5 Best Short-Term Goals for Nursing Interview

Short-term goals for nursing interview

When you go in for a nursing interview, one of the questions they will ask you is about your short-term goals.

Short-term goals for nursing interview are the things you want to achieve in the next year or two. They can be anything from getting a promotion to learning a new skill.

Why short-term goals are important in nursing?

As nurses, we are constantly working towards achieving long-term goals.

However, it is also important to set short-term goals for ourselves.

This is because short-term goals help us stay focused and motivated, and they keep us on track to reach our long-term goals.

When setting short-term goals, it is important to make sure they are realistic and achievable.

This way, you will be able to achieve them and feel good about yourself.

See also: SMART Goals for Nursing With Examples

It is also important to set goals that are challenging, but not impossible.

This will help you push yourself to achieve more.

Short-term goals are important because they give us a sense of accomplishment. When we achieve a short-term goal, we feel good about ourselves and we are motivated to set even more challenging goals.

This helps us to continue growing and learning as nurses.

When interviewers ask this question, they are looking for the following in your response:

Are you ambitious?

As a nurse, ambition is important.

Nurses need to be able to set goals and push themselves to achieve them. The interviewer wants to know if you have the drive to succeed in your career.

Can you prioritize?

Nurses need to be able to balance many different tasks at once.

They need to be able to prioritize the most important tasks and get them done.

The interviewer wants to know if you are capable of doing this.

Are you a team player?

Nurses work in teams, and the interviewer wants to know if you are able to work well with others.

Can you take direction from others and work together to achieve a common goal?

See also: 5 Rights of Delegation in Nursing

So, when asked this question, be sure to highlight your ambition, ability to prioritize, and teamwork skills.

Talk about some of the short-term goals you have for your career and explain why you want to achieve them.

Show the interviewer that you are serious about your nursing career and have the drive to succeed.

Walking into a nursing interview with a clear answer to this question will show the interviewer that you have given some thought to your career.

Also that you are ambitious and ready to take on whatever comes your way.

It will also help the interviewer see that you are a good fit for the nursing profession.

Make sure you are well-prepared for this question and that you can give a clear answer.

Doing so will help you make a great impression on the interviewer.

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Short-term goals for nursing interview question

Short-Term Goals for Nursing Interview Question Example Answers

With the background knowledge of what the interviewer is looking for in an answer, we have prepared 5 different example answers to help you construct your own answer.

Example 1

My short-term goal is to become a registered nurse.

I want to achieve this by taking the necessary steps to get my nursing degree.

I am passionate about nursing and I am ready to take on the challenge of becoming a registered nurse.

I know that by achieving this goal, I will be able to provide better care to my patients.

See also: Weaknesses for Nursing Interview

As you can see in this response, the interviewee is ambitious and has a clear goal in mind.

They are also passionate about nursing and ready to take on the challenge of becoming a registered nurse.

This shows the interviewer that they are motivated and driven to succeed.

Example 2

I would say my short-term goal is to gain more experience in the nursing field.

I want to do this by working as a nurse in different settings and gaining more knowledge and experience.

I believe this institution offers a great opportunity to do just that.

By gaining more experience, I will be able to better serve my patients and provide the best possible care.

See also: Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years Nursing Interview

In this response, the interviewee is indicating that they are dedicated to their career and willing to do what it takes to improve their skills.

They also indicate that they believe this institution offers a great opportunity to gain more experience.

This shows the interviewer that the interviewee has confidence in the institution and is willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

Example 3

My short-term goal is to become a critical care nurse.

I want to achieve this by taking the necessary steps to get my nursing degree and then specializing in critical care nursing.

I believe this is the best way to achieve my goal and provide the best possible care to my patients.

I am passionate about critical care nursing and I know that by achieving this goal, I will be able to make a difference in the lives of my patients.

See also: Trauma Nurse Interview Questions

This interviewee is ambitious and has a clear goal in mind.

They are also passionate about critical care nursing and know that by achieving their goal, they will be able to make a difference in the lives of their patients.

This shows the interviewer that the interviewee is motivated and driven to succeed.

Example 4

My short-term goal is to become a nurse educator.

I’m currently enrolled in a nursing program and I plan to specialize in nurse education.

I believe this is the best way to help the next generation of nurses.

I am passionate about nursing education and I know that by achieving this goal, I will be able to help future nurses reach their potential.

See also: Interview Questions for a Nurse Educator

This interviewee is ambitious and has a clear goal in mind.

They are also passionate about nursing education and know that by achieving their goal, they will be able to help future nurses reach their potential.

This shows the interviewer that the interviewee is motivated and driven to succeed.

Example 5

Thank you for asking.

Since I’m new to the nursing field, my short-term goal is to learn as much as I can.

I want to do this by working with different nurses and learning from their experiences.

I believe this is the best way to learn and become a better nurse.

I am passionate about nursing and I know that by achieving this goal, I will be on track with my long-term goal which is to become a nurse manager.

See also: What Are Your Strengths Nursing Interview

This interviewee is humble and willing to learn.

They are also passionate about nursing and know that by achieving this goal, they will be on track with their long-term goal.

This proves that the interviewee has a long-term goal in mind and is willing to work hard to achieve it.

See also: Tell Me About a Time You Failed Nursing Interview

How to Answer About Short-Term Goals in Nursing Interview?

As you can observe from the above-mentioned examples, interviewees have different short-term goals in mind.

However, all of them share one common trait; they are ambitious and motivated to succeed.

So, when asked this question, you should consider the following tips:

1. Be ambitious and motivated to succeed

One of the best ways to answer this question is to be ambitious and motivated to succeed.

Show the interviewer that you are driven to achieve your goals and that you are willing to do whatever it takes to reach them.

2. Have a clear goal in mind

It is important to have a clear goal in mind.

This way, you can communicate your ambitions and motivation to the interviewer.

Remember, having a clear goal will help you stay focused and driven throughout the interview.

For instance, if your goal is to become a critical care nurse, then communicate this to the interviewer.

This will show them that you are serious about your career and that you have a clear plan in mind.

3. Be passionate about your goal

It is important to be passionate about your goal.

The interviewer will know that you are motivated to achieve it.

Being passionate about your goal will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the interview.

4. Show the interviewer that you are willing to work hard

It is wise to show the interviewer that you are willing to work hard.

The interviewer will know that you are serious about your career and that you are willing to put in the effort to achieve your goals.

See also: What Not to Say in a Nursing Interview

5. Attach your short-term goal to a long-term goal

It is a good idea to attach your short-term goal to a long-term goal.

By doing this, the interviewer will have an idea of where you want to be in the future.

See also: Why Do You Want to Work Here as a Nurse

If you want to be an advanced practice nurse, mention a short-term goal that will help you achieve this goal, such as becoming an RN first.

Conclusion: Short-Term Goals for Nursing Interview

When asked about your short-term goals in a nursing interview, be ambitious and motivated to succeed.

Have a clear goal in mind and be passionate about it.

Show the interviewer that you are willing to work hard and that you are serious about your career.

Attach your short-term goal to a long-term goal to give the interviewer an idea of where you want to be in the future.

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About Ida Koivisto, BSN, RN, PHN

Ida is both a registered nurse and public health nurse. Her passion is to provide as much valuable information about nursing to the world as possible. In her spare time from work and blogging, Ida loves to work out at the gym and spend time with relatives.