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Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated 16 January 2025
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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.

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

  1. How do you build professional relationships with other healthcare providers? See answer
  2. Describe a time you handled a medical emergency and what you learned. See answer
  3. How would you handle a patient complaining of pain after receiving the maximum dose of pain medication? See answer
  4. How do you stay current with the latest medical technology and research? See answer
  5. How would you describe your bedside manner? See answer
  6. What specialised patient care unit do you most enjoy working in? See answer
  7. How do you handle stress while at work? See answer
  8. Describe a time when you witnessed unethical behaviour. How did you handle it? See answer
  9. Describe a time you provided exceptional patient care. See answer
  10. What makes you a good fit for our medical team? See answer
  11. In a medical clinic, what’s a nurse practitioner’s role?
  12. How do you handle a situation in which a patient requests unnecessary medication?
  13. Tell me about a time you didn’t agree with a physician’s care plan.
  14. What’s the most challenging part of being a nurse practitioner?
  15. How do you know you’re providing effective patient education?
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Hire your next Nurse Practitioner today.

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Hire your next Nurse Practitioner 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 Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions and Answers

In a medical clinic, what's a nurse practitioner's role?

A nurse practitioner may work in various settings, and their role changes slightly depending on the specific environment. The question's goal is to determine the candidate's opinion of their role within a community healthcare facility or medical clinic. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of the position's scope of responsibilities and duties
  • Ability to provide professional medical support to a healthcare team
  • Willingness to work independently and as part of a larger group
Example:

'My role as a nurse practitioner in a medical clinic is to offer support to doctors and other healthcare professionals. For example, I'm comfortable seeing patients for urgent care, renewing prescriptions and counselling patients for chronic illness management.'

How do you build professional relationships with other healthcare providers?

A nurse practitioner is an integral part of a larger healthcare team. The question's goal is to evaluate how the candidate interacts with other medical professionals and develops working relationships. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to interact with others
  • Ability to work independently and within a group
  • Interpersonal skills to network and connect with other medical professionals
Example:

'Building professional relationships and making friends in my workplace is important to a positive work environment. I enjoy networking events and attending conferences where I can make new connections. Within my work environment, I value teamwork and treat others with respect at all times.'

Describe a time you handled a medical emergency and what you learned.

Because a nurse practitioner has advanced training, they've likely handled many types of emergencies during their experience. The question's goal is to determine how the candidate applies practical experiences to their professional development. What to look for in an answer:

  • Clinical skills to care for their patients with composure and confidence
  • Ability to follow company policies and procedures to provide high-quality care
  • Communication skills to ask for help when needed
Example:

'I have witnessed many emergencies during my experience as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. For example, a person came to our remote clinic with cardiac symptoms. After completing a thorough examination, it became clear they were having a mild heart attack. So I...'

How would you handle a patient complaining of pain after receiving the maximum dose of pain medication?

A nurse practitioner can assist a patient with pain management, although it may not always be 100% effective. The question's goal is to assess the candidate's knowledge of pain management protocols and best practises. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical thinking and ability to analyse a medical situation
  • Communication skills to ask questions and clarify the patient's responses
  • Knowledge on medication side effects and interactions
Example:

'A patient's comfort is my top priority. I would ask critical questions to evaluate the pain intensity and how long it's lasted. Depending on the circumstance, I may speak with the attending physician to prescribe a more suitable option.'

How do you stay current with the latest medical technology and research?

A nurse practitioner must maintain their technical knowledge and expertise with current advances in medicine and patient care. The goal of the question is to determine how the candidate takes part in professional development. What to look for in an answer:

  • Willingness to participate in ongoing training and development
  • Ability to implement recent information into their daily work skills
  • Interpersonal skills to network and learn from other healthcare professionals
Example:

'Because I'm registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, I receive constant training and development updates and news. I attend as many professional conferences as I can to stay current with the latest information and medical advancements.'

How would you describe your bedside manner?

A nurse practitioner works directly with patients and requires advanced interpersonal skills to support them. The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's approach to patient care. What to look for in an answer:

  • Confident in their communication skills
  • Ability to build rapport and trust with patients
  • Patience and empathy
Example:

'I would describe my bedside manner as investigative and collaborative. I want to find out what the patient's concerns are to best support their needs. And I believe in collaborating and encouraging the patient to take part in their care plan.'

How do you handle a situation in which a patient requests unnecessary medications?

