Top 21 Mental Health Nursing Interview Questions In 2024 [With Answers]

This world is moving at a rapid pace. There are billionaires as young as 18 years old and there are destitute as old as 80 years old. The urge to become successful amid all the chaos and cut-throat competition takes a heavy toll upon the human mind.

Not only this, being humans, we need love, support, encouragement, and money in our lives. When anything among these is missing, we fall victim to stress, anxiety, and frustration.

This creates the need for a specialized medical professional, who is known as a Mental Health Nursing executive. He or she is responsible to understand the needs of his or her patients, establish fiduciary relationships and assist the primary doctor. If you top-21-are having an upcoming interview session for this post, read out the frequently asked interview questions from below and boost your preparation.

21 Best Interview Questions To Study

1. What Is Your Understanding Of The Several Cognitive Behavioural Techniques, Which Are Used Primarily For Mental Health Patients?

Sample Answer

Sir, the cognitive-behavioral technique (CBT) is a popular method, which is used to re-shape and transform the thought process of mental health patients. It can be practiced in several manners, which are:

• Reframing Of the Thought Process: It is common for mental patients to generate several negative thoughts and remain obsessed with them. This not only creates a feeling of fear among them but also robs them of their mental peace. Thus, reframing is an effective technique using which medical professionals communicate with them and try to push them towards optimism.
• Challenging The Belief System (Self-disovery): The belief system or the normal conscience of a traumatic patient is always disturbed and remains manipulated. Thus, mental doctors and nurses, challenge this belief system by asking some deep intellectual questions that help the patients to broaden their viewpoints and initiate the process of self-discovery.
• Scheduling Activities: Traumas and unfateful events act as a scar and prohibit the normal functioning of mental patients. There are always come activities that are avoided by such patients. Mental doctors encourage the patients to participate in such activities so that they are able to eliminate the feeling of fear and regain confidence.

2. Explain The Different Parts of Diencephalon and State Their Functions.

Sample Answer

Sir, Diencephalon is a part of the central nervous system and is divided into two different parts, which have distinct functions and roles in the human body.

Thalamus	Hypothalamus
The brain receives a lot of sensory information through the five senses. This information is relayed in the brain for the purposes of the processing. This processes information is used to generate an optimal motor response. This process of relaying the information is carried out by the Thalamus.	It performs several functions, such as: 1) Maintains the body temperature of the humans 2) Controls and regulates the appetite 3) Creates an optimal water balance 4) Controls the pituitary secretions 5) Defines the sleep-wake cycle

3. How Are Occipital Lobe and Parietal Lobe Different From Each Other?

Sample Answer

Sir, both these lobes are parts of the Cerebrum but have a different role in the human body altogether. The parietal lobe interprets all the sensory inputs and processes them into different, shapes, sizes, and textures. On the other hand, an occipital lobe interprets all the visual inputs and processes everything that is perceived and seen by the human eye.

4. What Are The Benefits “Role Playing”? Explain From the Context Of Treatment Of Mental Health Patients.

Sample Answer

Sir, the biggest issue with mental patients is that they are not able to control their thought process, which runs like an unbridled horse in the wildfire. This creates too much stress and hurts each and every nerve. The end result is painful and can lead to permanent disruptions of several basic human functions.

The technique of role-playing can have several benefits for mental patients, which are:

• Re-development of critical thinking and re-acquiring the problem-solving skills
• Makes the patients more social and allows them to easily co-exist in the society
• Boosts confidence and improves their communication skills

5. Explain In Brief The Four Different Functions Of Medulla Oblongata.

Sample Answer

Sir, a medulla oblongata is a conical structure and helps humans to perform several autonomic functions. The four of these basic functions are:

• Respiration
• Sneezing
• Vomiting and
• Coughing

6. Share The Three Primary Responsibilities Of A Mental Health Nursing Executive.

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, These are:

• Make sure that the patients are receiving the prescribed treatment, that is, correct medicines and injections
• Monitoring the progress of the patients consistently, and noting down all the vital signs on a periodic basis
• Make sure that the patients are comfortable while being in the medical care, by understanding all their problems, issues and difficulties

