A behavioral health nurse possesses special skills. They deal with a diverse patient population, from those in deep mental and emotional crises to those with mental health disorders, substance abuse issues, those who succumb to basic life stressors, and more. The behavioral health nurse must be highly compassionate, empathetic, and willing to educate the uninformed.
Because there is still a stigma surrounding behavioral health, interviewers must ask the right questions. These questions reveal the potential new hire’s ability to work in the demanding behavioral health field. To that end, they are more in-depth than your average nursing job interview questions. Here, we offer 7 tips to help you prepare for your behavioral health nursing interview.
1. Understanding Behavioral Health Nursing Interview Questions
Knowing what questions you’ll be asked in an interview is the best way to arrive prepared. Behavioral health nurses are needed in various settings (schools, intake units, inpatient facilities, treatment facilities, and hospital ERs). These tips help you know what to expect so you can better prepare for your interview.
2. Why Did You Choose Behavioral Health for Your Nursing Career?
This question cuts to the heart of what matters. Be frank about what inspired you to seek out a nursing career in behavioral health. Are you an advocate for the patient population? Do you feel a unique kinship with the patients? Don’t provide vague answers.
3. How Would You Manage an Aggressive Patient?
Your so-called soft skills matter a great deal in the behavioral health environment. You’ll lean heavily on your conflict resolution skills as well as your interpersonal skills. If you have prior experience in dealing with overly aggressive patients, describe that experience and what you drew from it. You’ll rely on your communication skills much more heavily as a behavioral health nurse. You’ll also need to creatively adapt your active listening skills and persuasive communication. Be firm but also compassionate.
4. How Do You Address Family Caregivers Concerns?
Many times, family members are in denial over a patient’s diagnosis. This may result in them completely disregarding a patient’s treatment plan. As a behavioral health nurse, you are a major part of the patient’s medical team and a source of information for the family. The correct approach is to remain respectful and empathetic while objectively providing accurate information.
5. How Do You Promote Your Patients’ Self-Management and Self-Advocacy?
One of the roles of any great nurse is to empower their patients to take control of their health. Granted, in many behavioral health situations, this can be a challenge. However, a strong behavioral health nurse understands a large part of treatment success involves empowering the patient to control their mental health. In this case, you’ll want to express your method for giving your patients control while maintaining their treatment plan. Describe any experience you have in follow-up and successfully getting a patient to adhere to their plan, take their meds, and come in for follow-up as part of treatment.
6. How Do You Build A Relationship With Your Patient?
Trust is essential to the success of any relationship. For those nurses working in behavioral health, establishing a trust may be challenging. Trauma cases, critical mental health crises, as well as many illnesses may prevent a rapport from forming. As difficult as it may be, you must meet the patient where they are. Adapt to their needs. Exhibit respect. Empathize and communicate to the best of your ability. While building trust is crucial to your relationship it will take time in the best of circumstances. Be consistent, remain calm, and above all demonstrate compassion and respect.
7. What Else to Do to Prepare for Your Behavioral Health Nursing Interview
Beyond interview questions that are unique to the job, preparing for your behavioral health nursing interview is much like preparing for any other interview with a healthcare organization. Be sure you:
- Bring your updated and current resume/CV.
- Perform your due diligence and research the organization/facility before your interview.
- Dress appropriately
- Ask follow-up questions. This may be your only opportunity.
- Send a thank-you after the interview. An email will do, but a handwritten card makes an impression.
For more on how you can arrive at your behavioral health or any other nursing interview prepared to impress, please contact BOS Medical Staffing.
