Walk me through how you would enter a patient's room at Adventist Health.

"First and foremost, I would knock on their door to let them know that I'm at the door and coming in. This gives a sense of privacy and independence to my patients. Upon entry, I always ensure that I am smiling and upbeat when I ask them how their day is going and if they need anything immediately. This gives them the feeling of security and comfort in ensuring that their immediate needs are fulfilled."

When your interviewer poses a question like this to you during your interview, they are looking to hear that you would see working with the patients of Adventist Health as more than just a task. As you prepare an answer for this question, think about how you individualize your care for patients and take a personalized approach with them. As you answer, talk about the personalized approach that you would take and reiterate that you would walk into each person's room with a smile on your face and a positive attitude in tow to be the person that brings a ray of sunshine into their day every time.

Tell us about a time that you demonstrated patience with one of your patients.

"Recently, I offered to help one of my patients get dressed because I knew that he was having some recent mobility issues. He was quite adamant that he could dress himself and do it safely. I let him know that I was available if he needed me, but he insisted that he didn't need my help. I knew I could've dressed him quicker on my own but also knew that he wanted to do it on his own. I respected his request and wanted him to have his own independence, so I stayed in his room in case he needed me and helped him to his chair once he was ready. It took some time, but he was able to dress himself, and he felt really proud. In times like these, I use my best discretion on doing what is best for the patient while also considering their own personal safety as the most important factor."

By asking a question like this, your interviewer is looking to hear that patience is one of the best traits you will bring to Adventist Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Because you will often be working with patients that may be scared or irritable, a patient and understanding approach is critical. Tell the interviewer about when the patience displayed was recognized by leadership, co-workers, or even another patient. Be sure to tell the interviewer that you strive to show that same patience daily when you work with your patients.

What are your career goals in the healthcare field?

"Ultimately, my dream job is to become an EMT at some point during my career. I'm ideally looking to step into the hospital setting in a role like this to help build my skills in the inpatient setting over the next five or so years. If you were to hire me to join your organization, you'd find that I'm a dedicated CNA that has the drive to learn and grow every day on the job."

Your interviewer understands that some Certified Nursing Assistants will continue their career path in that role for the remainder of their career, and some consider the role to be a step in the path to another career in the healthcare field. While there is no right or wrong answer to this question, your interviewer doesn't want to hear that you'll only be in this job with Adventist Health for only a short bit of time before jumping into a new career. But if you do have greater career aspirations and a plan in place for those to happen, it is best to answer this question openly and honestly. You can do this by displaying a desire to work for Adventist Health for the long term. As long as you discuss your educational plan for growth with your interviewer while being the best you can be in this role, you will win over your interviewer with your answer.

How would your patients describe you?

"My patients look to me because of my skills, kindness, compassion, sense of humor, and my ability to positively interact with all patients. On my recent performance review, I was commended for my positive attitude with patients, and this feedback was received through surveying recent patients on our unit. I was very proud to hear that this feedback came directly from patients that said they'd want to be under my care if ever in the hospital again."

How your patients describe you will say a lot about the work ethic, empathy, and kindness you would bring to the Adventist Health team. As you answer this question, talk to your interviewer about any direct feedback you've received from patients, colleagues, and/or supervisors you've worked with in the past. If possible, try to highlight your skills in providing the best care possible for patients to ensure that you do your part in helping to provide the best possible outcome for them as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

If offered this position at Adventist Health, what is your availability to work night or weekend shifts?

"I am really open to working any shifts necessary if hired on your team at Adventist Health. We have two elementary-aged kids at home, and my spouse works day shift hours Monday through Friday. To prepare for any necessary childcare during daytime hours, I would need to see a work schedule at least a week ahead of time. Can you provide any insight into how scheduling for this position works?"

Before interviewing as a CNA with Adventist Health, it is important that you thoroughly read the job description and posting for this role to understand what hours will be required for the role. Before applying, you need to ensure that your availability to work shifts matches what they are looking for. As you answer this question, you need to find a fine balance of proving that you will be a reliable employee for their organization while being open and honest about any conflicts you have in your availability to work.

