How to Nail an Aged Care Nurse Interview

Posted 2th July 2024 | 5 minute read

Stepping into an interview room can be daunting. But prepare well, and you might just land yourself a new job. We chatted with four different aged care facility and hiring managers at St Vincent's to highlight the key things you need to know in an interview for an aged care nurse role. So, let’s get started.

Show 'why' you want to (or already do) work in aged care

This is #1 on the list because without a passion and desire to work in aged care, it's unlikely that you're going to get hired for the role.

You can teach all of those other skills. What you can't teach is the heart and connection to the role. And if they haven't got that, then we're just pushing it uphill the whole way.

- Kirk Farquharson, Facility Manager at St Vincent's Kangaroo Point

Talk about what attracted you to aged care. Do you have elderly family that you had to look after yourself? Maybe a story that made you want to work in the industry? Or maybe you just want to change aged care for the better.

Whatever your reason for working in aged care, talk about it. It could be the difference between you getting a role and not.

Demonstrate your people skills

Aged care nurses need to be great leaders. And to be a great leader, you need to communicate well.

At St Vincent's, facility and clinical managers look for people that:

Can demonstrate good communication skills.

Can relate to people empathetically.

Have good leadership skills

That have strong emotional intelligence and are able to demonstrate empathy, support and quickly build rapport with people.

aged care worker with a resident sitting on an outdoor lounge

Show your heart for aged care and that you really love the work you do, and you'll be 90% of the way to nailing the interview 📷 St Vincent's Care Hawthorn

But it's not just about showing good communication when things are going well, it's important that you're able to talk through your experience for when things aren't.

St Vincent's hiring managers will look for people that have shown they can manage:

Staff conflict

Complaints (particularly from residents and families)

Even if you don't feel like you have all of the clinical skills and experience, the ability to communicate well and manage relationships can take you a long way not just in your interview, but your career too.

Bonus: Some aged care homes might even walk you around the home as a part of an interview. This can be a great way for an aged care provider to see how you interact with other staff and residents, if you identify any areas in the home that could be improved and it also helps you get a great feel for the place you might be working in.

Prepare for scenario based questions

If you found a resident on the floor in their room, what would you do next?

If a patient with dementia is being aggressive and refusing care, how would you proceed?

Scenario based questions can be difficult to answer, but they're arguably the most important.

Remember: aged care is all about focussing on the resident and who they are, not just their illness or situation.

"I like when a nurse talks about the individual [in an incident]. Not just notifying the GP or the family.
Where it's not just about the clinical care, but about the person.

- Jackie Newman, Behaviour Support Nurse at St Vincent's Care Hawthorn

Whether it's a scenario based question, or even just a question about your own experience in similar situations, the importance of the practical, problem solving side of care can't be overstated.

Read on:

Know and understand the aged care standards

Because the aged care standards of care are currently in a transition period, it's important you stay up to date with any of the latest changes since 2021.

draft aged care standards

These are the latest draft aged care standards which improve upon the original standards introduced in 2021

For a full view of what the aged care standards are, and how aged care providers can implement them practically, check out the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's website.

But at their core, the standards emphasise a focus on an aged care resident's care tailored specifically for them.

Read on:

And in an aged care nurse interview, it's essential you show that a person in aged care is more than the sum of their medical conditions.

They have a history, life, family, spirituality and more that all contribute to their health and wellbeing.

Have a good understanding of dementia

Over half of people living in aged care in Australia have dementia.

So, it's important that if you're looking to work in the aged care industry, that you have a high-level understanding of it.

Share any additional training you've done
Talk about what the latest research says about caring for residents with dementia
Show you'll know how to react and respond to aggressive behaviours
Show your understanding of how dementia impacts on the family
Demonstrate your ability to pick up on small changes in residents/patients with dementia

aged care resident in dementia garden

Dementia is a growing part of aged care that just about every provider will ask you about in an interview 📷 St Vincent's Care Carseldine

Read on:

Parting Thoughts

By starting with the heart of why you want to work in aged care and following it up with your practical experience in clinical roles, you should be well prepared for just about any nursing interview in aged care.

So, be yourself, talk to the things you know, and you'll be starting yourself out on the path to working in one of the most rewarding fields in healthcare.

How to Nail an Aged Care Nurse Interview

Show 'why' you want to (or already do) work in aged care

Demonstrate your people skills

Prepare for scenario based questions

Know and understand the aged care standards

Have a good understanding of dementia

Parting Thoughts

Helpful Information

6 Reasons Nurses Choose to Work in Aged Care

7 Reasons You Should Work in Aged Care

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