Tips For Scoring High Marks in Your Nursing School Interview

One of the first few things that you will need to go through when applying for nursing school is to speak with an admissions counselor. With the competition facing aspiring nurses today, it is essential to make a good impression .

By following these tips, you will have that counselor's approval in no time.

First of all, show up ON TIME. Plan to get to the campus half an hour early; that way, if you run into traffic, you've given yourself some leeway. The thing is, by showing up late, you're leaving the impression that you may be unreliable, thus ruining your opportunity of showing them that you have what it takes to be a competent nurse.

Secondly, show up neat, clean, conservatively dressed, and hygienic. If you have long outlandish acrylic nails, consider doing away with them. Many hospitals ban their employees from wearing acrylic nails, because they harbor germs and microbes. It would be in your best interests to show up at your interview looking like someone that a hospital would employ.

Thirdly, do some serious thinking about the actual questions that may be asked in the admissions interview. You will most likely be asked why you intend to make a career in nursing.

Good answers:

• Because I wish to help people.
  
• Because I want to make a difference in people's lives.
  
• Because I enjoy interacting with people.
  
• Because I want a job where I can do a public service.

Not-so-good answers:

• Because I want to make money. (While this is perfectly reasonable and could be one of your reasons, putting it high up on your list and mentioning it to the admissions counselor won't make for a compelling case for you. After all, this is a very stressful and challenging profession and money shouldn't be the only reason to go into it.)
  
• Because I often find myself jobless, and there are always jobs for nurses, right?
  
• Because it's my ticket to meeting a doctor who can then support me if I quit working.
  
• Because I can't think of anything else and everyone's going to nursing school nowadays because it's such a hot job.

Fourth, prepare questions of your own. Make sure they're good questions. Example: What are your student's passing rates for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-LPN? What percentage of students who are accepted into your program successfully complete it? What type of job placement assistance do you have for your graduates? What type of NCLEX preparation courses or support do you have?

By using these tips, you'll be sure to leave a good impression with the admissions counselor and be on your way to a nursing career.