NHS INTERVIEW GUIDE

The 6Cs of Nursing Interview Questions: How to Answer With Real Examples

What the 6Cs of nursing are, how panels ask about them in nursing, midwifery and healthcare assistant interviews, 12 practice questions, a worked STAR answer and a preparation plan.

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Created by a practising NHS doctor · Independent of the NHS

Quick answer

How do I answer questions about the 6Cs in a nursing interview?

Name all six Cs: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. Give a one-line meaning for each, then prove two or three with a short, real STAR example from work, placement or caring experience. Show your own actions, safe practice and escalation, and finish with what you learned. Link the values to the NMC Code, the NHS values and the employer's own values.

Key takeaways

Learn all six Cs so you can name them without hesitation.
Prove the values with a real example, not definitions.
Show that the Cs work together, especially compassion and competence.
Courage means speaking up through the proper route.
Check the employer's own values and use their language.

The 6Cs of nursing are care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment, a set of values for nurses, midwives and care staff introduced in England in 2012. To answer 6Cs questions in an interview, name all six confidently, explain briefly what each means in practice, then prove them with a short, real example from your own work, placement or caring experience. Panels are less interested in the definition than in seeing the values in what you actually did.

Questions on the 6Cs are common in interviews for student nurse places, nurses, midwives, nursing associates and healthcare assistants. This guide explains what each C means, how the 6Cs link to the NMC Code and the NHS values, likely questions, a worked STAR answer, what panels look for, common mistakes and a short preparation plan.

In this guide

What are the 6Cs of nursing?
Why do nursing interview panels ask about the 6Cs?
How do I answer "What are the 6Cs?" in a nursing interview?
How do the 6Cs link to the NMC Code and the NHS values?
What are common 6Cs interview questions?
Which of the 6Cs is the most important?
What is a good STAR answer using the 6Cs?
What do panels look for in 6Cs answers?
What are common mistakes when talking about the 6Cs?
How should I prepare for 6Cs interview questions?
Where can I practise 6Cs nursing interview questions?

What are the 6Cs of nursing?

The 6Cs are six values that describe good nursing, midwifery and care: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. They came from the 2012 national strategy for nurses, midwives and care staff in England, often known as Compassion in Practice, and are still widely used in training, appraisal and interviews.

Care: the core business of the job, helping people with their health and wellbeing in a way that is right for each person, throughout their life.
Compassion: delivering care with kindness, empathy, respect and dignity, sometimes called intelligent kindness.
Competence: having the knowledge, skills and understanding to give safe, effective, evidence-based care, and knowing your limits.
Communication: listening as well as speaking, with patients, families and colleagues, and recording information clearly. Good communication underpins teamwork and safety.
Courage: doing the right thing for patients, speaking up when something is wrong, and being brave enough to try new ways of working.
Commitment: dedication to patients, to improving care and the patient experience, and to your own learning and development.

Why do nursing interview panels ask about the 6Cs?

Panels ask about the 6Cs to check that your values match the role, not just your clinical knowledge. Values-based recruitment is common across the NHS, and the 6Cs give interviewers a shared language to test whether you would be kind, safe and honest under pressure.

The 6Cs began as an England strategy, so panels in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may use their own values instead. The ideas overlap heavily, so the same examples usually work. Check the advert for the values the employer uses.

How do I answer "What are the 6Cs?" in a nursing interview?

List all six in one sentence, give a one-line meaning for each, then pick one or two and back them with a brief example. A strong answer takes about two minutes and finishes by linking the values to the role you are applying for.

Step 1: Name them clearly: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment.
Step 2: Explain that they describe the values behind good care, not a checklist.
Step 3: Say that they work together, for example compassion without competence is not safe, and competence without compassion is not good care.
Step 4: Give one short example showing two or three of the Cs in action.
Step 5: Link back to the role: "On this ward, I think courage and communication matter especially because..."

How do the 6Cs link to the NMC Code and the NHS values?

