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Home Care Nurse Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Home Care Nurse interview questions and answers.

  1. What made you choose a career in nursing? See answer
  2. What initiatives have you taken to improve patient care? See answer
  3. Have you ever had to handle a disagreement with a coworker or doctor about patient care? See answer
  4. Describe a time you had to make a quick decision about a patient. See answer
  5. Have you ever had to work with a difficult patient? How did you handle the situation? See answer
  6. What personality traits do you think you have that make you a good home care nurse? See answer
  7. What certifications do you have that make you qualified as a home care nurse? See answer
  8. What steps do you take to sanitise and prevent the spread of diseases? See answer
  9. How do you handle criticism about your care services? See answer
  10. What steps do you take to handle a medical emergency? See answer
  11. How do you handle the stresses of the job and take care of your mental well-being? See answer
  12. What’syour most impressive accomplishment as a home care nurse?
  13. Do you have experience working with patients from a specific demographic or a particular illness?
  14. Describe a time that you recognised symptoms and identified a patient’s condition.
  15. How do you communicate with other healthcare professionals about your patient’s health?
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Hire your next Home Care Nurse today.

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Hire your next Home Care Nurse today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Home Care Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

What made you choose a career in nursing?

A career in nursing is all about passion and the desire to help others. This question gives you a good idea of how passionate the candidate is about home care nursing. What to look for in an answer:

  • What drew them to nursing
  • A desire to help others
  • Passion for patient care

Example:

"One of my grandfathers was quite ill when I was a child, so he had to come live with us. Because my parents worked full time, we needed a home care nurse. I could see the help she provided for my grandfather firsthand.Having that experience and wanting to make a difference in people's lives drew me to the position."

What is your most impressive accomplishment as a home care nurse?

The question provides insight into the job candidate's experience and the pride they take in their work. What to look for in an answer:

  • A proud accomplishment
  • Evidence of prior experience
  • Passion for the job

Example:

"I would say every time a patient can go back to their daily lives, it's an accomplishment. One that really stands out though was a patient who had been in a car accident. I worked with her fortwo years. I cared for her at home and worked with a team of healthcare professionals to make sure she made a full recovery."

What initiatives have you taken to improve patient care?

The question gives you a better understanding of the job candidate's ability to be forward-thinking and always caring for their patients. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ongoing learning
  • Creative thinking
  • Empathy

Example:

"I'm always motivated to find new and interesting ways to care for my patients. I subscribe to several medical and nursing journals to make sure I'm staying up to date with the latest advancements. I also find alternative ways to care for patients based on their personality and illnesses as well. I take a lot of pride in trying different methods with patients to find one that fits."

Have you ever had to handle a disagreement with a coworker or doctor about patient care?

This question will help you gain a better understanding of the job candidates' ability to think for themselves and approach tough conversations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to think critically
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Ability to have hard conversations

Example:

"I was once told by a doctor that my patient needed a specific type of medication to care for their illness. I had done some research prior to the appointment because I had read a few medical journals about the adverse reactions to the medication. Because my patient was already susceptible to blood clots, I brought this up with the doctor and referenced my resources. In the end, he agreed with me and we found an alternative solution."

Describe a time you had to make a quick decision about a patient.

Being able to think quickly and on their feet is an important aspect of being a home care nurse, so it's important the job candidate has the experience to do so. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to think quickly
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Leadership skills

Example:

"I once had a patient that was having an adverse reaction to somemedication we administered to them. It was a quick decision, but I decided it was bestto bring them to the emergency room because I was afraid of the reaction getting worse. My instincts were right, and we were told later that my quick thinking actually saved the patient's life."

Have you ever had to work with a difficult patient? How did you handle the situation?

This question assesses whether the job candidate has experience dealing with difficult situations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Conflict-resolution skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Ability to handle stressful situations

Example:

"Of course, this happens often in my field. I once had a really challenging situation with a patient who suffered from vascular dementia and was quite violent. He would sometimes go into a state and hit healthcare staff. Whenever this happened I would do my best to calm him down or have other family members in the home help me restrain him until he could calm himself down."

Do you have experience working with patients from a specific demographic or with a particular illness?

This question helps you understand the candidate's experience and whether they have any areas of particular expertise. What to look for in an answer:

  • Prior work experience
  • specialisation
  • Knowledge of a particular disease or group

Example:

"I don't have an official specialisation, but I have more experience working with patients who suffer from Dementia and Alzheimer's. There's a lot of care and patience that needs to go into caring for these individuals because their mental capacity and mindset can change by the hour."

