LIKELY QUESTIONS

- What experience do you have caring for older adults, and why do you want to work in geriatric nursing?
- How do you support a resident with activities of daily living while preserving dignity and independence?
- Describe your experience with medication administration, including how you prevent and respond to medication errors.
- How would you identify and report a deterioration in an elderly resident's condition?
- How do you communicate with a resident who has dementia, confusion, hearing loss, or limited German language ability?
- What is your approach to preventing falls, pressure injuries, dehydration, and malnutrition in a care-facility setting?
- How have you worked with families, physicians, physiotherapists, and nursing colleagues to coordinate a resident's care?
- What is your current German language level, and how are you preparing to work and relocate successfully in Cologne?

BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS

- Tell me about a time you cared for an elderly patient whose condition changed suddenly.
Model approach: Situation: Briefly describe the resident, setting, and unexpected change. Task: Explain your responsibility for assessment and immediate safety. Action: State how you assessed vital signs and symptoms, escalated using the correct clinical pathway, documented findings, reassured the resident, and communicated with the team and family as appropriate. Result: Share the outcome, such as timely treatment, transfer avoidance, or improved stability, plus what you learned.

- Describe a time you managed a challenging interaction with a patient or family member.
Model approach: Situation: Describe the concern or conflict without blaming anyone. Task: Explain your goal of maintaining trust, safety, and respectful communication. Action: Explain how you listened actively, used calm and simple language, clarified concerns, involved the appropriate senior colleague or clinician, and agreed on next steps. Result: Describe how the relationship or care plan improved and how you maintained professional boundaries.

- Give an example of when you promoted a patient's independence rather than doing everything for them.
Model approach: Situation: Describe an older patient who needed support with mobility, hygiene, eating, or rehabilitation. Task: Explain the balance between safety and independence. Action: Describe how you assessed ability, encouraged participation, used appropriate aids, coordinated with therapy staff, and set realistic small goals. Result: State the improvement in confidence, function, mobility, or wellbeing.

- Tell me about a time you noticed a risk to patient safety and took action.
Model approach: Situation: Identify a specific risk, such as a fall hazard, pressure-area concern, medication discrepancy, or infection-control issue. Task: Explain your duty to prevent harm. Action: Describe what you checked, the immediate action you took, whom you informed, how you documented it, and any preventive measure introduced. Result: Explain the avoided harm or improvement to practice and demonstrate accountability.

SMART QUESTIONS TO ASK

- What type of care facilities will I work in, and what are the typical care needs and dependency levels of residents?
- What does the induction programme include for internationally recruited nurses, especially regarding German documentation standards and local clinical procedures?
- How are shifts structured, including nights, weekends, staffing levels, and the process for requesting leave?
- What support is available for achieving or progressing from B1 to B2 German, and how is language learning balanced with work responsibilities?
- What are the expected timelines and support provided for recognition of my nursing qualification, visa processing, relocation, and starting employment in Cologne?

RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR

- Unclear answers about professional recognition, visa sponsorship, language requirements, licensing status, or whether you can work as a Registered Nurse while recognition is pending.
- Vague or evasive information about staffing ratios, workload, night shifts, overtime, agency use, or how absences are covered.
- Requests for upfront recruitment, placement, visa, training, or contract fees, or pressure to sign before receiving a clear written contract in a language you understand.