Whether you are a newly qualified nurse, an international nurse joining from abroad or going for Band 6, NHS interviews follow a familiar pattern. They test your values, your clinical judgement and how you handle pressure and conflict.
Use the STAR method
For any “tell me about a time” question, structure your answer as Situation, Task, Action and Result, then add what you learned. Use a real example and say “I”, not “we”.
Values and motivation
- Why do you want to work here? Mention the trust’s values, a service it is known for and how your experience fits.
- What are the 6Cs, and which matters most to you? Care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. Give an example of one.
- Tell us about a time you showed compassion. Use a specific patient story, kept anonymous.
Clinical scenarios
- A patient’s NEWS2 score rises from 3 to 7. What do you do? Use an A–E assessment, escalate urgently using SBAR, increase observations, start interventions within your scope and document everything.
- A patient is deteriorating and the doctor is not responding. Escalate up the chain (nurse in charge, outreach team, emergency team) and document it.
- You find a drug error. Make sure the patient is safe first, then inform the nurse in charge and the doctor, complete an incident report and be open with the patient (duty of candour).
- How do you prioritise six patients at the start of a shift? Start with the sickest and most time-critical patients, then medications, delegation and safety checks.
- What is safeguarding? Recognising and reporting abuse or neglect. Give an example of when you raised a concern.
Teamwork and pressure
- Tell us about a conflict with a colleague. Show that you listened, raised it privately and focused on the patient.
- How do you cope with stress? Give real strategies, and mention supervision and support.
- What would you do if the ward is short-staffed? Escalate, prioritise safety, delegate appropriately and report it through the right channels.
For international nurses and Band 6
- How is nursing in the UK different from your home country? Be positive and talk about accountability, documentation and patient involvement.
- What do you know about the NMC Code? Its four themes are: prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust.
- (Band 6) How would you support a struggling junior nurse? Coaching, preceptorship, constructive feedback and following up.
- Do you have any questions for us? Always ask one, for example about preceptorship, training or the team.
Related: NHS pay scales 2026/27 · Band 5 to Band 6 · NMC registration