Why do you want to work at our hospital, or in our graduate program?

What the interviewer listens for. Has researched the hospital: You name something specific about the hospital or program. Shows fit: You say the area you want to learn and what you bring. How to answer. 1. Something specific about them. 2. The area you want to learn. 3. What you bring.

Tell me about a time a patient's condition got worse. What did you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Recognises deterioration: You describe the signs you saw that the patient was getting worse. Escalates: You called for help as the escalation process says. Hands over clearly: You handed over clearly and say what the outcome was. How to answer. 1. The signs you saw. 2. You called for help as the escalation process says. 3. Handed over clearly. 4. The outcome.

How would you prioritise care for four patients at the start of a shift?

What the interviewer listens for. Prioritises by acuity: You start with handover, then the sickest patient first. Plans time-critical tasks: You plan time-critical tasks such as medications first. Asks for help: You ask the nurse in charge when you need help. How to answer. 1. Handover. 2. The sickest and time-critical tasks first. 3. A plan for the shift. 4. Ask the nurse in charge.

What would you do if you made a medication error?

What the interviewer listens for. Checks the patient first: You check the patient first. Tells the right people: You tell the nurse in charge and the doctor. Documents and reports: You document it, write an incident report and follow open disclosure. How to answer. 1. Check the patient. 2. Tell the nurse in charge and the doctor. 3. Document. 4. Incident report. 5. Open disclosure.

How do you use ISBAR in a handover?

What the interviewer listens for. Names each part: You name Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation. Gives a short example: You give a short example of a handover using ISBAR. How to answer. 1. Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. 2. A short example.

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague.

What the interviewer listens for. Stays professional: You show you talked to the colleague privately and calmly. Puts the patient first: You show the patient's care came first in how you settled it. How to answer. 1. The issue. 2. You talked privately. 3. The patient came first. 4. The result.

A patient refuses their medication. What would you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Respects the patient's choice: You ask why and respect the patient's decision. Explains the purpose: You explain what the medication is for. Reports and documents: You tell the doctor and document it. How to answer. 1. Ask why. 2. Explain the purpose. 3. Respect the decision. 4. Tell the doctor. 5. Document.

How do you provide culturally safe care?

What the interviewer listens for. Asks what matters to the patient: You ask the patient what matters to them and check your own assumptions. Uses interpreters: You use interpreters when they are needed. Involves liaison officers: You involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers. How to answer. 1. Ask the patient what matters. 2. Use interpreters. 3. Involve liaison officers. 4. Check your own assumptions.

A family member is angry about their relative's care. How do you handle it?

What the interviewer listens for. Listens in a private space: You take the family member somewhere private and listen. Explains what you can: You explain what you are able to share. Escalates and follows up: You involve the nurse in charge and follow up. How to answer. 1. Listen in a private space. 2. Explain what you can. 3. Involve the nurse in charge. 4. Follow up.

How do you look after your own wellbeing on a stressful ward?

What the interviewer listens for. Looks after yourself: You say you take breaks and have a life outside work. Uses support: You say you use debriefs and ask for support. How to answer. 1. Breaks. 2. Debriefs. 3. Asking for support. 4. Life outside work.

What do you know about the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards?

What the interviewer listens for. Knows the standards: You say there are eight standards and name two or three. Gives an example from placement: You give one example from your placement. How to answer. 1. There are eight. 2. Name two or three (for example, medication safety, recognising and responding to acute deterioration). 3. One example from placement.

What is your AHPRA registration status, and what are your work rights?

What the interviewer listens for. Gives your registration status: You say your AHPRA registration status or the date you expect it. Shows you can work legally: You name your visa and say clearly what work it allows. Fits rotating rosters: You say you can work rotating shifts. How to answer. 1. Registration status or expected date. 2. Your visa and what it allows, using the current rule. 3. You can work rotating shifts. Check the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before the interview.

Nursing interview questions and answers

12 questions hospitals and graduate nurse programs ask, what they want to hear, and a free way to practise each one out loud.

Practise these questions

By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated October 2026

The 12 questions, and how to answer

Answer each “tell me about a time” question with the STAR method: the Situation, your Task, the Action you took and the Result.