What personality traits do you think you have that make you a good home care nurse?

There are several personality traits that make home care nurses good at what they do. This question evaluates a candidate's priorities and whether they're well-suited to the role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Empathy
  • Friendly and open
  • A passion for care

Example:

"I've always been told I'd make an exceptional nurse or carer based on my personality. I'm a friendly person and people warm to me rather quickly, which has helped me in my career. I also have a lot of empathy for others and am a good listener, which helps patients open up to me. I consider myself passionate about what I do, which I think is key for any home care nurse."

Describe a time that you recognised symptoms and identified a patient's condition.

This question will help you understand if the job candidate has strong attention-to-detail skills and knowledge of common reactions. What to look for in an answer:

  • Attention-to-detail
  • Problem-solving
  • Experience and knowledge

Example:

"I had a patient many years ago that had suffered a stroke. I helped to care for them in their recovery process by working with a team of healthcare professionals. Over the course of four weeks, I saw a decline in the patient's cognitive ability. I brought this up with their family doctor who diagnosed them with Alzheimer's. We could then put them in touch with the proper care professionals."

What certifications do you have that make you qualified as a home care nurse?

This question reveals whether the job candidate is qualified to perform the duties and responsibilities of the role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Proper educational requirements
  • Certification
  • Ongoing learning

Example:

"I completed my degree in Nursing from the University of Ottawa 15 years ago. Since then I have also got a Certified Nurse in Critical Care designation and also a Certified Nurse in Critical Care - paediatrics certification as well. I spend a lot of time making sure I am up to date with any regulatory changes in my industry or new scientific advancements I need to know. For example, I recently treated a patient with Parkinson's so I spent a lot of time getting up to date with the latest research for care for the disease."

What steps do you take to sanitise and prevent the spread of diseases?

Home care nurses often work with a very vulnerable population and any exposure to an illness could be fatal, so it's important the job candidate takes the right steps to prevent the spread of any disease. What to look for in an answer:

  • Sanitization process
  • Self-care routine
  • Ability to put the needs of the patient first

Example:

"I sanitise my hands every time before I treat a patient or enter their home. I wear gloves or masks where applicable, depending on the patient's condition and the care I'm providing. For me, a thorough sanitization programme at the beginning and end of every day is incredibly important."

How do you communicate with other healthcare professionals about your patient's health?

Working with other healthcare professionals as part of a larger care plan is an important aspect of the job for home care nurses This question evaluates a candidate's communication skills and professionalism. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals
  • Ability to build working relationships
  • Interpersonal skills

Example:

"Whenever I meet or am given a new patient, I take time reading through their charts to see what other healthcare professionals they've seen. The names and contact information are always available so I reach out to the other members of the healthcare team to have a quick introductory call. This always builds a rapport and ensures we're comfortable communicating with each other."

How do you handle criticism about your care services?

This question will help you understand how the job candidate has tough conversations and what sort of problem-solving skills they have. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Ability to have hard conversations
  • Customer service skills

Example:

"I pride myself on providing excellent care for any patient that I treat. It's very important to me that everyone is happy and well looked after. If I have a patient who expresses that they are unsatisfied with the level of care they are receiving, then I sit down with them to talk about what they are expecting. I take this same approach if it's a family member voicing their concerns."

What steps do you take to handle a medical emergency?

This question should help you understand how the job candidate will react in stressful situations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving
  • Ability to handle conflict
  • Ability to stay calm in stressful situations

Example:

"I can stay calm in emergencies, but it has come from years of experience. I've found that the most important thing is to always make sure the patient remains calm. I communicate by walking them through what I'm doing or how it will help them."

How do you handle the stresses of the job and take care of your mental well-being?

Being a home care nurse can be stressful so it's important a successful job candidate can have a work-life balance to keep them refreshed every day. What to look for in an answer:

  • Self-care routine
  • Passion for the job
  • Ability to handle stressful situations

Example:

"I take advantage of my free time to let go of any stress I may feel at work. When I get home, I like to unwind by cooking a delightful meal and watching my favourite TV show. I also spend a lot of time with friends and family which improves my mental health. It allows me to start my next shift feeling refreshed."

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