How To Answer Band 6 Nursing Interview Questions

In this helpful video, experienced nurse, Laura Pueyo, provides an in-depth explanation of questions you may be asked at your Band 6 interview, and how to answer them professionally.

Hi guys my name is Laura, I am one of the nurses from the NHS and today I will try to give you some tips to help you with your interview for a Band 6 position.

Preparing for a Senior Position Interview: Key Tips and Strategies

Interviewing for a senior nursing job can feel daunting, especially when faced with a panel assessing your suitability. While you will likely encounter a panel of interviewers, do not assume that all panel members have expertise in your specialty.

To make a strong impression, always support your answers with specific examples from your experience, even if you are familiar with the interviewers. Tailoring your responses and demonstrating your skills through concrete examples will showcase your preparedness and professionalism.

In this blog, I’ll guide you through the types of questions you can expect in your interview for a Band 6 nursing role and how to respond effectively, ensuring you’re ready to shine.

What Types of Questions Can You Expect?

What can you anticipate during the interview? Typically, you’ll encounter a combination of traditional and competency-based questions designed to assess your skills, qualifications, and experience.

I have organized these into five main types of questions that you might face. For each type, I’ll explain what the panel is looking for and offer strategies for answering effectively. Additionally, you’ll find more detailed resources to support your preparation on Nurses.co.uk.

Can You Tell Us About Your Experience So Far and How It Supports Your Role as a Band 6 Nurse?

When the interviewer asks this question, they aim to assess how your previous experience aligns with the responsibilities of a Band 6 nurse. They’re looking for specific examples that highlight your knowledge and expertise in relevant areas.

Here’s how to structure your answer effectively:

Clinical Expertise

Emphasize your proficiency in clinical skills and procedures that are essential for the Band 6 position. Highlight your experience working with diverse patient populations and mention any specialized areas or conditions you have encountered.

Example: "For instance, as a Band 5 nurse, recognizing a gap in staff training for managing diabetic emergencies, I initiated a monthly training program and monitored its impact. This effort led to a 15% reduction in adverse events related to diabetic care within our Ward”.

Team Collaboration

This is your time to demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. Share examples of collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive patient care.

Example: "I work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including physiotherapists, dietitians, and social workers. In one case, I coordinated care for a stroke patient, ensuring seamless communication between the team. This resulted in a discharge plan that enabled the patient to transition smoothly to a rehabilitation facility."

Commitment to Quality Care

Show how you prioritize patient safety and implement evidence-based practices.

Example: "I led a project to standardize wound care protocols in our unit. By introducing evidence-based practices, we successfully reduced infection rates by 15% over a year."

Professional Development

Don’t forget to mention your learning and professional growth. Discuss any relevant courses, certifications, or conferences you have attended, to show you are committed to your professional development.

Example: "I recently completed a leadership course and earned a certification in advanced life support. These have enhanced my ability to manage critical situations and support my team effectively."

Discuss your leadership skills and experience mentoring or supervising others

Leadership

The Band 6 role involves leadership responsibilities, so provide examples of how you have demonstrated leadership in your previous positions. Discuss your leadership skills and experience mentoring or supervising others.

Example: "In my role as a preceptor, I mentored three new nurses, helping them achieve competency in essential skills within their first three months."

By addressing these aspects in your answer, you can demonstrate that your experience positions you as a qualified candidate for the Band 6 role.

What Do you Feel Is The Band 6 Role In Meeting The Performance Targets?

The interview panel wants to assess your knowledge and understanding of the performance targets set by the NHS. They are looking for your awareness of key indicators, benchmarks, and metrics that are used to measure and evaluate performance in the Trust.

But what are the key performance indicators in NHS? These can include length of stay, mortality rates, readmission rates, and day case rates. All of these can be analysed.

Demonstrate your understanding that as a Band 6 nurse, you play a crucial role in meeting performance targets. Discuss how your clinical expertise and knowledge contribute to improving patient care and outcomes. Also include examples like:

Clinical Expertise and Outcomes

Example: "In my previous role, I noticed high readmission rates for COPD patients. I initiated a follow-up program where patients received post-discharge phone calls and education. This reduced readmissions by 25% in six months."

Quality Improvement Initiatives

Example: "I led a quality improvement project targeting catheter-associated infections. By revising our insertion and maintenance protocols, we achieved a 40% reduction in infections within a year."

Collaboration

Example: "I collaborated with ward managers and junior staff to streamline patient discharge processes, reducing the average length of stay by one day without compromising care quality."

Try to Connect your Responsibilities to Outcomes

Example: "I supported a quality improvement initiative to reduce hospital-acquired infections. Through standardized hand hygiene protocols and targeted training, we achieved a 20% improvement in compliance scores and reduced infection rates by 10% in a year."