What do you know about Adventist Health?

"As I embarked on a new job search, finding a health system that matches my core values was important to me. After talking to a couple of staff members here that I know, your faith-driven mission is something that I can get behind in my work, and I'd look forward to doing that with Adventist Health every day."

To impress your interview and show that you have done your homework before your interview, you must have a good sense of who Adventist Health is as an organization so you can find a match that aligns with your personality, values, and work style. To do this, it is always best to read Adventist Health's website to learn key information such as core hours, awards received, upcoming events, special focuses for that year, and their mission and values. As you answer, talk about what they do that you hold near and dear to your heart to prove that you are a great match for this CNA role. As a bonus, be sure to mention any positive interactions you have had with staff, as well as what they have told you about the organization.

If a patient at Adventist Health insisted that their personal hygiene was fine and it wasn't, what would you do?

"One of my sweet elderly patients, unfortunately, didn't wear deodorant and really needed to. After sitting with her and talking about her likes and dislikes, she told me about her favorite perfume. I decided to surprise her with a small present later that week. I wrapped up a bottle of her favorite perfume as well as a deodorant. My subtle and nonconfrontational approach worked, and she was very thankful."

This is a tough topic to discuss with patients, but an important one that your interview will expect you to handle with class if offered the job at Adventist Health. It can often be uncomfortable and embarrassing for the patient. Ideally, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you take a direct yet personable approach with your patients. If you have an example of when you had to do this, don't hesitate to talk about how you navigated that situation. Just make sure to not use any names or embarrassing details as you answer.

If you had a patient here that insisted on hitting their call light all night when the reasons weren't justified, what would you do?

"This is certainly a familiar situation in the role that I am in currently. Knowing that a call light can be a dire situation, I never hesitate to react quickly. When a patient is persistent with the call light in a non-emergent situation, I've taken a few moments to talk with them personally and explain why they need a good night's sleep. One time, I even told a bedtime story to a patient to help them sleep. With Adventist Health patients, I wouldn't hesitate to use any of these techniques with them."

This is a question where your interviewer wants to hear your compassionate approach kick in. You won't dismiss the patient's call light, even though they've pushed it several times that night. Let the interviewer know that you will make a point to take a few extra minutes with the patient to talk to them instead of checking briefly and walking away. Maybe the patient is just lonely and wants someone to talk to. Your paperwork can wait, so reiterate how you would spend some time to hear their story and maybe educate them on the importance of sleep. In the end, your interviewer wants to know that you would take the necessary time with that patients at Adventist Health.

Give an example of a time where you used your sense of humor as a Certified Nursing Assistant. How would you bring a sense of humor to Adventist Health?

"During my time in a skilled nursing facility, keeping things fun with the residents was always important to help provide a spark in the monotony of their day. I always kept a red clown nose in my pocket while I was at work. When a patient wasn't expecting it, I would put it on and go about my day as if I didn't know it was there. The patients and I always had a good laugh over it. If I were fortunate enough to join Adventist Health, I would always be looking for ways to keep things fun with patients, especially at times when they need it the most."

As a Certified Nursing Assistant, talk about how you find simple ways to bring joy into the lives of those around you. A cute joke, a silly face, or goofy footwork in the hallway will get you and your patients laughing. Explain to the interviewer that you feel a sense of humor is important at Adventist Health because it would allow you to show your creativity while still positively helping the patients. Giving an example or two of a time you used your witty sense of humor to brighten a patient's day will earn you bonus points with your interviewer.

Why do you feel it is important to have a positive attitude as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health?

"I am a positive person and always do what's necessary to bring the best out in others around me. If my colleagues are in a good mood, it helps make the job easier and the patients happier. If fortunate enough to work for Adventist Health, you'll quickly find that I come to work every day with a smile on my face and a great attitude to be around."

