Many people want to be nurses. It is a very in-demand profession despite the long hours of work entailed to it. Nurses carry a very important job. They deal firsthand with patients, needing their utmost sincere attention and care.

Hospitals and health care providers sift applicants carefully in three main areas. First is orientation and training, then working environment, and lastly employer's management and administration.

Orientation and Training consists of questions regarding the qualification of the applicant. An applicant must be able to discuss her theoretical training and hands-on skills to the interviewer. It also includes questions regarding clinical effectiveness, governance and perception of medical terms.

Working Environment area consists of questions regarding one's flexibility on scheduled work shifts, nurse-patient ratios, and requirement of on-call duties.

Management and Administration area consists of coping with management styles, performance reviews and facing challenges at work.

There are also additional questions regarding core competencies, previous work experience, personality, motivation and coping skills.

Questions on previous work experiences would be based on the submitted resume. It is very important to prepare and familiarize oneself with the resume submitted.

Questions on core competencies would test time management and team management skills. It will also look into an applicant's capability at effective communications and patient care abilities.

Ideally nurses must be able to project good communication and interpersonal skills. Personality, motivation and coping skills questions would be based on a candidate's personal reasons on desiring to be a nurse.

Majority of questions are competency based and behavioral type. Candidates will be asked on how they will deal with emergency and death situations, work practices, and quality patient care. More often that not behavioral questions require specific answers with detailed evidences. They can be situational to determine or predict future performance. There are instances wherein applicants find these questions to be the most difficult to answer.

On the other hand, competency based questions are structured interviews. It can be a series of questions or in-depth probing questions. These are formal questions, graded thru a standard rating sheet.

There will also be questions that need opinionated answers. These mostly deal with current debates and issues, like euthanasia and abortion.

Before an interview, familiarize and take time to know the employer's interview process. This includes learning the company's mission and future goals towards health care.

Prepare at least two questions for the employer. This is a sign that one is interested to truly work in the company. Remember to ask relevant questions.

Employers do not always look for the right answer. Sometimes they are just looking at your gestures, poise, confidence and articulateness.

Prepare an answer to the standard question on strength and weaknesses.

Think and be positive. Answer truthfully and directly. Anyway, it is easy to detect when one is just going for an ostentatious answer, or lying.

Maintain eye contact, be enthusiastic and smile during the entire interview. Relax and treat the interview as just another conversation with someone you know. Dress appropriately and professionally.