The 6Cs fit closely with the NMC Code and the NHS values, and showing that link is an easy way to stand out. Registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates should know the Code well, and healthcare assistants benefit from mentioning the NHS values and the Care Certificate standards they have worked to.

NMC Code: its four themes are prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust. Care and compassion sit within prioritising people, competence within practising effectively, and courage within preserving safety and raising concerns.
NHS values: the NHS Constitution values include compassion, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, working together for patients, improving lives and everyone counts. Compassion and commitment appear in both lists.
Duty of candour: courage includes being open and honest when things go wrong.
Employer values: many trusts and health boards have their own values, so map the 6Cs onto them in your answer.

What are common 6Cs interview questions?

Most 6Cs questions are either direct ("which C matters most?") or hidden inside a competency question about kindness, speaking up or learning. These are typical practice themes, not real questions from any interview.

What are the 6Cs and why are they important? Name all six and explain that they protect patient experience and safety.
Which of the 6Cs is most important to you, and why? Choose one, justify it, and show how it depends on the others.
Tell me about a time you showed compassion. Focus on small, specific actions such as time, privacy and listening.
Give an example of when you needed courage at work. Speaking up, challenging poor practice or admitting a mistake all work.
How do you make sure you stay competent? Mention training, supervision, reflection, revalidation if registered, and asking for help.
Describe a time your communication made a difference to a patient. Think of adapting how you explained something.
How do you show commitment to your own development? Courses, reading, feedback and goals you are working towards.
How would you show compassion to a patient who is angry or frightened? Stay calm, listen, acknowledge feelings and escalate if needed.
How do you keep compassion going on a very busy shift? Small gestures, teamwork and looking after your own wellbeing.
Tell me about a time you saw care that did not meet the 6Cs. Explain how you raised it through the right route, without blame.
How do the 6Cs apply to a healthcare assistant role? Personal care, dignity, observation and reporting changes.
Which of the 6Cs do you find hardest, and how are you developing it? Be honest and show a plan.

Which of the 6Cs is the most important?

There is no single correct answer, and panels mainly want to hear your reasoning. Pick one C you can genuinely evidence, explain why it matters in this role, and show that it only works alongside the others.

Compassion and care are popular choices. Choosing communication or courage and explaining the safety reasons can be memorable, for example that good communication is how care, compassion and competence actually reach the patient. Never suggest any C is unimportant.

What is a good STAR answer using the 6Cs?

A good 6Cs answer uses one real example that shows several values together, with your own actions clear and a reflection at the end. This example suits a healthcare assistant or student nurse, and the structure works for registered roles too.

Example answer: compassion and courage on a busy ward (healthcare assistant)

Situation: On a busy surgical ward, an older patient with dementia became distressed at mealtime and was refusing food. Staff were stretched, and I noticed her lunch tray had been left out of reach and she had not eaten much for two days.

Task: I wanted to help her eat safely and comfortably, and make sure the team knew about her poor intake so it could be acted on.

Action: I sat at eye level, introduced myself again and spoke slowly and calmly. Her family had told us she liked tea before meals, so I made her a cup and offered small portions at her pace. I filled in her food and fluid chart accurately, then told the nurse in charge what I had seen over two days and that I was worried about her nutrition. This took some courage because the nurse was very busy, but I knew it mattered.

Result: She ate most of her meal that day. The nurse arranged a dietitian referral and added meal support to her care plan, and her intake improved. Her daughter told us she felt reassured. I learned that compassion is often about small details, and that it also takes courage to speak up so one good meal becomes a better plan. I now always check that patients can reach their food and drinks.

What do panels look for in 6Cs answers?

Panels look for genuine, specific evidence that the values guide your everyday behaviour. They usually score against the person specification, so mirror its wording where it fits.

Real examples: one specific occasion, not a general statement about being caring.
Your own actions: what you did, said and noticed, using "I".
Safety awareness: working within your competence, documenting and escalating.
Courage handled well: raising concerns through the proper route, calmly and respectfully.
Dignity and person-centred care: privacy, choice and respecting preferences.
Reflection: what you learned and how it changed your practice.