We all know that a negative attitude as a CNA can rub off on others. The same can be said about a positive attitude. Not only will it show others around you that you see the good in things, but others will want to spend time with you. Your resume shows the interviewer that you are good at your job, and now you need to let them know that you would be pleasant to work with and be around daily on the job at Adventist Health. Talk about your own personal experiences in how bringing a positive and bright attitude to work impacts all people around you and how you will continue to bring this attitude to the team and patients at Adventist Health.

What is one interpersonal skill that you feel is important for a CNA at Adventist Health to have that you excel at?

"Throughout my career, my patients and colleagues have always commended me on my friendly approach with patients, even on the worst of days. No matter what has happened in the moments or hours before an interaction with a patient, I wipe the slate clean and approach them with a smile on my face and love in my heart. If hired here, I would look forward to bringing this same approach to your patients."

Before your interview as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health, take some time to research the job and the organization to answer this question effectively. You could think of how your co-workers would describe you and match the interpersonal skills you possess to the job you are interviewing for. Whichever skill you highlight, be confident and let the interviewer know that you are excited to bring your skill to the team at Adventist Health.

What are a few technical skills that you would bring to Adventist Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

"During my time as a home health aide working for an agency, I really gained a lot of great skills working one-on-one with patients. Some of the skills that I developed were therapeutic procedures for bedridden patients and changing colostomy and urostomy pouches. I feel like these would be strong skills I could put to use at Adventist Health."

By asking this question, your interviewer wants to hear you talk about one or two direct patient care skills that you excel at that you would bring to Adventist Health. Ideally, they'll be looking to hear that you are familiar with your patient's physiological issues, including common disorders and diseases. You could also talk about your ability to record vital signs without making the patient uncomfortable. However you choose to answer this question, be sure that your interviewer walks away from your time together knowing that you are comfortable in your abilities in providing great care to the patients of Adventist Health.

How would you bring a sense of care and compassion to the patients you would work with at Adventist Health?

"I have a great example that shows my personalized and empathetic approach with patients. After the holidays a couple of years ago, I was working a shift and visiting with one of my patients. She shared that she wished she could still write letters to her grandchildren, but her penmanship wasn't the best. The next day I spent my lunch break with my patient writing her words down on some pretty stationery I picked up the night before. We addressed the envelope together, and I dropped it in the mail that evening. She thanked me for my thoughtfulness and said she felt like she could re-connect with her grandchildren again. A personalized approach like this is how I would like to continue to care for your patients at Adventist Health."

As a Certified Nursing Assistant providing the most intimate care to the patients at Adventist Health, your interviewer will ideally be looking to hear that you will bring a gentle, kind, and empathetic approach to all patients you would be working closely with. Without being too longwinded, talk to your interviewer about how you bring a customized and unique approach to every patient you work with. It will always help to talk about the importance of customizing your approach with patients because they all bring their own history, experiences, and thoughts. Bringing a customized approach is the way to show the most compassion.

What duties of this role do you feel that you would need the most training in from the start?

"Since I entered the Certified Nursing Assistant field four years ago, my dream has been to work in an intensive care unit, and I was very excited about this opportunity when I applied. Because all of my experience has been in a skilled nursing facility, I know that I would need to learn a lot about the personalized care that ICU patients need. I foresee myself becoming skilled in turning patients covered in tubes and hooked up to a vent and other lines. If hired at your organization, learning the nuances of providing direct care to patients would be my priority."

Certified Nursing Assistant job duties can vary greatly from job to job and even industry to industry. From your perspective, it is vitally important to recognize the differences in this role with Adventist Health compared to other jobs you have held during your career. To do this, you should thoroughly research the job you are interviewing for at Adventist Health. Your interviewer does not expect to hire a person that is an expert in all aspects of the job, so it is okay to talk openly and honestly about an area of this role where you feel you will need to focus your efforts in training and orienting if offered the job. Just be sure that you talk confidently about your ability to learn and grow as their next CNA.

How would you work effectively with an Adventist Health patient that was refusing care?

