School nurses provide healthcare and health education in schools across the country. They take care of students’ illnesses and injuries, teach classes like CPR and first aid, and much more.
If you want to become a school nurse, then you will need to pass an interview with a school district.
When interviewing for a position as a school nurse, you will most likely be asked questions about your education and experience.
But there are some less-obvious school nurse interview questions that may also come up, including behavioral questions that test your personality and communication skills.
Moreover, some school districts will test you on your knowledge of health and safety laws.
This means that, when attending an interview, you should be prepared to answer questions about legal, ethical, and safety matters.
To answer the school nurse interview questions, you should prepare answers to common ones and practice answering them.
Additionally, knowing the types of job duties that school nurses typically have will help you answer questions about your qualifications and interests.
Confidence is the most important thing in an interview.
It’s important that you always speak clearly and be sure of your opinions.
Finally, when answering school nurse interview questions, remember to look at the person asking them in the eye.
Pin me on Pinterest!
The Most Common School Nurse Interview Questions And Answers
When preparing for an interview, it’s helpful to practice answering questions.
There are a million different questions that an interviewer might ask you.
However, some of the most common school nurse interview questions are listed below.
These questions and example answers are only meant to give you an idea of what type of information the interviewers are looking for.
1. What motivated you to become a school nurse?
When the interviewer asks you this question, it’s important to think of your answer in terms of skills, not motivations.
There are many different reasons why one might want to become a school nurse.
For example, their family might be in the medical field or they may like working with children.
But whatever the reason is, make sure that you emphasize how becoming a school nurse was your choice.
Example answer:
I love kids, and I’ve always wanted to help them. When I went through nursing school, my instructors told me that becoming a school nurse is the best way to support children in their daily lives.
I love taking care of kids; it’s fun for me.
2. What are your strengths?
This question is very similar to the first one.
The interviewer wants you to keep in mind that they want to know why you’d be good for this position, not why you do it.
So when answering, emphasize skills instead of motivations or other reasons that may seem unrelated to the job.
Example answer:
I’m dedicated to my job. I take pride in every task that I complete, no matter how big or small it is.
I can also think quickly on my feet and find solutions to problems.
See also: Tell Me About Yourself Nursing Interview
3. What would you wish to accomplish as a school nurse?
When answering this question, it’s important to think about how your skills and qualifications align with the job duties of a school nurse.
This means that you should mention things like making sure that students are healthy and feeling comfortable at school.
Mentioning student safety is also a good idea as it shows that you care about the well-being of each student.
Example answer:
As a school nurse, I would like to make sure that every student feels comfortable at school.
I know that the best learning happens when students feel safe and secure both mentally and physically.
4. What has been your biggest challenge as a school nurse?
This is an opportunity for you to talk about real-life experiences.
Talk about a time when something difficult happened and why you handled it well.
Demonstrate that you are the right person for this job by talking about your actions during a difficult situation.
Example answer:
I recently had to argue with my boss in order to get more money for equipment.
I wanted students to have CPR dummy dolls so they wouldn’t be afraid when practicing on each other, but my boss said there were no funds available.
I knew that if students didn’t have the experience of practicing on mannequins, they might hesitate in a time of crisis and this could cost lives.
So I took it upon myself to do some fundraising and collect donations in order to get more funds for the school nurse program.
See also: Nursing Interview Questions and Answers
5. Teenagers are cunning and very good at manipulating people to their advantage. How do you avoid falling for this?
This is a great opportunity for you to talk about your problem-solving skills and how you remain calm under pressure.
Example answer:
Teenagers are aware that school nurses often have a lot of responsibility and power, so they may attempt to take advantage of that.
At my last school, I noticed that some students were exaggerating the severity of their injuries in an attempt to get out of classwork.
However, instead of getting angry or frustrated with them, I decided to talk with them about their schoolwork and how this would be a more responsible use of my time.
Now, when students want me to excuse them from classwork because they’re suffering from a sudden illness, I simply ask them if they’ve done all of their assignments or not.
6. What has been your biggest accomplishment in the field of nursing?
When the interviewer asks this question, they want to know that you have been strategizing and working towards a goal.
See also: SMART Goals for Nursing With Examples
So when answering, make sure to demonstrate how you’ve worked towards achieving a goal in the past by talking about your accomplishments.
Example answer:
In 2015, I raised funds to help a local school purchase CPR dummy dolls for the health program.
The kit cost $850 and would be used by hundreds of students who would learn basic First Aid skills that could save lives in an emergency.
I then volunteered my own time to conduct the training sessions.
