1. Can you describe your experience in working within a secure mental health environment? Can you describe your experience in working within a secure mental health environment?
2. How do you approach the care of patients who may be in distress or exhibiting challenging behaviours? How do you approach the care of patients who may be in distress or exhibiting challenging behaviours?
3. What methods do you use to build therapeutic relationships with patients, and can you provide an example of a successful relationship you’ve formed? What methods do you use to build therapeutic relationships with patients, and can you provide an example of a successful relationship you’ve formed?
4. Describe your experience working within a multi-disciplinary team. How do you ensure effective collaboration? Describe your experience working within a multi-disciplinary team. How do you ensure effective collaboration?
5. What steps do you take to co-ordinate care effectively from admission to discharge? What steps do you take to co-ordinate care effectively from admission to discharge?
6. How do you ensure that patients are actively involved in their own care planning? How do you ensure that patients are actively involved in their own care planning?
7. Can you give an example of a time when you advocated for a patient’s needs or preferences in their care? Can you give an example of a time when you advocated for a patient’s needs or preferences in their care?
8. Describe a situation in which you had to lead a shift and manage the team. What were the challenges, and how did you address them? Describe a situation in which you had to lead a shift and manage the team. What were the challenges, and how did you address them?
9. How do you support and supervise junior staff and student nurses in a way that promotes their development? How do you support and supervise junior staff and student nurses in a way that promotes their development?
10. What is your approach to managing crisis situations? Can you provide an example of a situation you've successfully managed? What is your approach to managing crisis situations? Can you provide an example of a situation you've successfully managed?
11. Can you discuss a time when you had to use your communication skills to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation? Can you discuss a time when you had to use your communication skills to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation?
12. How do you ensure that your communication remains clear and effective, especially when dealing with distressed patients? How do you ensure that your communication remains clear and effective, especially when dealing with distressed patients?
13. What motivates you to work in nursing, specifically within the mental health field? What motivates you to work in nursing, specifically within the mental health field?
14. How do you maintain your professionalism and composure in challenging situations? How do you maintain your professionalism and composure in challenging situations?
15. Describe your understanding of the three principles of security (Physical, Procedural, and Relational) and how you would implement these in your day-to-day practice. Describe your understanding of the three principles of security (Physical, Procedural, and Relational) and how you would implement these in your day-to-day practice.
16. What strategies do you employ to maintain a safe and clean environment for patients and staff? What strategies do you employ to maintain a safe and clean environment for patients and staff?
17. How do you stay up to date with best practices in mental health nursing? How do you stay up to date with best practices in mental health nursing?
18. What do you consider to be your biggest strength as a nurse, and how do you leverage this in your practice? What do you consider to be your biggest strength as a nurse, and how do you leverage this in your practice?
19. Working as a Bank nurse can provide flexibility; how do you manage your schedule effectively while ensuring that you fulfil your professional responsibilities? Working as a Bank nurse can provide flexibility; how do you manage your schedule effectively while ensuring that you fulfil your professional responsibilities?
You can answer as many of these questions as you want.
Good luck!