NHS Interview Questions: Courage

What "Courage" means in the NHS

Within the Six Cs framework, courage means doing the right thing for the people we care for and enabling us to speak up when we have concerns, to be honest about mistakes and to advocate for the rights of patients and communities. Courage in a nursing context is closely linked to the duty of candour, the professional and legal obligation to be open and honest with patients when something has gone wrong. It also encompasses advocacy: speaking up when a patient is unable to speak for themselves, challenging practices that could cause harm, and raising concerns through the Freedom to Speak Up process. The NMC Code requires registrants to act with courage in upholding the standards of the profession, including when doing so is uncomfortable.

Example interview questions

NHS panels come at this value from a few different angles. Bring one real shift, one real patient, one thing you actually did.

• Tell me about a time you raised a concern about patient safety. What happened and what was the outcome?
• Describe a situation where you had to challenge a decision made by a more senior colleague. How did you handle it?
• Give me an example of a time you advocated for a patient who was unable to speak for themselves.
• How would you respond if you witnessed a practice you believed was putting patients at risk?
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it in line with the duty of candour.

A strong example answer

During a placement on a busy medical admissions ward, I observed a healthcare assistant administer medication to a patient using a pot labelled with a different patient's name. The HCA had not noticed the discrepancy. The ward was very busy and I could see that the medication had not yet been swallowed.

I immediately but calmly said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, I want to double-check the name on that pot before we proceed," which gave the HCA the opportunity to stop without feeling publicly criticised. We checked the pot together and confirmed it was incorrectly labelled. The medication was put aside and the registered nurse was informed immediately.

I then completed a Datix incident report as instructed by the nurse in charge, describing exactly what I had witnessed and the action taken. The patient was reviewed to ensure no harm had occurred.

Afterwards, I reflected on how I had approached the situation. Speaking up in the moment had felt uncomfortable. I was a student and did not want to seem presumptuous. But I reminded myself that patient safety must always come first. I would not hesitate to act in the same way again, regardless of the hierarchy involved.

Evidence you can draw on

On a values question, a named example beats a good intention every single time.

• Any experience of raising a concern, reporting an error or challenging a practice in a professional or voluntary setting through appropriate channels.
• Experience as a patient advocate, formal or informal, where you spoke up for someone who could not advocate for themselves.
• Whistleblowing or Freedom to Speak Up related activity, or training in speak-up processes.
• Reflection on the duty of candour as part of nursing studies, so that you can say what it means in practice.
• Non-clinical examples of ethical courage: challenging unfair treatment of a colleague, reporting a breach of policy, refusing to take part in an unsafe practice.

Tips for a strong answer

Say your example out loud before the panel. Sounding rehearsed is fine. Sounding vague is what costs you.

• Frame courage as a professional obligation rather than a personality trait. Reference the NMC Code and Freedom to Speak Up.
• Show that you raised the concern through the correct channel. Acting unilaterally, or going straight to the press, would worry a panel.
• Say plainly that speaking up against hierarchy was uncomfortable, then say you did it anyway and would again.
• If your example involves your own mistake, show that you reported it honestly and promptly. That is the duty of candour in action.

Frequently asked questions

What is the duty of candour in nursing?

The duty of candour is the professional obligation, enshrined in the NMC Code and in law under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to be open and honest with patients and their families when something has gone wrong with their care. It requires nurses to acknowledge mistakes, apologise where appropriate and explain what has been done to put things right.

What is Freedom to Speak Up in the NHS?

Freedom to Speak Up is an NHS initiative that gives staff safe routes to raise concerns about patient safety and other issues. Every NHS trust must have a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian who staff can approach confidentially. It was introduced following the Mid Staffordshire inquiry and the Speak Up Review.

How do I demonstrate courage at a nursing interview if I have never raised a formal concern?

Courage does not require a dramatic whistleblowing story. Raising a concern informally with a supervisor, stopping a procedure you were not confident in, advocating for a patient's preferences against the wishes of a family member, or admitting a mistake honestly are all valid examples of professional courage.