Why do you want to work at our hospital, or in our graduate program?
About you
What the interviewer listens for
- Has researched the hospital. You name something specific about the hospital or program.
- Shows fit. You say the area you want to learn and what you bring.
How to answer
1. Something specific about them
2. The area you want to learn
3. What you bring
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time a patient's condition got worse. What did you do?
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Recognises deterioration. You describe the signs you saw that the patient was getting worse.
- Escalates. You called for help as the escalation process says.
- Hands over clearly. You handed over clearly and say what the outcome was.
How to answer
1. The signs you saw
2. You called for help as the escalation process says
3. Handed over clearly
4. The outcome
Tell it as one real example with the STAR method.
Practise this question out loud
How would you prioritise care for four patients at the start of a shift?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Prioritises by acuity. You start with handover, then the sickest patient first.
- Plans time-critical tasks. You plan time-critical tasks such as medications first.
- Asks for help. You ask the nurse in charge when you need help.
How to answer
1. Handover
2. The sickest and time-critical tasks first
3. A plan for the shift
4. Ask the nurse in charge
Practise this question out loud
What would you do if you made a medication error?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Checks the patient first. You check the patient first.
- Tells the right people. You tell the nurse in charge and the doctor.
- Documents and reports. You document it, write an incident report and follow open disclosure.
How to answer
1. Check the patient
2. Tell the nurse in charge and the doctor
3. Document
4. Incident report
5. Open disclosure
Practise this question out loud
How do you use ISBAR in a handover?
What you know
What the interviewer listens for
- Names each part. You name Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation.
- Gives a short example. You give a short example of a handover using ISBAR.
How to answer
1. Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
2. A short example
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Stays professional. You show you talked to the colleague privately and calmly.
- Puts the patient first. You show the patient's care came first in how you settled it.
How to answer
1. The issue
2. You talked privately
3. The patient came first
4. The result
Tell it as one real example with the STAR method.
Practise this question out loud
A patient refuses their medication. What would you do?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Respects the patient's choice. You ask why and respect the patient's decision.
- Explains the purpose. You explain what the medication is for.
- Reports and documents. You tell the doctor and document it.
How to answer
1. Ask why
2. Explain the purpose
3. Respect the decision
4. Tell the doctor
5. Document
Practise this question out loud
How do you provide culturally safe care?
What you know
What the interviewer listens for
- Asks what matters to the patient. You ask the patient what matters to them and check your own assumptions.
- Uses interpreters. You use interpreters when they are needed.
- Involves liaison officers. You involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers.
How to answer
1. Ask the patient what matters
2. Use interpreters
3. Involve liaison officers
4. Check your own assumptions
Practise this question out loud
A family member is angry about their relative's care. How do you handle it?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Listens in a private space. You take the family member somewhere private and listen.
- Explains what you can. You explain what you are able to share.
- Escalates and follows up. You involve the nurse in charge and follow up.
How to answer
1. Listen in a private space
2. Explain what you can
3. Involve the nurse in charge
4. Follow up
Practise this question out loud
How do you look after your own wellbeing on a stressful ward?
About you
What the interviewer listens for
- Looks after yourself. You say you take breaks and have a life outside work.
- Uses support. You say you use debriefs and ask for support.
How to answer
1. Breaks
2. Debriefs
3. Asking for support
4. Life outside work
Practise this question out loud
What do you know about the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards?
What you know
What the interviewer listens for
- Knows the standards. You say there are eight standards and name two or three.
- Gives an example from placement. You give one example from your placement.
How to answer
1. There are eight
2. Name two or three (for example, medication safety, recognising and responding to acute deterioration)
3. One example from placement
Practise this question out loud
What is your AHPRA registration status, and what are your work rights?
Work rights and hours
What the interviewer listens for
- Gives your registration status. You say your AHPRA registration status or the date you expect it.
- Shows you can work legally. You name your visa and say clearly what work it allows.
- Fits rotating rosters. You say you can work rotating shifts.
How to answer
1. Registration status or expected date
2. Your visa and what it allows, using the current rule
3. You can work rotating shifts
Check the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before the interview.
Practise this question out loud

These are practice questions and answer outlines, not legal, visa or career advice. For work rights, check the current rules on the Home Affairs website. Student visa conditions on the Home Affairs website.

Questions for other jobs

Many questions repeat from job to job. Practise the common ones too.

More for your job search

Registering as a nurse in Australia? See the English scores AHPRA asks for.

常见问题

What questions are asked in a nursing interview in Australia?

Why this hospital or program, a time a patient got worse, how you prioritise patients, what you would do after a medication error, how you use ISBAR, and how you give culturally safe care.

What is ISBAR?

A way to hand over a patient clearly: Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. Many hospitals use it, so give a short example in your answer.

How do I answer a medication error question?

Say you check the patient first, tell the nurse in charge and the doctor, write it down, complete an incident report and are open with the patient. Patient safety comes first.

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