Assistant in nursing Interview Questions

‘I like working with people and being able to show care and compassion. When I was young, I was hospitalised for a short time, and I was so grateful for the kindness and attention from the nurses. I realised how much of a difference it made to me, and I wanted to be able to do the same for others.’

‘Firstly, I would acknowledge that the patient is not wanting to eat. Then, I would find ways to address their concerns with the food. For example, perhaps they are having difficulty eating and need more assistance. If the issue continued, I would inform the nurse in charge that the patient is not eating, as this is an important part of their wellbeing and recovery.’

‘When I give bed baths to my patients, I show respect and am conscious of meeting their hygiene needs, while maintaining their modesty, safety and, as much as possible, their independence. For example, I always make sure that I involve the patient in doing as much as they can. Another important consideration is keeping the bed’s safety rails up to ensure the patient’s safety.’

‘Some of the best things you can do include making sure the patient is supported in bed with plenty of pillows if they prefer to be in upright positions and changing their position regularly to avoid bedsores. They should also be able to easily reach their fluids and call bell in case they need assistance.’

‘At the end of last year, I successfully completed a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance. As part of the study program, I completed a practicum at an aged care facility. It was a great opportunity to apply the skills I learned in my course, and I really enjoyed the patient contact. I am eager to build on the learning and experience I have gained.’

‘I recently worked with a patient who had very limited English skills. I engaged an interpreter to help us communicate, but the person needed to be in hospital for a while, and it wouldn’t have been possible to book an interpreter each time I needed to speak with them. So, while the interpreter was there, I asked them to write down a few key questions in the patient’s language that I needed to ask them repeatedly. We were able to communicate effectively without the assistance of an interpreter, which reduced stress for the patient.’

‘I would first listen attentively to their complaint, then I would acknowledge their concerns and offer a response. For example, in my previous role, I was confronted with a patient who was upset because a doctor had told them that they wouldn’t be able to go ahead with their surgery if they didn’t stop smoking. I listened to their concerns, relayed these to the doctor and facilitated a further consultation between the doctor and the patient.’

‘I can work independently when necessary, but I find that I thrive in a team environment. In the clinic I worked in most recently, I was part of a tightly-knit nursing team. We occasionally had some issues, but we communicated well, so we were able to overcome these easily. We each brought our own strengths and supported each other in our work.’

‘First, I would refer to the patient’s notes to find out their level of mobility. Then, I would use the recommended manual handling aid. For example, they may need a hoist or slide sheet. I would then use the aid according to my training and the device manufacturer’s instructions.’

‘In my previous role, I gained considerable experience taking patient observations. I regularly took patients’ blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer, as well as their pulse, temperature and oxygen saturation. I needed to understand the relevance of the observations and report any deviations from the normal range to a registered nurse.’