NHS staff nurse (Band 5) interview guide

How NHS employers interview Band 5 staff nurses: values-based panels, clinical scenario questions, assessment centres for some roles, and how to prepare.

How NHS nursing interviews work

Health Careers says "most NHS trusts use value-based interviews" and that "the application process will assess whether you have the right values as well as the skills for the job."¹ Health Education England (now part of NHS England) says newly qualified nurses can expect "panel interviews with senior nurses, service managers, and healthcare professionals" "who will assess your knowledge, skills, and fit with their team".²

NHS Employers says values-based recruitment can be delivered through "values based interviewing techniques (role play, written responses to scenarios)", and it also mentions pre-screening assessments and assessment centres.³

This guide combines that national guidance with the published material of three NHS trusts and one Scottish health board. Each employer-level detail is named, because it describes that employer's approach only.

The interview process

As Health Careers and Health Education England describe it, with detail from the named trusts and board.^{1, 2}

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust description below dates from October 2024 and may have changed.⁴

1. Application and shortlisting

   Health Careers says employers shortlist against the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification.¹ It adds: "Organisations that advertise health roles will be very explicit about both the skills and values they are looking for."¹ At Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, you apply via NHS Jobs or Trac, and if shortlisted you accept the interview invitation via Trac.⁴

2. Panel interviewPanel

   Health Education England says newly qualified nurses can expect panels of senior nurses, service managers and healthcare professionals.² North Bristol NHS Trust says its interviews "may include an on-site face-to-face interview or an online interview via Microsoft Teams".⁵ It says "We use structured interviews where each interviewer will ask you a number of competency-based questions", or values-based questions.⁵

   • Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Its pack says: "You should expect your interview to last between 40 to 50 minutes."⁴ It says the interview will include opening questions "to get to know more about you", values questions "to understand what motivates and inspires you", technical/competency questions "to assess your skills in relation to the role you are applying for", and closing questions where you can ask the panel questions.⁴ It also says: "Depending on the role you are interviewing for you may be given a presentation brief prior to the interview and be asked to prepare a short presentation for the interview panel."⁴
   • NHS Lothian (NHS Scotland). This Scottish health board's Generic Recruitment Team recruits all band 2 to 5 Nursing and Midwifery vacancies using a 'One Application, One Interview, One Decision' methodology.⁶ Its generic Nursing and Midwifery interviews "generally take place in-person at the Comely Bank Centre", with panels interviewing a cohort of shortlisted candidates.⁶ Its suggested introduction tells candidates "I will ask you a series of questions from a set list" so that "everyone who goes through this interview process will be asked the same questions".⁶ Interviewers start with a 'settler' question, then move on to the framework questions.⁶
   • The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. It says "The Trust now recruits all members of staff via a Values, behaviours and attitudes interview", which "will be split between a skills-based interview and a values based interview".⁷ That "could either be a combined panel, or a separate values-based and main panel", and "The questions will ask for real life experiences."⁷
3. Assessment centreSome roles

   Health Careers says graduates applying for their first health job may be asked to attend an assessment centre.¹ There, you may be asked to "demonstrate your skills in a clinical simulation", group exercises can include "a formal topic-based discussion such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of conduct for nurses and midwives", and some include numeracy tests, including drug calculations.⁸ North Bristol NHS Trust says "The structure of your interview will depend on the role and may be a standard panel interview or an assessment centre."⁵ Its assessment centres "can range in duration from a couple of hours to a full day" and "will usually have at least three elements", such as situational judgement tests, in-tray activities, group exercises, presentations, simulation exercises, written tests or psychometrics.⁵

4. Offer and pre-employment checks

   Health Education England advises: "You don't need to accept immediately. Ask for details in writing and request a reasonable time to decide."² At Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, a successful candidate gets a conditional offer letter with an invitation to a face-to-face pre-employment check appointment.⁴ Its checks cover identity/right to work in the UK, DBS, a work health assessment, references to cover 3 years of employment history, and evidence of professional registration/qualifications.⁴ A start date is then arranged, a contract is sent, and you start in post and attend trust induction.⁴ At NHS Lothian, a debrief led by the recruitment team decides where successful candidates are matched.⁶ It says: "We encourage interview panellists to telephone candidates on the interview day, giving verbal offers, which are subject to OHS clearance, PVG checks and satisfactory references."⁶

Values and competencies the panel assesses

The NHS Constitution for England lists six NHS values: "Working together for patients", "Respect and dignity", "Commitment to quality of care", "Compassion", "Improving lives" and "Everyone counts".⁹ NHS Employers says values-based recruitment helps employers "assess the values and behaviours of candidates, to align with the NHS constitution."³

