“I decided to become a nurse because I genuinely love working with people and caring for others. When I was a child, I had an appendectomy and was really anxious about the entire surgery and hospital experience.

The doctors were great, but they only spent a limited amount of time with me. It was the nurses who spent time, answered questions and helped put my family and me at ease during an unexpected and frightening situation. They were fantastic during my recovery, and that has always stuck with me. That experience is a big reason I decided to become a nurse.”

“I remember one particular patient who was verbally abusive and continued to refuse physical assessment. After speaking with him calmly, I understood that he was in a lot of pain. I reviewed his chart and spoke with the attending physician to ensure that we were doing everything we could to manage his pain.

The physician was able to order an alternative pain management regimen, and I was able to communicate this new treatment plan with the patient. I made sure that he felt heard and that we weren’t dismissive. The patient was much more comfortable and cooperative with his care after that point.”

“I would like to work at this hospital because of its excellent reputation for emergency medicine. I started as an EMT and had the opportunity to transport patients to various emergency rooms throughout the city.

I was always impressed by the thoroughness, professionalism and skill of the doctors and nurses that I encountered here. I know that this particular facility receives a high volume of advanced trauma patients, and I am looking forward to applying what I have already learned while still having the opportunity to learn from seasoned and professional staff.”

“I have always loved aviation and was naturally drawn to emergency medicine. I served in the Army as a combat medic and spent significant time around helicopters, both for transportation and medical evacuations. After I left the Army, I knew that being a flight nurse was the best way to build upon my previous interests and experiences as a civilian.”

“I think effective nurses are patient, compassionate and detail-oriented, but they also need strong communication and critical-thinking skills. Nurses often work as part of a team and care for patients in stressful situations, so being able to stay calm, listen carefully and adapt to changing needs is important. These traits help nurses provide safe, respectful care while supporting both patients and colleagues.”

“In my opinion, the biggest challenges and issues facing nurses today are safe staffing levels and workplace safety. This area’s current nursing shortage has created several staffing constraints. This increases stress on nurses, reduces the quality of patient care and increases the likelihood of medical errors. I am interested in working for this organization because of its reputation for commitment to appropriate staffing ratios and patient safety.”

“I feel that I am qualified for the job because I have my Bachelor of Science in nursing, have obtained specialty certification as a certified pediatric nurse and have six years of practical experience as a registered nurse within the pediatric hospital setting. I also stay on top of industry news and studies, and I attend seminars or symposia at least twice a year. I genuinely enjoy what I do and put in extra effort to be the best that I possibly can.”

“I've spent many years working in a hospital setting, so I'm very familiar with the intensity of being assigned several tasks at once. I'll take a deep breath and prioritize each task by importance and the care it requires of me.

I have a system in place to maintain an organized patient report sheet and quickly document in the electronic medical record, enabling me to track every task. I prioritize high-needs tasks and operate as quickly as possible, while being careful not to make any errors.”

“When explaining a diagnosis to a patient, I clearly state what the condition is, what their treatment plan is and whether they need to receive any further care. I use simple language, free of jargon and complex medical terminology, so they can understand their condition regardless of their medical knowledge.

Sometimes, I assess a patient’s medical knowledge and provide additional information if they ask. If appropriate, I also provide the patient with leaflets or any further details to inform their self-care and management of symptoms.”

“Some patients may feel uncomfortable sharing personal or sensitive information. In situations like this, I focus on building trust by reassuring the patient and explaining why the information is important to their care.

I use open-ended questions, such as 'How are you feeling?' or 'On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate your pain?' to encourage communication. If the patient is still unwilling to share information, I would follow appropriate procedures and involve senior staff as needed to ensure the patient receives safe and effective care.”