Thinking of post-interview questions on the spot can be difficult! But I bet you’ve all been told to never walk away from an interview without asking any follow up questions. Here is a list of post-interview questions you should have ready for when your interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?”
What is your favorite part about your job?
If your interviewer is a unit manager, then this question might not be appropriate. But if you find yourself in a panel interview with a nurse that would be a peer, then this question is perfect! Make sure you direct your question specifically to the person you are hoping to answer your question and shoot!
What are your staffing ratios?
Some interviewers will expect that you already know the staffing ratio for their hospital beforehand. So, if you’re still curious at the end of your interview, you can say, “I know the average patient ration is 5:1, is that how many patients I should expect to have on this floor?” This again shows that you’ve done your research and you are just confirming what you already believe to be true.
How many beds does this unit have?
This will tell you how many nurses you will be working with each shift for a full unit. It also gives you an idea of how big the hospital is in general.
What are the most common reasons patients are on this floor?
Make sure your interview questions are specific for the job you are applying to. For example, if you are applying to a wound care nursing position or a telemetry floor, you aren’t going to ask this question… It’s because they have a stubborn wound or need their heart monitored!
Is there room to grow in this position?
Most hospitals have various levels of nurses. For example, you are probably going to be hired as an RN-I. But maybe after a year you will move up to a RN-II. Then after that you can attend continuing education classes or create classes to level up to a RN-III or RN-IV.
Do you have a high turn over rate for nurses? How long do nurses typically stay on this floor?
If the hospital you are interviewing with is requiring a two-year contract, it’s likely because they have a high nurse turn over rate. The answer to this question will help you understand if there is a high rate of nursing satisfaction or not. Are nurses leaving the hospital all together? Are they transferring to different floors? Or do they not have a problem with nurses leaving at all?
When can I expect to hear back from you?
This is a great post-interview question to end on. Thank everyone for taking the time to interview with you and ask when you can expect to hear back. This will give you a timeline and a reason to follow up if you don’t hear back from them by a specific time.
Pro Tip: Write three to five questions down before your interview. Some of these questions will be answered during the interview, so having extra questions will help you have at least one thing to ask post-interview. When your interviewer asks if you have any more questions, you can reiterate their answers to your questions that were discussed during the interview. Then you can ask your other questions. This shows the interviewer that you listened to what they had to say and that you did your homework ahead of time to know what questions to ask them.
For more interview help, check out:
- What to Wear and What to Bring to Your Interview
- Common New Grad Nursing Interview Questions
- How to Know if You Should Take the Job
And if you’re still in nursing school, visit Top 10 Best Jobs for Students in Nursing School. Good luck!