"If ever confronted with this situation, I would first try to find out why the patient was refusing care. In these situations, a patient is likely either fearful of any procedures or fearful of the cost of medical care. I would talk to them and let them know that our team was there to do what is best for them. If needed, I would involve other members of the care team here at Adventist Health to talk to the patient."

During your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant, you will likely come across a patient that blatantly refuses to be cared for. Whether due to fear, personal beliefs, or financial concerns, your job is to educate the patient on the importance of the care they should be receiving. As you answer this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you can communicate clearly to the patient in a manner that helps them understand what exact care they are declining and, in turn, what the results could be for refusing that care. Talk about how you would educate that patient to help them make the best decision possible for their health and well-being.

How would you handle a confrontation with an Adventist Health colleague?

"Last year, one of my coworkers misunderstood me in a critical situation, and it led to a confrontation in front of a patient and other staff. After the patient's situation was rectified, I asked the colleague to take a walk with me to talk. As we talked about the confrontation, we both realized that she was stressed out at home and brought her stress to work. She apologized for raising her voice, and I apologized for not being clearer. The two of us work even better now. In this situation, I learned that being direct with someone to work things out is the best way to handle a confrontation with a positive result."

This can be a tough question to answer while keeping your emotions in check. If you choose to share a story about a time a coworker confronted you, don't share personal details, don't show your anger, and don't use their name. State how you defused the situation and what you learned from it that you could bring to the Adventist Health team as their next Certified Nursing Assistant. Your interviewer knows that during stressful times in their work environment, it is only human nature for people to get testy. What matters is a person's ability to make the situation right in a quick fashion.

Walking with our patients on the floor can be monotonous at times. How do you make it more exciting for both you and the patient?

"By taking the time to talk with my patients and getting to know their history and their interests, that talks that we have while getting them the exercise and rehab that they need makes it exciting for both of us. For them, it helps put their mind in a great place and off of the pain and struggles they may be in at the time. And a bonus for myself is that I get to learn so many things from my patients while we are on walks."

Make sure that your interview knows that you make this time fun for patients and that you are willing to go the extra mile for them. You sing, dance, tell stories, and you laugh with them. You do whatever you need to do to make your patients happy and healthy. Sometimes it's hard to get your patients on their feet and motivated to get up and move. However you answer this question, make sure your interview has a great understanding of how you pass the time and make it exciting for the two of you.

If hired aboard at Adventist Health, what is one area that you feel you could improve on as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

"As you can see from my resume, I have spent the last six years working in the home health setting where I was one on one with patients for long stretches of time. If hired to be a part of your team at Adventist Health, it will definitely be a transition for me to get back into managing a unit with many patients. While I remain confident in my ability to do so, I will have to train very hard during my orientation to get back into the swing of managing multiple patients with their own unique medical complications."

While you spend most of your time preparing for this interview by talking about the strengths you would bring to Adventist Health, it is also important to consider an area for improvement in your work. This will prove your ability to reflect upon your work and your willingness to seek opportunities to improve yourself in your work. Your interviewer knows that they will never hire the perfect CNA that has every skill mastered, so it is important to mention that you are ready and willing to improve yourself in this aspect of the job. As long as you plan to improve, you can be very honest with your interviewer as you answer this question.

How can we ensure that you are motivated each and every day on the job to provide the best patient care possible?

"When I began my pursuit of a Certified Nursing Assistant certification, I knew that I was born to help people when they are at their most vulnerable. In any environment, whether it be outpatient, inpatient, or skilled nursing, making a positive difference in the day of each of my patients is what drives me to become a better nurse, and it makes all the hard and emotional days worth it. Because I know I am making a difference in the lives of others, it is easy for me to get up and come to work each day."

Most people who go into the Certified Nursing Assistant profession are naturally attracted to helping people who are most in need of help. They thrive on helping patients through tough times by providing both medical care and emotional support. No matter how many years of experience you would be bringing to the table at Adventist Health, you must stay motivated to provide top-of-the-line care to their patients. As you are aware, this job can be exhausting and emotionally draining, so you need to stay motivated in your work environment. The interviewer asks this question to determine what motivates you and determine if the environment at Adventist Health would be a good fit for you as their next CNA. To successfully answer this question, be prepared to explain what motivates you to become a better CNA. A more successful answer would include a specific example of a situation that motivated you to continue or better your nursing practice.

