I believe that these aspects will contribute to shaping me into a well-rounded individual and a compassionate caregiver.
- Lastly, your school has a strong network of partnerships with reputable hospitals and healthcare institutions, providing valuable opportunities for clinical placements and future employment prospects. The practical exposure and mentorship available through these collaborations are crucial in establishing a solid foundation for my nursing career.
- Overall, I believe that your school of nursing aligns perfectly with my academic and professional goals. The combination of excellent education, practical training, modern facilities, and a holistic approach to student development makes it the ideal choice for me. I am confident that studying at your school will provide me with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to become a successful and impactful nurse in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
5. Nursing studies are extremely hard and time demanding. Are you ready to handle that? What are you willing to sacrifice?
As an aspiring nursing student, I am fully aware that nursing studies are indeed challenging and demanding in terms of both time and effort. I am prepared to face the difficulties that come with pursuing a nursing career and I am willing to put in the necessary dedication and commitment to succeed.
- In order to handle the rigorous demands of nursing studies, I am prepared to make certain sacrifices. Firstly, I understand that time management will be crucial, and I am ready to prioritize my studies and allocate sufficient time for coursework, clinical rotations, and studying. This may mean sacrificing some leisure activities or socializing, but I am willing to make those adjustments to ensure my academic success.
- Furthermore, I recognize that nursing requires a high level of emotional resilience and empathy. I am ready to develop these qualities by being open-minded, understanding, and compassionate toward patients, even in challenging situations. I understand that I may need to separate my personal emotions from my professional responsibilities in order to provide the best care for my patients.
- Lastly, I am aware that nursing studies may require me to be physically and mentally fit. I am willing to adopt a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and practicing self-care techniques to ensure my overall well-being. This may involve sacrificing certain unhealthy habits or dedicating time to relaxation and stress management.
6. Can you name some of the qualities that would benefit you as a nurse? And is there anything you would like to improve on?
As a potential nurse, I possess several qualities that I believe would greatly benefit me in this profession.
- Firstly, I consider myself to be a highly empathetic individual. I genuinely care about people’s well-being and have the ability to understand and connect with patients on an emotional level. This empathy allows me to provide comfort and support during difficult times, fostering a positive nurse-patient relationship.
- Secondly, I am a good listener. I understand the importance of active listening when it comes to patient care. By attentively listening to patients, I can gather crucial information about their symptoms, concerns, and overall health. This enables me to provide appropriate interventions and advocate for their needs effectively.
- Moreover, I am a team player. Nursing is a collaborative field, requiring coordination and effective communication with other healthcare professionals. I believe in the power of teamwork and can effectively contribute to a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care to patients.
- Additionally, I am adaptable and able to handle stressful situations. Nursing can be demanding, and there may be times when unexpected challenges arise. However, I am resilient and can stay calm under pressure while making quick and informed decisions for the benefit of my patients.
Areas to improve
A particular aspect I will like to work on is my clinical skills. I understand the importance of gaining hands-on experience and getting better in my clinical abilities. This will make me serve my patients and the community at large to the best of my ability. In fact, by continuously seeking opportunities to learn and grow, I will be able to strengthen my clinical skills-in consequence, I will be able to provide the best possible care to my patients and provide assistance to colleagues when I am sought after. On the whole, I will like to get better at every quality that I possess. This, I am sure I can get here, will make me a better version of myself on a daily basis, because I am aware that learning is a lifelong process. I am ever willing and ready to learn.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Feel free to ask me questions in the comments section. You can also read more related content in the category here. Good luck with your journey!