7. How do you make sure kids aren’t afraid to come to you if they’re sick?
This interview question is meant to gauge your ability to build relationships with students.
Make sure to talk about how you communicate openly and approach them with kindness.
Example answer:
I like to get down on the kids’ level when I interact with them, so they don’t feel intimidated by me.
I also try my best to have a lighthearted conversation so that it’s clear I’m not angry with them.
If students come to me with a genuine complaint or illness, I make sure to listen intently and treat their problem as seriously as possible.
See also: Postpartum Nurse Interview Questions
8. What is your philosophy on working with kids?
This is an opportunity for you to tell the interviewer about your approach to dealing with children and young adults.
Talk about how you adapt your interactions to the specific personalities involved in each case. Demonstrate that you are able to handle situations with discretion and empathy.
Example answer:
I like to take a problem-solving approach when working with kids.
I want students to be comfortable coming up to me, so I try my best not to make any snap judgments about them.
Almost every child and teen has a different set of needs, so it’s important to listen carefully and pay attention to their body language too.
If the situation calls for it, I’ll stop what I’m doing and attend to them immediately.
See also: Pediatric Nurse Interview Questions
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
When answering this question, make sure to talk about your personal and professional goals.
Try not to list out everything you want to do in the next five years since it can be long and boring – instead prioritize what is most important for this position and then go into detail.
It’s also a good idea to turn this into an opportunity by asking the interviewer what they’re looking for in candidates.
Example answer:
In five years, I’d like to be working at a school with a dedicated health program and get to see kids get excited about staying healthy.
I hope that school will allow me to develop unique health programs for students based on their interests and needs, while also supporting them in achieving their academic goals.
See also: Interview Questions for Geriatric Nurses
10. What do you think is the main thing a school nurse should have?
When answering this question, be sure to mention traits that demonstrate your ability to work well with children.
Being able to connect with students and maintain professionalism is essential here. Use examples from past experiences as evidence for why you are the right person for the job.
Example answer:
The main thing a school nurse needs is the ability to interact positively with both their colleagues and students.
The job involves managing situations that are often quite stressful, so having good communication skills is important too.
I believe that the best way to treat students effectively is by being respectful of them, which can be challenging for some adults.
But I’ve found that when I approach my interactions with kids the way I do my own siblings, it’s easy to show them empathy.
See also: How Do Nurses Show Compassion?
School Nurse Interview Questions to Ask the Employer
In the 21st century, interview panels do not dominate the interview process the same way they used to. The interview panel will give you a chance to ask them questions.
Therefore, you should prepare some questions to ask the employer.
The following questions will give you a chance to see if this job is a good fit for your skills and experience:
1. What is the management style here?
This question is crucial because it gives you a chance to see how the management operates.
When asking this question, remember to ask follow-up questions if needed and get specific answers from the interviewer.
After asking this question, you should be keen to know how much say you will have in the management of this job.
This is because it can be very frustrating to work for a manager who does not respect your vision or input.
2. How do you determine employee performance?
This question will let you find out if the employees here are recognized for their hard work.
If the interviewers do not give any indication that they monitor employee performance, it might be best to look elsewhere.
After asking this question, you should also ask follow-up questions about how often employees receive feedback from their supervisors and what sort of incentives they get for high performance.
3. What do you like about working here?
This may be a simple question, but it gives you a chance to see if this organization is a good fit for your personality.
There is no right answer – it all depends on the interviewer’s personal preference.
After asking this question, try to note their choice of words when talking about the school.
While there may not be a universal answer, you should be able to get an idea of what they value in the school.
See also: Public Health Nurse Interview Questions
Conclusion: Interview Questions for School Nurses
When attending a school nurse interview, it is important to have a good idea of what you want from the job.
The above 10 most commonly asked school nurse job interview questions will help you prepare for a successful school nurse interview.
The best way to answer these questions is by being confident and specific when you answer.
This means thinking through your experience and knowledge, and what you can bring to the organization.
After these questions, you should also ask the interview panel some questions about the school or workplace they represent.
It is important to show interest in where you might be working if they offer you a job.
By doing this, it is possible to stand out from other applicants and get the job.
Pay attention to the questions they ask you so that you can draft your questions beforehand.
This way, you will be able to get the information you need during your school nurse interview.
Now you should be able to handle middle school or special needs school nurse interview questions with ease. Good luck!
Related articles of ours:
- Registered Nurse Interview Questions
- Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions
- Interview Questions for New Grad Nurses
- Interview Questions for a Nurse Educator
- Do School Nurses Get Pensions?
I’d be glad if you could give this article a star rating down below. Thank you in advance!