Health Education England says nursing interviews include questions about nursing values and professional standards, including person-centred care, dignity, compassion and professional accountability.² They also include "scenario-based questions about patient care, clinical situations, and emergency procedures" "to test your clinical reasoning and decision-making".²

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's October 2024 pack gives examples of competencies its competency-based questions assess: technical skills, knowledge and experience; organisational ability; interpersonal skills; problem solving; judgement; teamwork; and innovative thinking.⁴

NHS Lothian, an NHS Scotland health board, publishes an interview framework for Registered Nurses and Midwives at Band 5, built from its Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan.⁶ It says: "Values underpin behaviours and therefore behavioural competencies are assessed in the main at interview."⁶ The framework has six competencies.⁶

• Leadership.⁶
• Excellent person-centred compassionate care.⁶
• Maximise the professional contribution of nurses and midwives.⁶
• Excellent safe and high-quality care.⁶
• People feel valued, respected, and supported.⁶
• Reinvigorate the workforce.⁶

NHS Lothian rates each interview question on a scale: Not observed (N/O), 1: Doubtful, 2: Good, 3: Very Good and 4: Outstanding.⁶ Treat this as one board's approach, and check what your own trust publishes.

Questions to expect

Based on what Health Education England, NHS Lothian and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust say the interview tests. The first two groups are their own published examples.

How to prepare

1. Spend your answer on the outcome. Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust describes the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) as "a structured way of responding to both values and competency-based questions".⁴ Its October 2024 pack says: "The outcome of the situation is the focus during these questions; you should spend most of your time discussing the learning or changes you took rather than just giving a description of what happened."⁴
2. Back every claim with an example. NHS Lothian marks a competency "Not observed" when it is only dealt with in passing, such as "a one sentence statement e.g. 'I possess excellent communication skills' with no elaboration."⁶ Pick a placement story for each skill you mention.
3. Work from the person specification. Health Careers says employers shortlist against its essential and desirable criteria.¹ List each criterion and note the placement or work example that shows it.
4. Rehearse clinical reasoning out loud. Health Education England says scenario-based questions test clinical reasoning and decision-making.² Talk through how you would assess, act and escalate for a deteriorating patient.
5. Revise drug calculations. Health Careers says some assessment centres include numeracy tests, including drug calculations.⁸
6. Know where you want to work. NHS Lothian encourages panellists to ask candidates where they would like to work and which specialty (if any), to advise them "that most posts require a combination of days, nights and weekend working", and to ask about their need for visa/sponsorship.⁶ Have clear answers ready.
7. Learn the trust's own values. At Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust they are integrity, simplicity and caring.⁴ Match one of your examples to each value of the trust you are applying to, as well as to the six NHS values.

Worth mentioning in the interview

• The Band 5 review. In England, on 11 February 2026 the Department of Health and Social Care announced a package agreed with the Royal College of Nursing, under which "Every band 5 nurse will now have their role reviewed by their employer".¹⁰ It said "Additional funding" would be made available "to support the band 5 review process and any resulting salary uplifts".¹⁰
• A single national preceptorship. The same announcement, which covers England, committed to "establishing a single national nursing preceptorship" and to "prioritising increasing graduate pay".¹⁰ Asking how the ward supports preceptees is a good closing question.
• NMC revalidation. NHS Lothian asks how you will meet the requirements of NMC revalidation.⁶ A short, concrete answer shows you are thinking beyond your first year.

Quick answers

More interview guides

• NHS Healthcare Support Worker interview guide
• All NHS interview guides

Sources

1. Your first job after university | Health CareersHealth Careers
2. Preparing for nursing job interviews and offersHealth Education England
3. Values-based recruitmentNHS Employers · 23 May 2024
4. Values Based Recruitment Candidate Resource Pack (Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)Leeds and York Partnership NHS FT · 18 Oct 2024
5. Interview & Assessment | North Bristol NHS TrustNorth Bristol NHS Trust
6. NHS Lothian Interview Framework Nursing & Midwifery: Registered Nurses and Midwives – Band 5NHS Lothian
7. Preparing for an interview - NHS Jobs in ShrewsburyShrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
8. Assessment centresHealth Careers
9. The NHS Constitution for EnglandGOV.UK · 17 Aug 2023
10. Nurses to benefit from boost to graduate pay and job progressionGOV.UK · 11 Feb 2026
11. Pay scales for 2026/27NHS Employers · 12 Feb 2026

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