7. Which Is The Second Largest Part Of The Human Brain? Can You List Some Of Its Functions?

Sample Answer

Sir, after the Cerebrum, which is the largest part of the human brain, Cerebellum is the second largest part. It primarily helps in three different major functions, which are:

• Co-ordination of the muscle movements
• Controls and maintains the posture
• Controls the balance of the human body and maintains the state of equilibrium

8. What Is The Process Of “Successive Approximation”, Which Is Widely Used To Treat The Mental Health Patients?

Sample Answer

Sir, the treatment of a mental health patient is like a long-drawn battle wherein the medical professionals are required to take small but relevant steps. The processes or tasks using which the mental condition of the patients can be improvised are identified and implemented in parts so that the patients are on the path of gradual but steady recovery. This is known as the technique of Successive approximation.

• 9. What Do Know About The Sympathetic System Of The Autonomic Nervous System?

Sample Answer

Sir, the autonomic nervous system is divided into two different parts, which are, Sympathetic system and the Cholinergic system.

The sympathetic system consists of the adrenaline hormone, which is released when we feel stress, anxiety, or nervousness. When we are not able to control our emotions, this hormone is released in abundance, and leads to high blood pressure, upsetting of the stomach, fever, and headache.

10. What Is The Relevance Of Relationship Building In This Job Profile?

Sample Answer

Sir, in every doctor-patient scenario, there is a greater need to create strong relationships with the patients. The relevance of this relationship and bonding increases even further when the patients are suffering from mental traumas. Initiating meaningful and friendly conversations with the patients is the best way to understand all their issues and difficulties.

This not only helps a medical professional to win their trust but also helps to diagnose them properly and give appropriate treatment. Thus, I always prefer to form a strong bonding with my patients and always communicate with them.

11. A Cerebrum Is Divided Into Four Lobes. Can You Explain Any Of These Lobes?

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, I would like to explain the Temporal Lobe. The basic functions performed by this part of the cerebrum are Hearing, Memory storage, and recalling. It also has a LIMBIC system, which controls the basic human drives, such as Hunger, Sexual drive, Anger, Fear, etc.

12. What Is Your Understanding Of The Peripheral Nervous System? Can You Share The Two Parts Into Which It Is Divided?

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, A peripheral nervous system is responsible for connecting the Central nervous system (CNS) with the rest of the body. It comprises:

• Sensory Nerve, which carries all the messages and information to the CNS for the purposes of processing and
• Motor Nerve, which carries all the messages from the CNS to the body, on the basis of which humans react and respond

Further, a peripheral nervous system is divided into two different parts, which are:

• Somatic system: It controls all the voluntary responses of the human body besides controlling the skeletal muscles
• Autonomic system: It controls all the involuntary responses of the human body besides controlling all the visceral organs. Some common activities controlled by this system are beating of the heart, pupil contraction, respiration process, etc.

13. What Are Some Of The Best Ways Using Which You Can De-escalate The Emotions Of Distressed Patients?

Sample Answer

Sir, it is necessary for the mental health nursing executives to de-escalate the emotions of the patients, which are triggered by several activities. I follow these methods for the purposes of de-escalation:

• Empathy: Most mental patients feel that they are not getting understood or are simply getting ignored. Hence, when a mental health executive empathizes with such patients, it really helps in calming them down
• Active Listening: It is necessary to understand the viewpoints, issues, and problems of mental health patients using active listening skills. This makes them feel better as they think the medical professional is really trying to help and is actively listening to all their problems
• Non-committed promises: Distressed patients get irked and become frustrated quite too easily. Thus, it is necessary to be non-commital with them and answer to there each question in an optimistic but diplomatic manner. For example, if a patient wants to urgently see a doctor, I always reply, Okay, Let me see, Where he is? and I will try to get him to you. I never reply in a committed way, like, Okay, Just wait a few minutes and I am getting him to you.