If hired as our next Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health, how much orientation time do you feel is reasonable to be up and running?

"I would be happy to answer that question, but first, could you tell me what your current orientation is in terms of hospital-wide policies and CNA-specific orientation? I am confident that I would not need any more hospital orientation time, but I would like to know what orientation on the nursing unit looks like? Will I have several days of shadowing? When that is completed, will we continue to have a mentor on the unit? I would be comfortable with at least one week of shadowing and mentoring on all shifts. I have previous experience, but I would like to get comfortable with the shift flow, equipment, and other tasks. Is there an orientation checklist that I need to complete, such as admissions and discharges, and how much time is allotted for that?"

There is no one size fits all answer to this question because how you answer really depends on the experience you would be bringing to this role. Adventist Health has a standard orientation for all CNA's coming into this role. Beyond the standard, your interviewer is looking to hear what you feel would be reasonable for you to hit the ground running on your own. Be honest about what you feel like you would need in regards to orientation and shadowing. Make sure not to overpromise. Do what is right for you, Adventist Health, and their patients. Be clear about what you need and what they offer as you do not want to find yourself on day two with a difficult patient on a short-staffed unit with minimal support.

Are there any common duties of a CNA that you are not willing or fearful to perform at Adventist Health?

"No, I am confident in my ability to handle every task that would be thrown my way as your next Certified Nursing Assistant here. During my career, I've experienced just about every aspect of direct patient care. No matter how unpleasant something can be when providing care to a patient, I do it with a smile on my face and in the best interest of the patient."

By asking this question, your interviewer is simply looking to see that you are ready and able to handle all of the tasks that will be thrown your way at Adventist Health. This includes the often unpleasant tasks. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, the direct care you provide to patients can involve tasks that some people wouldn't ever do with another person. Bathing, grooming, feeding, and bandaging patients isn't the most glamorous work, but they are all vitally important nonetheless in their care. As you prepare for this question, you need to make it clear to your interviewer that you are willing to do anything required of you in the role, even if you say that you are a bit reluctant or fearful of certain duties.

Talk about some recent continuing education that you have received? Why is this important in your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

"As part of my continuing education requirements, I recently attended a Child Maltreatment training. While currently working in a Family Practice clinic, this training was beneficial as it educated me on how to spot potential child abuse in patients that I see. As well, I learned new changes in the law about mandatory reporting of child abuse was suspected. On top of regular continuing education credits, I have a true passion for all things related to pediatric care, so I read and follow many pediatric medical journals."

The healthcare field is continually changing with new technology and research methods. Due to this, Adventist Health requires its Certified Nursing Assistants to attend continuing education courses. On top of required education, many CNAs choose to stay up to speed in their field by attending training, reading publications, or participating in workshops. To successfully answer this question, you should come to your interview prepared to talk about one of the most recent training sessions you attended and expand on your particular interests in learning more in the nursing field and how you keep yourself educated.

What experience with blood glucose monitoring would you bring to Adventist Health?

"My current employer did provide formal training on blood glucose monitoring for me a few years back. I do get to put these skills to work when we have diabetic patients on our unit. When I need to check a patient's levels, I use a new lancet on a finger that I cleaned off well. I have to ensure that the correct code key is used with new test strips to ensure accurate results on the blood glucose meter. When the results come through, I document them right away in the patient's chart because the entire care team closely monitors the patient's levels each day."

Now looking to get into the technical skills you would bring to the Adventist Health team as a Certified Nursing Assistant, your interviewer is asking you to describe any experience you have in checking the blood sugar levels of a patient. If you have direct experience and training in this, clearly describe your experiences and how you can bring these skills to this team. If you don't have direct experience, there is no need to fret. Tell your interviewer what you know and that you are confident in your ability to be trained. To seal your answer for your interviewer, talk in detail about the machines you have used and then clearly definite the documentation procedures necessary after testing a patient.

