Top 7 Behavioral Health Nursing Interview Questions

Behavioral health nurses care for patients dealing with a range of mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors, and crises. Since behavioral health is still mired in stigma, nurses working in this specialty must be highly empathetic and passionate about educating patients and the public. When hiring for this role, asking thoughtful behavioral health nursing interview questions is essential for identifying a candidate with these traits.

To help you find the right person for your team, we’ll outline seven of the top interview questions for behavioral health nurses and tips for evaluating your candidate’s answers. Find applicants to interview by preparing a targeted job description. If you’re seeking more job-market insights, you can also explore current behavioral health nurse job openings to learn what skills other facilities are looking for.

Below you’ll find a downloadable behavioral health nurse evaluation form that can help you stay organized during your next round of interviews.

Behavioral Health Nursing Interview Questions

Behavioral health nurses can work in a wide variety of settings, including inpatient units, schools, treatment centers, and emergency rooms. Here are seven essential interview questions that apply to all types of behavioral health nurses.

1. What inspired you to work in behavioral health?

Starting the interview with this question allows the candidate to provide a more personalized elevator pitch of their career journey into behavioral health. You can learn more about their motivations and goals while also assessing whether their values align with those of your organization.

What to listen for:

• Personal/professional experiences that inspired the candidate to pursue behavioral health
• Positive values that reflect a desire to advocate for patients with mental and behavioral health conditions

Potential follow-up questions:

• What qualities do you think every behavioral health nurse should have?
• What’s your favorite and least favorite aspect of your job?

2. Tell me about a time that you had to address a family member’s misconceptions about a patient’s treatment plan.

Given the stigma associated with behavioral health care, it’s not uncommon for family members to have concerns or questions about a patient’s treatment plan. This question assesses a candidate’s communication and problem-solving skills by drawing from their past experiences.

What to listen for:

• Ability to respectfully listen and empathize with family members
• Understanding of how to provide accurate, objective information in difficult situations

Potential follow-up questions:

• What steps do you take to promote a safe and welcoming environment for patients and their families?
• What types of resources would you recommend to families seeking additional education about mental health?

3. How do you promote self-advocacy and self-management in your patients?

Empowering patients to take control over their mental health is essential to the success of their treatment. Self-management and advocacy should be the topic of at least one of your behavioral health nursing interview questions, and answers should reflect a candidate’s understanding of how to foster a sense of independence in their patients.

What to listen for:

• Understanding of the importance of promoting autonomy and self-care
• Ability to both guide their patients and empower them to make their own decisions

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you follow up with patients to ensure that they’re adhering to their care plans?
• Tell me about a time you had a patient who was not adhering to treatment and how you handled the situation.

4. What would you do if you suspected abuse or neglect in a patient’s home?

As mandatory reporters, nurses play an important role in protecting vulnerable patients who may be dealing with difficult situations at home. This question evaluates how candidates would handle suspected cases of abuse or neglect and their ability to prioritize patient safety.

What to listen for:

• Understanding of established policies and protocols for mandatory reporting
• Ability to gather appropriate information and adhere to ethical guidelines

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you keep up with rules and regulations related to behavioral health nursing?
• Tell me about a time that you faced an ethical dilemma regarding a patient.

5. Describe your process for building a therapeutic relationship with a patient.

In behavioral health, establishing rapport and trust with patients is crucial. Patients must be able to openly communicate with their nurses in order to inform accurate and appropriate treatment plans. Candidates should be familiar with the steps needed to build a therapeutic relationship and adapt to each patient’s individual needs.

What to listen for:

• Emphasis on meeting patients where they are and empathizing with their needs
• Understanding the importance of building a relationship through respect and communication

Potential follow-up questions:

• Why is building rapport with patients important in a behavioral health setting?
• Tell me about a time that you had a difficult patient. How did you handle this situation?

6. What steps do you take to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality?

While patient privacy and confidentiality is essential in any healthcare setting, it’s especially important in behavioral health care. Patients are placed in vulnerable situations, often having to share very personal and sensitive information with their providers.

What to listen for:

• Understanding the importance of HIPAA privacy rules
• Clear steps for ensuring secure communication and documentation practices

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you maintain confidentiality when working with other healthcare professionals?
• What would you do if a coworker was openly sharing unnecessary information about another patient?

7. How do you account for different cultural backgrounds when delivering care to patients?

Nurses must understand how to deliver culturally competent care in order to effectively educate patients and families about mental health. Asking behavioral health nursing interview questions like this allows you to gauge whether a candidate can account for different beliefs and perspectives.

What to listen for:

• Respectful attitude toward different beliefs, cultures, and backgrounds
• Ability to consider a patient’s preferences when formulating care plans

Potential follow-up questions:

• How do you promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
• What are some other measures you take to deliver person-centered care?

Find the Right Candidates to Interview

Want to ensure you’re asking your behavioral health nursing interview questions to the right people? IntelyCare can help you reach qualified candidates faster. Post to our job board today and start collecting high-quality applications from a nationwide network of nursing professionals.