14. Can You Explain To Me The Three Primary Functions Of Nervous System?

Sample Answer

Yes sir, These are:

• Sensory Input: Using the five senses, our nervous system gathers sensory information. For example, see, hear, talk, feel, etc.
• Integration: The sensory information gathered by the senses is now processed by the brain so as to generate appropriate responses.
• Motor Output: It refers to all the actions and responses that are generated by the human body, upon receiving motor impulses from the brain. For example, Feeling excited after seeing a movie.

15. It Won’t Be Wrong To Say That The Healers Are Themselves The Victims. Counseling, Handling, and Treating The Mental Patients For A Long Period Of Time Tends To Develop Stress. How Do You Handle This Situation?

Stress spares nobody. Be it the hunting or the hunters. It just strikes everyone and impacts their normal functioning. The same happens with the mental health nursing executives as well, who fall prey to it.

Interviewers ask these interview questions from the candidates because it has been observed that a stressed employee fails to meet the established benchmarks/ standards, and also fails to achieve the assigned tasks in a time-bound manner.

Hence, always give a perfect response to this question by sharing the appropriate stress-busting techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, positive pep talk, yoga, etc.

16. The Legacy Of Our Medical Centre Is Built Upon Years Of “Quality” Operations and Guidance. How Do You Interpret This Term “Quality”?

This is a word-based interview question, which requires you to interpret the word “quality” in your own terms. Usually, “quality” is achieved when an employee is able to meet the established benchmarks and is also able to get the much-needed patient satisfaction.

Hence, always be original while answering this question, and present your own logic as well as rationales. It is further recommended that you ignore all the generic or ready-made answers.

17. What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses As A Mental Health Nursing Executive?

This is a common interview question and is asked in almost all the interview sessions held across the world. It acts as a master personality evaluator and helps an interviewer to assess whether or not you are a perfect match for the vacancy generated by the company.

To prepare an ideal response for this question, always read out the job description offered to you completely and gain a comprehensive understanding of the requirements. Post this, just share the strengths that align with these identified requirements and weaknesses that do not conflict with them.

18. There Are Several Mental Health Centres Providing Excellent Care To Their Patients. What Prompted You To Choose Us?

Job seekers are busy people. They just keep on applying at different business organizations, until they are able to get a job of their liking. Hence, an interviewer always asks this question so as to judge your seriousness and commitment towards the organization you are applying with. No company wants its attrition rates to be high.

Prepare a perfect response to this question by referring to the official website of the company and noting down all the relevant details, facts, and historical information pertaining to the company. Post this, just compile everything together and prepare a structured response.

19. Daily Routines Lead To Monotony and Most People Buckle Under Its Pressure. In Such Situations, Only The Motivational Factors Come In Handy. So, Can You Tell Me What Motivates You The Most?

Motivation in life is necessary to break the shackles of monotony and boredom. It not only makes you enthusiastic but also fills you with vigor and passion. This really helps every employee to deliver stellar performance at the workplace and achieve all the objectives in a time-bound manner.

Hence, as an ideal response to this question, just share what motivates you the most. Earn money, the urge to get recognized, become successful, get respect from peers, etc. are some of the common motivational factors for the employees.

20. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

No interview session is concluded without this interview question. After all, it is the primary deciding factor, which helps an employee as well as an employer to associate with each other. Hence, it is necessary to prepare a perfect response for this interview question by researching the industry of mental health professionals and noting down all the salaries offered.

Post this, just calculate the average of all these noted salaries and base your answer upon it. In case there is a need to deviate from this mean salary, just make sure you are not exceeding beyond 15%.

21. Do You Have Any Questions For Us?

So, finally, this is the end. Whenever you face this interview question, you can be assured of the fact that your big day has finally ended and after this, you can go home. This question gives you one last opportunity to leave an impression upon the interviewer by asking some relevant counter-questions, which are basically associated with the organization, its ethical culture, its work environment, etc.

Hence, always attempt this question and broaden your understanding by reading out the sample questions mentioned hereunder.

Sample Questions

• What are the various incentives and allowances that are offered by the company to its employees?
• Can you please tell me about the real promotional scenario? After how many years and on what parameters are the promotions made by the company?
• Is it the policy of the company to offer paid leaves to its employees, especially in situations of medical emergencies?

References

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/hsc.13204
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-021-04902-3