Nurse practitioners sometimes encounter patients who request medication that is too strong or isn't suitable for their care. The aim of this question is to evaluate how the candidate conducts a diagnostic examination and determine appropriate pharmaceutical intervention. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to abide by the nurse practitioner regulations
  • Communication skills to ask questions and confidently analyse a patient's condition
  • Ability to educate a patient
Example:

'I find it's common for patients to request antibiotics for a viral infection. I listen to their concerns and empathise with their symptoms. However, when I know an antibiotic is unnecessary, I explain why and provide other resources to support them during recovery.'

What specialised patient care unit do you most enjoy working in?

A nurse practitioner typically specialises in a particular area, such as paediatrics, geriatrics or oncology. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's preference for specialisation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Willingness to treat all patients with respect, compassion and dignity
  • Solid foundational knowledge in all aspects of nursing care
  • Interest in specific areas of specialisation
Example:

'The area that I most enjoy is working in a cardiac unit. I find the work challenging and the most rewarding. I have taken many specialised courses in cardiac care and continue to develop my skills and expertise in managing cardiac patients after surgery.'

Tell me about a time you didn't agree with a physician's care plan.

Because a nurse practitioner works with other medical professionals, disagreements may arise regarding diagnosis or care. The goal of the question is to evaluate how the candidate handles a dispute in the workplace. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to focus on the patient's care and best interests
  • Confidence in their medical knowledge and expertise
  • Interpersonal and communication skills to handle disagreements respectfully
Example:

'One example I can remember was someone who came in with an allergic reaction to something unknown. The physician treated them in the clinic and released them without further investigation. Upon following up with the patient, I learned that this was not the first time they experienced a reaction. I spoke with the doctor, and they appreciated that I brought it to their attention. We then...'

How do you handle stress while at work?

A nurse practitioner must handle varying levels of stress in their work environment. The question's goal is to evaluate how the candidate copes with stress and pressure in their position. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to find effective forms of stress relief
  • Ability to remain professional and calm in stressful situations
  • Communication skills to ask for help when needed
Example:

'I learned early in my career to handle stress. I find comfort in knowing that I do my very best for each patient I work with throughout my day. I find humour in small things to ease tension with my coworkers and my patients.'

Describe a time when you witnessed unethical behaviour. How did you handle it?

A nurse practitioner needs to exhibit ethics and moral behaviour. The goal of the question is to evaluate how the candidate would handle a colleague's unethical practise. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of the ethical requirements of their position as a nurse practitioner
  • Ability to uphold an organisation's policies and procedures
  • Communication and interpersonal skills to approach and discuss questionable practises
Example:

'One example I remember was when a fellow nurse practitioner consistently failed to complete detailed paperwork about their patients. This created multiple issues, as other staff didn't have the information they needed to care for the patient properly. I spoke to them about the issue...'

What's the most challenging part of being a nurse practitioner?

The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's perception of difficulties experienced within the role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to provide high-quality patient care regardless of circumstances
  • Willingness to treat all patients with dignity, respect and empathy
  • Awareness of the various aspects and situations encountered during patient care
Example:

'For me, the most challenging part of being a nurse practitioner is caring for patients who are terminally ill and in palliative care or hospice. It's a bittersweet experience caring for someone during their last days. I take great comfort in knowing that I'm helping them be comfortable, but it is difficult to witness the fear of their family and friends.'

How do you know you're providing effective patient education?

A nurse practitioner is an integral part of providing patients with education and support. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's ability to self-evaluate their performance. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to provide patients with education and training
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport and trust with patients and caregivers
  • Self-awareness to evaluate their level of effectiveness
Example:

'When working with patients and providing education, I ask clarifying questions to monitor their level of understanding consistently. Especially when training or at-home care, I provide additional resources when possible, such as handouts and websites. I make sure to be approachable so patients aren't afraid or embarrassed to ask questions.'

Describe a time you provided exceptional patient care.

A nurse practitioner is an essential part of a patient's healthcare team. The goal of the question is to determine how the candidate defines exceptional patient care. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to provide all patients with high-quality care
  • Willingness to go above and beyond expectations to create a positive patient experience
  • Solid communication and interpersonal skills
Example:

'One example that comes to mind is a patient who had a major surgery. I followed up with them by phone post-operation to ensure they were doing well and to see if they had any questions. I also sent them a bouquet of flowers to cheer them up.'

What makes you a good fit for our medical team?

The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's unique skills, characteristics and qualities that would make them a valuable addition to your team. What to look for in an answer:

  • Transferrable skills and abilities
  • A positive and enthusiastic attitude about the company and role
  • Teamwork skills
Example:

'I'm excited about the opportunity to join your medical team, as I have extensive knowledge of paediatric care. I think this hospital's mission to help children and research new and promising care techniques is inspiring. I would love to join a team of professionals with such an excellent reputation.'

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