Over the past year, I’ve received numerous emails from readers asking for a guide on doctor of nursing practice interview questions. 

I totally get it! You’ve studied like a crazy person for the GRE, submitted your applications, and now, finally, a DNP school asks to schedule an interview. #winning

Well not yet…

Somehow, I’ve managed to survive two interviews: one for my master of science in nursing (MSN) program at Vanderbilt University and another for my doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program at DeSales University.

My goal for this post is to offer a one-stop guide to all things doctor of nursing practice interview. This article covers:

• Two different types of nurse practitioner school interviews
• How to prepare
• What to wear
• Doctor of nursing practice interview questions (now we’re #winning)

As always, please ask questions and share your stories in the comments section at the bottom.

Let’s get started.

Two Types of Doctor of Nursing Practice Interviews

To put it simply, there are currently two different educational paths to become a nurse practitioner: a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP). The questions asked in the interviews will vary, so it’s important to understand the difference. 

The MSN has been the traditional path to becoming a nurse practitioner. It focuses mostly on preparing you to provide medical care. The DNP, on the other hand, is a newer degree that prepares you to provide medical care and additional things like leadership, technology, and policy.

You see, way back in 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a landmark report called Crossing the Quality Chasm that exposed safety and quality issues facing the United States healthcare system. To address these problems, the IOM implored health professionals to rethink their role. The IOM said: focus on the three T’s: translational science, technology, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

The nursing profession responded to the IOM’s call-to-action by creating the doctor of nursing practice degree. That’s why DNP programs include research, technology, and leadership courses. As a result, the doctor of nursing practice interview will be a bit different than the MSN interview.

An additional nuance is that some of you are attending a DNP program to become a nurse practitioner, while others are already nurse practitioners but returning to school to complete a DNP. Moreover, some of you aren’t nurse practitioners (or other advanced practice nurse) at all.

I’ve divided these nuances into two scenarios.

• Scenario One: Doctor of nursing practice interview where you will become a nurse practitioner at the end of the program
• Scenario Two: Doctor of nursing practice interview where you are either a nurse practitioner already or have no intention of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Interview Scenario One

This scenario applies to those who will become a nurse practitioner (or other advanced practice nurse) at the conclusion of their DNP program.

These doctor of nursing practice interview questions will be will likely focus on which medical specialty you’re interested in and why.

Upon entering nurse practitioner school, you must declare your “population focus” or medical specialty. Nurse practitioners can choose between six different patient populations: family, adult-gerontology, neonatal, pediatrics, women’s health and gender-related, and psychiatric-mental health.

During the interview, you’ll likely be asked questions about why you chose this population. I’d recommend doing brief background research about the big health challenges facing that population, and why those challenges are something you’re ready to tackle.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Interview Scenario Two

This scenario applies to those who are entering the DNP program as a nurse practitioner (or other advanced practice nurse) or who have no intention of becoming a nurse practitioner at all.

These doctor of nursing practice interview questions will focus on how you believe the DNP will advance your current practice. You may be asked about your perspective on high-level health topics like policy, professional development, and leadership.

Don’t forget about those “three T’s” I mentioned above: translational science, technology, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Be prepared to give examples of your experiences with these things and how you believe the DNP program will enhance your understanding.

I’d recommend even reading the Institute of Medicine’s publication (don’t worry there’s a summary), so you are ready to have an insightful conversation about the future of our profession.

Preparing for your Doctor of Nursing Practice Interview

To prepare for your interview, I recommend the following:

1. Study the nursing profession
2. Review the specific school’s website
3. Update your LinkedIn and resume
4. Practice the interview questions

You’re applying for a doctorate program, so you need to prove you can think critically. The best way to do this is to read the trending news, latest publications, and popular books. These will help you understand what’s top of mind for your interviewer, and it will illustrate your true passion for nursing practice.

If I could recommend one, short, easy-to-read book it would Lisa Chism’s The Doctor of Nursing Practice: A Guidebook for Role Development and Professional Issues. Reading this will certainly prepare you to answer a variety of doctor of nursing practice interview questions. 

