As the demand for nurses continues to grow especially with the pandemic, it’s vital that your organization find a skilled nurse that has staying power, especially since the industry sees a high turnover rate due to stress. Learning these interview techniques for nurses will help prepare you for the interview process. The cost of hiring a new nurse can be between $50,000 to $60,000, so it’s important that you qualify nurses in their interviews, which helps increase the chances that you’ll hire a nurse.
Here are five essential interview areas to focus on when you need to hire a nurse.
- Non-Clinical Behaviors – Instead of only focusing on clinical behaviors, when interviewing nurses, focus on both technical and soft skills. Nurses can be great on machines but cannot multitask or work well in fast-paced environments.
- List Qualities – Every nursing environment is different so hiring managers need to be aware of what types of skills are needed for every treatment position. To help find the right candidate, ask other nurses to list the specific skills that make someone an excellent candidate. This can help you compile a list of specific skills and behavior-based questions.
- Behavioral Questions – Make sure that you ask the right questions and then listen to the answers. Make sure to ask questions where you can hear the candidate’s perspective on what gives them the greatest job satisfaction. For example, “Tell me about a work experience where you were productive, satisfied and energized. What were you doing?” If the applicant says that they helped teach and educate patients about diabetes or they say they improved workflow by incorporating new technology software, you’ll have a better idea where the applicant fits into your organization.
- Awkward Silences – One of the biggest mistakes hiring managers make is speaking too soon to fill the silence. Make sure you give candidates enough time to answer questions, especially giving them extra time to think through difficult or challenging questions. Sometimes it’s best just to sit and wait for an answer. Don’t fall for superficial answers. If you don’t feel as though you’ve received enough information, say that you understand it’s a difficult question, but you have no problem giving them a minute or two to think of a more detailed answer.
- Don’t Rush – Rushing to hire a nurse is never a solution. Take the time to find the right person for the job. Finding the right nurse is more effective than having a revolving door of nurses.
Read more about the costs associated with nurse turnover.
To easily manage applicants, consider using an online job application. These types of applications make it easy to search for candidates with specific job skills. Additionally, you can archive job applications, so your organization complies with paperwork requirements. Ninja Gig makes hiring online a breeze. Sign up today for a 14-day free trial and see how easy it can be to hire using online employment applications.