How to hire registered nurses
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects. • Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans. • Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit. • Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records. • Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity. • Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions. • Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry. • Record patients' medical information and vital signs. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking and active learning skills • Working knowledge of psychology, medicine and dentistry, therapy and counseling and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $46.90 an hour ($97,550 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for registered nurses
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain accurate, detailed reports and records. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What registered nurses do
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for registered nurses
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +5.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 180,800 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay registered nurses
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 |
| Alabama | $77,080 |
See registered nurses pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Nurse Practitioners
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Nurse Midwives
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Physician Assistants
- Nursing Assistants
- Paramedics
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Family Medicine Physicians
- Emergency Medical Technicians
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.