What do you know about various stages of pressure sores and how to care for them?

"I am very familiar with pressure sores as they are critical to catch in my current job. Patients on bed rest can develop sores easily, and it was important that I always look for them and manage them appropriately at an early stage. When bedsores start to develop, it starts as a red area on the skin, and the patient will feel a burning or itching sensation in that area. Whenever I would notice one starting, I immediately would change the patient's position and use foam pads or pillows under it. I would then wash the sore with soap and water and dry it immediately. If a sore ever got deeper and broke the skin, communication to the care team becomes very important. Thorough cleaning does as well. In the few times I have seen pressure sores progress to this stage, the entire care team has taken further precautions for ensuring that no more pressure is put on the sore."

In your work as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health, you will likely be spending more direct time with patients than the physicians and RN's on staff. Because of this, you will be relied upon to notice things like pressure sores and other common ailments that patients can experience when bedridden. Talk openly about your knowledge regarding pressure sores and how to properly care for them in the various stages. Talk about the importance of documenting the sores and communicating them to the entire patient care team. If you don't have hands-on experience in handling patients with pressure sores, that is okay. Just be sure to talk about your knowledge and reiterate that you are always open to learning more in this role.

What documentation experience within an EMR system would you bring to our team as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

"In my current role, I am responsible for documenting vital signs, administered medications, body measurements like height and weight and food intake through a patient's day. I currently work in the Cerner EMR system, and I learned this system quickly and efficiently. My documentation is always done promptly because the physicians and RN's rely on these notes when they are with the patient. If I were to join Adventist Health, I would trust my ability to learn your customized EMR quickly."

Because of your attention to detail and your organizational skills, the administrative portion of being a Certified Nursing Assistant is second nature to you. Talk about your roles in documenting patient notes within an electronic medical record system and what system you are familiar with working on. Also, talk about the importance of timely and accurate notes and the impact being timely would have on the patient care you would provide at Adventist Health.

Describe your ideal patient that you would be working with at Adventist Health?

"One of my favorite patients was named Rose. Rose was always so happy to see me and tell me about her day. I always made a point to spend a few extra minutes with her each time I would go to her room. She was always so appreciative and said such kind words that it made my job so easy. I loved coming to work every day to see Rose. In this job, I would look to build similar relationships with patients like I had with her."

While playing favorites certainly isn't acceptable as a Certified Nursing Assistant, it is okay to talk about what your ideal patient is like. If possible, try to think about a great patient you worked closely with in the past and discuss what made that relationship excellent. You don't have to talk about a particular patient by name, but be sure to highlight the qualities that made you fall in love with them. Whatever qualities that your favorite patient has, be sure to keep your answer positive and relative to the patients you would be caring for at Adventist Health.

What drove you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant?

"At an early age, I was inspired by my grandmother, who was a nurse for her entire career. She really inspired me by the care she showed for others when they needed it most. I am a personally motivated CNA who lives to help patients as best as I can and walks them through a difficult time in their health and well-being."

To prove that you would have the drive and motivation at Adventist Health as a CNA, your interviewer is looking for your personal motivation to succeed in this career. Prior to your interview, try to do your own personal soul searching to put your motivation for this role into words. Whether you were impacted by a personal family situation or love helping people in a time of need, make sure your interviewer walks away from your conversation knowing that you are dedicated and driven as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

How do you feel about supervising other Certified Nursing Assistants and do you have any supervising experience?

"In my current role, I have been a mentor for new staff that has joined over the last two years and have been responsible for completing at least portions of their new hire checklist. My supervisor realized that my competence in my work was a great example for new hires joining our team. Given my experience, I would love to continue to mentor junior CNAs at Adventist Health once I was fully oriented into the role."

