Whether it’s your first travel nurse interview or you’re a seasoned traveler, think about the questions you may be asked, what you can ask, and perhaps more importantly, what not to ask. As your agency, there are questions that our team can answer for you and others that you will need to ask the facility. It is best to be prepared and do your research ahead of time.
How to Prepare Travel Nurse Interview Questions
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That was the tagline of a shampoo commercial many years ago. It holds true to this day. As a candidate selected for a travel nurse interview, reflect on why you’d like the position, research the interviewer on LinkedIn, and prepare questions.
Ask your recruiter what they know about the interviewer. Then research via Google and LinkedIn to learn more. Maybe they’re from a city you know or have worked at a place you’d like to work, or they went to college where you did. This is a great way to open the conversation before the official interview questions begin.
Learn all you can from the recruiter about the facility and the position. Think about how the opportunity is related to your career goals and experience. If you’re like a lot of our travel nurses, you have more to offer than you think. Your recruiter can help you pull that from your resume, certifications, and experience so you can communicate that clearly to the interviewer.
Questions You May Be Asked
Now that you’ve researched the facility, position, and interviewer, let’s talk about questions you may be asked. They may pose situational questions like, “If this happened in your ER, how would you react? Tell us the steps you would take.” They will likely ask about your experience as it relates to the position and how your background can support their team. They may ask how you react to change because you could initially be a floater covering different shifts and departments.
- What kind of experience do you have with the population their clinic, hospital, or facility serves?
- Why does this job intrigue you?
- What would you do if you saw a coworker mistreating a patient?
- Tell us about the patient ratios you’re used to.
- How did you deal with a challenging coworker?
- What are your strengths as a nurse?
- Tell us about a time when you didn’t agree with a provider.
- How do you respond in high stress situations?
Answer slowly and clearly. Keep your answers to what they ask without embellishment. Keep in mind they want to understand your experience and qualifications. They want to get a sense of your personality and fit for the position. Taking time prior to the interview, to think about different scenarios and answering questions like the ones we’ve mentioned here, as well as doing your own research, will help you impress them.
Questions to Ask at a Travel Nurse Interview
Preparing questions ahead of time will help you ace the interview. This might sound odd but even if you’re doing a phone interview, we recommend dressing in your interview clothes. This will get you in the right mindset for interviewing.
Then find a quiet place in your home where you can sit and have the space for taking or referring to notes as you talk to them. If it’s a video interview, test your camera and microphone before logging onto the call. Adjust as needed so you’re ready when it’s time.
The interviewer will likely ask if you have questions after they ask theirs. Here are a few we recommend:
- What are the expectations for travel nurses?
- What kind of support is given to staff and travel nurses?
- Are there other travel nurses at the facility?
- What is the orientation process like?
- What is the nurse-to-patient ratio?
- How is scheduling determined?
- Will I be expected to be a floater?
- How are time off requests handled?
- What are the biggest challenges for nurses at the facility?
Their answers will give you a sense of what it will be like to work there. It may also help you decide if it is the right place for you.
Questions NOT to Ask
Our recruiters are a great resource before and during your time as a travel nurse. They will have answers to questions related to pay and benefits, for example, so there is no need to ask at the interview. These have already been negotiated with the agency. You may also ask if the agency has other travel nurses placed at the facility; this can mean having a sort of built-in buddy when you arrive. They can help you transition to your new job. If not, there may be travelers from other agencies that you will meet when you get there.
Becoming a travel nurse is great for experienced shift nurses looking for a new opportunity. Whether you’re a new traveler or seasoned, it’s important to make a good first impression. Prepare ahead of time for the interview, and have your answers ready as well as questions for the interviewer. It will make a difference in whether you impress them or not. When in doubt, contact your recruiter. Happy travels!