There are even more books on my popular post Considering a DNP? Read these books first. 

Also, I would browse the American Association of Nurse Practitioner’s position statement papers including Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners, Quality of Nurse Practitioner Practice, and Nurse Practitioner Cost-Effectiveness. These will help you start thinking more strategically about our profession as a whole.

In addition to brushing up on the latest nursing topics, you’ll want to review the specific school’s website. Make sure you understand the program and write down any remaining questions you have to ask during the interview.

Furthermore, you should update your LinkedIn profile and resume. Often, interviewers will look you up on LinkedIn to review your background, education, and experiences. This is a great opportunity to illustrate your passion for become a doctor of nursing practice by being engaged with LinkedIn nursing groups or publishing your own LinkedIn articles.

Finally, you should practice, practice, practice. Grab a friend, colleague, or partner, to do a mock interview with you. Below you’ll find a list of doctor of nursing practice interview questions. Print them out and give them to your mock interviewer. Taking the time to practice answering questions out loud will give you the chance to think through your responses and rehearse clear, succinct answers.

What to Wear to Your DNP Interview

Go business professional. Dress like you’re the Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, shake hands confidently with the interviewer, and smile.

Business professional typically means a suit with pants or a skirt or a dress. You’ll also want to have a professional purse or laptop bag. I’m also a bit nerdy and always carry a padfolio with a copy of my resume and a notepad for jotting down thoughts.

I’m personally a fan of shopping on Amazon (free returns and their women’s business clothing is pretty good), but when it comes to something this important, I typically go with a personal shopper service like Stitch Fix. This company builds an outfit for you based on the occasion, and they will even pull style ideas from your personal Pinterest board.

Some people say business professional means muted colors and minimal accessories. While I do recommend staying within the boundaries of suits and dresses, I also believe in being yourself. The nursing profession needs diversity and passion and unique perspectives. Bright colors, bold jewelry, purple hair… be you.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Interview Questions

I pulled the list of questions below from my personal experiences as well as lists published across the web from nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians. Some even come directly from school websites.

I’d recommend putting these questions into a Word document and typing out your answer to each. Having a solid, confident answer will demonstrate your competence and passion.

Don’t forget, the interviewer isn’t just listening for the “right” answer—there often isn’t one. The interviewer is listening for your how you organize your thinking and how you express yourself.

Without further ado, here is a list of doctor of nursing practice interview questions:

• What is a nurse practitioner? What makes a nurse practitioner distinct from a physician or nurse? Why do you want to become a nurse practitioner as opposed to a physician or physician assistant?
• What are your thoughts about the terms “mid-level provider” and “physician extender?”
• What makes a good candidate for nurse practitioner school? There are 2,000 other applicants just as qualified. Why should we pick you?
• Are nurse practitioner doctors real doctors? Why or why not?
• Tell me about your previous clinical or volunteer experiences? When have you had a direct impact on a patient’s life?
• Why do you want to become a nurse practitioner? What is your personal nursing philosophy? In the past, how have you exemplified that philosophy?
• Where do you see yourself as a nurse practitioner in 5, 10, and 10 years? What impact do you want to have on the nurse practitioner profession?
• Why attracted you to this program?
• Tell me about a clinical experience that didn’t go the way you expected. What did you do and how did you respond?
• What are your impressions of health care reform and the Affordable Care Act? How about technology implementation, electronic medical records, and interoperability?
• What patient population are you most passionate about? Why? What are your thoughts about the health problems affecting that group? How might you go about solving those problems?

Here are some of my previously written articles that may help answer the above questions:

1. Should I get a DNP? And, 7 Other DNP Questions and Answers
2. Do Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Provide Equal Care?
3. 5 Things You Shouldn’t Call NPs and PAs
4. Economics Experts Support Nurse Practitioner Independent Practice
5. Progress on the Future of Nursing
6. Top Issues Facing the United States Healthcare System  

Hopefully, those are enough to get you started!

If I missed a question, put it in the comments section below to help future nurses and nurse practitioners prepare for their doctor of nursing practice interview.