Your interviewer asks this question to get a feel for your supervisory experience and see if you possess the skills and desire to lead and mentor others on the Adventist Health team. Be very open and honest about any leadership experiences and describe what that experienced entailed to your interviewer. Before your interview, be sure to put some thought into your future with this Adventist Health and if you'd be comfortable in any mentoring or supervising duties with them. Keep in mind that this isn't a make-or-break question, especially if the position you are interviewing for doesn't have a supervisory-type job title. Your interviewer is simply looking to hear about your interests down the road, so be honest with yourself as you answer.

How would your close colleagues describe working with you?

"My colleagues have always appreciated my punctuality and the respect that I display to all that I work with and care for. I am a very timely person who does what I say and says what I do promptly. I manage my time very efficiently in the workplace, and they've always appreciated this about me. I was also raised at a very young age to show respect to all that I work with. No matter if it's to a patient, a provider, or a fellow CNA, I would always treat others with the respect and dignity that I wish to be treated with if I were part of the Adventist Health team."

To get a sense of what type of team player you would be as part of the larger Adventist Health team, your interviewer wants to know how those who work closest with you would describe you. As you prepare to answer a question like this, think back to any direct feedback that you've received from your colleagues in the past and be able to speak to that feedback during your interview. As you answer, try to highlight some key areas to ensure that your interviewer knows that you are the right fit for their team. As well, don't forget to lose sight of the duties for the Certified Nursing Assistant role you are interviewing for when speaking to what they'd say about you.

If offered to join the Adventist Health team, do you have any specific salary expectations?

"Currently, I am in my first Certified Nursing Assistant position in a skilled nursing facility and earning $13.00 per hour with some shift differentials. Knowing that my duties would be significantly increasing, I hope to receive an offer that would compensate me higher than I am now to make the switch. Over time here, I expect to prove my worth to this organization every day."

Prior to applying and interviewing for the CNA position with Adventist Health, you hopefully have done your homework on the compensation provided for this role to ensure that it meets your needs. Depending on the facility, the hourly rate for a CNA can vary pretty widely. On top of that, the job market for CNAs is wide open, and Adventist Health has likely struggled to find quality staff in the past. After doing your homework, you can be honest with your interviewer about your current salary and where you hope to be if hired for this role. Justify your answer with the skills and experiences that you would be bringing to their team. Just make sure that you are not pricing yourself out to your interviewer.

If you were in a situation at Adventist Health where you needed to move a patient that was a little too heavy for you, what would you do?

"If I needed assistance in moving an Adventist Health patient, I would ask another CNA on shift with me. Having been thoroughly trained in ergonomics in the workplace, I know that lifting and rolling patients can be a hazardous task to tackle alone."

As a well-qualified and smart Certified Nursing Assistant, you know that you should never attempt to move a patient on your own. This is both for the patient's safety and your own personal well-being. Let your interviewer know that you wouldn't attempt the risky move because you wouldn't want to hurt yourself or the patient. What you would do is go and get help. Be confident in your answer. The last thing you want to do is give the impression that you wouldn't know what to do in this situation on the Adventist Health team.

If you were unable to get to work on time for a shift here at Adventist Health, what would you do?

"Because the patients here at Adventist Health rely on personal care at all times, I would ensure that I would contact both you and the unit directly by phone if something was making me late. I'm proud to say that I have had a great attendance record throughout my entire career. You can rest assured that if I was ever late, it would be for a true emergency."

At one point in time or another, we have all had those days where nothing seems to go right, and you know you're going to be a bit late for work. Whether it was a rough morning with the kids at home, a snowstorm or a traffic accident keeping you behind, being accountable and communicating your tardiness promptly is key. Let your interviewer know that you will reach out to your supervisor to let them know that you will be a few minutes late. Be sure to discuss what type of communication your interviewer prefers, whether that be text, phone call, or message with a co-worker. Also, don't hesitate to ask your interviewer how they like employees to contact them if they will be late or out sick.

If one of your colleagues displayed poor bed-side manners, what would you do?

"If I were to ever face this situation at Adventist Health, I would intervene if I was in the room when it happened and take over care immediately. No patient deserves to have a poor bedside manner brought to them. Following that patient interaction, I would pull my colleague aside and try to get to the root cause of the situation professionally and respectfully. I would reiterate to them that no matter what is happening to them on a personal level, whether it is at work on in their personal life, the needs of the patient come first, and providing the best care possible is what they deserve at all times."