What are common mistakes when talking about the 6Cs?

The most common mistake is reciting the list without any evidence. Others include examples that are vague or that accidentally show unsafe practice.

Forgetting one of the Cs: practise until you can say all six easily.
Only giving definitions: the panel wants proof, not a textbook answer.
Choosing an example where you acted outside your role: courage does not mean making decisions you are not trained for.
Criticising colleagues: describe concerns factually and focus on what you did.
No reflection: always end with learning.
Breaching confidentiality: never use names or identifying details.

How should I prepare for 6Cs interview questions?

Learn the six values by heart, then prepare three or four stories that each show two or three of them. A focused week of preparation is usually enough.

Day 1: Write the 6Cs from memory with a one-line meaning for each, and read the NMC Code or Care Certificate standards for your role.
Day 2: Read the person specification and employer values, and note where the 6Cs fit.
Day 3: List experiences from work, placements, volunteering or caring, and tag each with the Cs it shows.
Day 4: Write three or four STAR stories, including one about courage and one about competence.
Day 5: Practise aloud, about two minutes per answer, including which C you think matters most.
Day 6: Get feedback from a practice educator, mentor, line manager, union rep or peer.

Where can I practise 6Cs nursing interview questions?

Free options include NHS Jobs interview advice, your university or trust careers service, practice educators, and resources from the RCN, Unison and the Royal College of Midwives. Peers and mentors can run informal practice with you, and some people pay for a coach.

Healthcare Interview Prep is one self-study option. It covers 471 NHS roles across 11 sectors, each with 40 original practice questions and full written model answers built around the NHS values and STAR, and the first 8 questions for each role are free to read. It is independent, not affiliated with the NHS, and does not offer live coaching or mock interviews, so combine it with practising aloud and feedback from real people.

Frequently asked questions

Are the 6Cs still used in NHS nursing interviews?

Yes, the 6Cs are still widely used in nursing, midwifery and care staff interviews, training and appraisals, even though they were introduced in 2012. Some employers now frame questions around their own values or the NHS values instead, but the ideas overlap closely. Learn all six, check the employer's own values on the advert or website, and prepare examples that show both.

Do healthcare assistants need to know the 6Cs?

Yes. The 6Cs were written for nurses, midwives and care staff, so healthcare assistant and support worker panels often ask about them. You do not need complex clinical examples. Showing compassion during personal care, communicating with a confused patient, or having the courage to report a change in someone's condition to the nurse in charge are all strong ways to evidence the 6Cs.

What is the difference between care and compassion in the 6Cs?

Care is what you do to help someone with their health and wellbeing, while compassion is how you do it: with kindness, empathy, dignity and respect. You can complete a task without compassion, which is why both are listed. In an interview, show the difference by describing the task and then the small human touches, such as listening, explaining or protecting privacy.

How do I show courage in a nursing interview answer?

Choose an example where you spoke up for a patient, challenged something unsafe, admitted a mistake or tried a better way of working. Show that you raised it calmly through the proper route, such as the nurse in charge, your manager or your organisation's speaking up process, and that you stayed within your role. Finish with the outcome and what you learned.

Do I need to mention the 6Cs if the panel does not ask?

It can help to mention them briefly where they fit naturally, for example when explaining why you want the role or reflecting on an example. Do not force them into every answer. Panels in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, or employers with their own values, may prefer you to use their framework, so check the advert and use the language they use.

Practice question banks for related NHS roles

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Each NHS role on this site has 40 original practice questions with full model answers. The first 8 are free to read, and the rest of a role's bank costs £4.99 with 12 months' access and no subscription.

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Healthcare Interview Prep is an independent NHS interview preparation website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the NHS. Example questions and answers are original practice material, not official or leaked interview questions.

Healthcare Interview Prep: practice questions and model answers for 471 NHS roles across 11 sectors, created by a practising NHS doctor.