8 Things to Research Before a Nurse Interview

By Demetrius Burns, Content Strategist at Incredible Health

When applying for a job, it’s important to come equipped with knowledge about the company that you’re applying to. This is true whether you are preparing for an interview or searching for an employer to apply to that fits your needs.

Researching the employer gives the hiring manager a sense that you are not only interested in a job, but you are also interested in working for that specific company. 

Spending the time to research an employer before applying could alert you to any potential red flags before you send off an application and waste your time applying. 

^{This content used under license from "Ask Nurse Alice."}

In this post, we will provide an overview of the most important things to research when applying to different types of facilities and preparing for an interview.

The most important aspects to research are: 

• Employer Reputation 
• Goals and Mission
• Demographics
• History
• Programs Offered
• News About the Facility or Hospital
• Important Members of the Administrative Team
• The Person Interviewing You 

Creating a resume as a new grad with no nursing experience or with non-nursing healthcare experience can be challenging. Don’t worry, Nurse.org has two templates for you to choose from - depending on if you have healthcare experience or not. 

1. Employer Reputation and Affiliations 

One of the first things to look for when determining an employer’s reputation is whether it has a magnet status. Magnet status refers to an award presented by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to hospitals that meet a benchmark that measures the quality of their nursing. Another important stat for a hospital includes ranking in the U.S. News & World Reports for hospitals. This outlet ranks the best hospitals by specialty. 

It’s also important to know whether or not a hospital is unionized, as their contract will directly affect you as an employee. If it’s a union a lot of the rates and the union information could be found online. 

2. Goals and Mission

A lot of hiring managers ask in the interview whether you have read the mission statement, so it’s imperative to be familiar with it. 

You can often find an employer’s goals or mission statement on their website “About” page or something similar. If you find these don’t align well with your own values, it could indicate that this hospital isn’t the right fit to be your next workplace.

3. Demographics

Knowing the demographics of a hospital comes down to being familiar with the area the hospital is in.  Does the hospital cater to a specific population type? For example, do they serve an older demographic or people who speak another primary language? What about the general income level of the patients? 

These questions will help you get a better feel for the hospital’s target patient group and allow you to determine whether it’s a good fit for you.

4. History

When was the hospital opened? If it’s an older facility, you should know about that since it could have an impact on the way things are run. Is it brand new or recently renovated? If so, it could mean better technology, which changes the experience for the nurse in general. 

5. Programs Offered

What kind of programs does the facility have? For example, maybe the hospital has a renowned cancer unit or a great pediatric program. This information can hint at opportunities for cross-training or internships down the road.

Additionally, it can be useful to know if the employer is a teaching hospital. Teaching hospitals work with a medical school and have new residents working there. They can provide many benefits to nurses from cutting-edge technology to more research opportunities for nurses.

6. News About the Facility or Hospital 

Knowing some of the latest news about the facility or hospital is an excellent way for you to come in prepared. Additionally, it helps you learn more about the facility in general.

For example, maybe the facility recently hired a new president. You could read about them and their new ideas for the facility and use this information in interviews. 

7. Important Members of the Administrative Team

It’s helpful to learn about the various members of the administrative team when you interview. Most facilities will have a president/CEO and Chief Nursing Officer. Knowing who they are by name and a little about them could give you a boost in your interview. 

8. The Person Interviewing You

Getting some information about who will be interviewing you will provide you with a considerable advantage in the interview process. By learning about who is interviewing you, you can develop a good rapport with the interviewer based on things you might have in common. 

You can determine who is interviewing you by looking up the name that emailed you, and if that doesn’t help, you can email the person back politely and ask for the interviewer's name. 

Once you have the name, you could find them on LinkedIn or Twitter to find out more about them.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot of work that goes into applying for and interviewing for nursing jobs. It can feel intimidating and stressful to hear that you have to put in even more work to secure your dream job. 

However, the work is worth it. By researching the employer, it will give you a leg up over the competition and make you stand out from the crowd. Additionally, it could help you eliminate employers that don’t fit your needs. 

Hopefully, this guide will help you feel at ease and prepared going into your interview or applying for jobs.