Are You Familiar With The 5 CQC Questions, And Their Latest Report Of The Department?

As a Band 6 nurse, you need to be familiar with the CQC’s five key questions:

1. Is the service safe?

2. Is the service effective?

3. Is the service caring?

4. Is the service responsive?

5. Is the service well-led?

Choose one of the 5 domains and explain how nursing staff can help the Trust achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating in that domain. For the purpose of this response, let's focus on the domain of ‘Is the service responsive?’

Person-Centered Care

Tailor care plans to individual needs and involve patients in decision-making, as well as other health care professionals.

Timely Communication

Maintain clear communication with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

Continuity of Care

Collaborate with providers to ensure smooth transitions.

Example: "I developed a patient-centered discharge plan for a dementia patient, involving their family and community services. This initiative met the patient’s needs and improved satisfaction ratings for our department."

Have You Taken On Any Additional Responsibilities Or Projects In Previous Roles, And Has This Influenced Care Delivery?

You could also be asked questions about additional responsibilities or projects you have taken on in previous roles, and how this influenced care delivery.

The panel is looking for evidence of your initiative, leadership, collaboration, and commitment to quality improvement and patient-centred care. They want to see how you have taken on additional responsibilities or projects, and how these initiatives have positively influenced care delivery and patient outcomes. This question allows you to showcase your initiative, leadership, and impact on care delivery.

Focus on examples that demonstrate your proactive approach, ability to lead and collaborate with others, drive quality improvement, and provide education and training.

The panel is looking for evidence of your initiative, leadership, collaboration, and commitment to quality improvement and patient-centred care

Examples might include:

Link Nurse Role

Example: "As the Infection Control Link Nurse, I ensured compliance with hygiene standards by conducting monthly audits and providing training sessions. This reduced hospital-acquired infection rates by 15% in our unit."

Leadership Projects

Example: "I led a team to redesign our handover process, introducing a structured SBAR format. This reduced errors in patient transfers and improved communication among staff."

Mentoring

Example: "I supervised nursing students and new hires, creating tailored development plans that increased their confidence and competency. One nurse I mentored is now leading a quality improvement project herself."

Always Expect A Scenario Based Question

In each field this would have a different answer, but in general what the panel is looking to test your decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The panel wants to ensure that you have the necessary clinical knowledge, skills, and experience to perform effectively in the role. They may assess your understanding of medical conditions, treatment protocols, and relevant procedures in a scenario based question.

They will want to see how you approach and handle complex or urgent situations. They are interested in your ability to analyse information, make sound judgments, and take appropriate actions in a timely manner. They will check your critical thinking and problem-solving.

Effective communication is crucial in healthcare, and the panel will assess your ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals. They also want to see evidence of your teamwork skills, as collaboration is essential in delivering high-quality care.

The panel wants to ensure that you understand and uphold the ethical and professional standards of the NHS

The panel will look for indicators of your leadership abilities. They want to see if you can take charge, delegate tasks, and effectively coordinate care in a team setting. Also, The NHS can be a demanding and ever-changing environment, so the panel wants to assess your ability to cope with pressure, adapt to new situations, and remain resilient in challenging circumstances.

The panel wants to ensure that you understand and uphold the ethical and professional standards of the NHS. They may ask about your approach to patient confidentiality, accountability, and maintaining professional boundaries.

For scenario-based questions, use a clear format: Situation, Action, Outcome. Consider a scenario where a patient presents signs of sepsis.

Situation

The patient exhibited a rapid heart rate and low blood pressure.

Action

I promptly performed a full ABCDE assessment, escalated care to the medical team, and initiated sepsis protocol, including IV fluids and blood cultures.

Outcome

Early intervention stabilized the patient, preventing ICU admission and demonstrating my ability to manage critical situations effectively.

End Your Interview With A Question For The Panel

Conclude your interview by asking thoughtful questions that show genuine interest and forward-thinking.

Examples:

‘How does the Trust support Band 6 nurses in addressing workforce challenges?’

‘What opportunities are there to contribute to research or service innovation within this role?’

‘Can you tell me about any mentorship programs for new Band 6 nurses?’

By asking questions you learn more about the trust and help you decide if the role would be a good fit.

You'll also show the employer that you're interested, and you care about the role. This approach ensures your answers are comprehensive and tailored, leaving a strong impression.

I hope you find this video helpful, remember that you have more articles about this topic (nurse job interviews) on nurses.co.uk. 

Thank you for so much for watching this video and good luck with your interview!

(P.S We also have a handy band 6 salary guide, so you know what expect going into the role!)