While we all have bad days on the job, it is never acceptable to take things out on patients with poor bedside manners. With this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are willing to take a few minutes to pull your co-worker aside to make sure everything is okay with your colleague. Tell your interviewer that you will be proactive in this situation and take the time to reiterate how important a compassionate bedside manner is in the care that your team provides. If you have an example of a time where you directly handled a situation like this, don't hesitate to point out how you handled it successfully. In the end, ensure that your interviewer knows that you would be the ultimate team player at Adventist Health and will take the time to step in when someone isn't treating a patient with the care they deserve.

How do you manage the normal work stress that our Certified Nursing Assistants feel from time to time?

"Every morning, we have a morning huddle for shift turnover. We discuss procedures left to be coded, who is out for the day, and what everyone is working on. Our morning huddles help alleviate work stress by distributing the work evenly as best we can. It gives everyone a chance to hear what needs to be accomplished and work together. Open dialogue is key in making this a success. If hired at Adventist Health, I would ensure that lines of communication are always open, and I wouldn't hesitate to let my team know if I'm experiencing a high amount of pressure during the workday."

The work of a Certified Nursing Assistant can often be thankless to others around them. The daily grind of a full patient unit with task after task to complete can wear on people at times. When asking this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have strategies to help cope with workplace stress to help ensure that each patient at Adventist Health gets the best possible care they deserve. Try to focus on strategies that help keep you organized, and also don't hesitate to talk about the importance of communication in alleviating stress in the workplace. Your interviewer would also love to hear about things you do outside of work to ensure that you are refreshed and clear of mind after and before each shift you work.

How is teamwork important as a Certified Nursing Assistant and what type of team player would we be hiring if we offered you this role at Adventist Health?

"I'm currently a part of a four-person team that works each shift. We are constantly helping one another and lifting each other up when needed. We've created a rotating schedule so one of us isn't bogged down with constant paperwork or tending to the same patients each day. We all have different personalities, and that makes our team atmosphere all the more fun. We are all there to provide the best care possible to our patients. The success of our team-based atmosphere relies on consistent communication, and I consider myself to be a great listener and communicator on the job. At times, I don't hesitate to take the lead on things. As well, I can easily and readily take direction from others. I enjoy coming to work every day to work with my amazing teammates."

Ideally, your interviewer will hire the ultimate team player to be their next CNA at Adventist Health. As part of their overall healthcare team, you will be working closely with many healthcare professionals, and this team can include physicians, nurses, and other providers. As you answer, be sure to explain your ability to communicate, be flexible, be reliable, and be accountable in all that you do. Talk to the interviewer about your role on the team you are on now and what team-based role you feel the most comfortable in at this point of your career.

Adventist Health Certified Nursing Assistant Interview Questions

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1. Walk me through how you would enter a patient's room at Adventist Health.
2. Tell us about a time that you demonstrated patience with one of your patients.
3. What are your career goals in the healthcare field?
4. How would your patients describe you?
5. If offered this position at Adventist Health, what is your availability to work night or weekend shifts?
6. What do you know about Adventist Health?
7. If a patient at Adventist Health insisted that their personal hygiene was fine and it wasn't, what would you do?
8. If you had a patient here that insisted on hitting their call light all night when the reasons weren't justified, what would you do?
9. Give an example of a time where you used your sense of humor as a Certified Nursing Assistant. How would you bring a sense of humor to Adventist Health?
10. Why do you feel it is important to have a positive attitude as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health?
11. What is one interpersonal skill that you feel is important for a CNA at Adventist Health to have that you excel at?
12. What are a few technical skills that you would bring to Adventist Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant?
13. How would you bring a sense of care and compassion to the patients you would work with at Adventist Health?
14. What duties of this role do you feel that you would need the most training in from the start?
15. How would you work effectively with an Adventist Health patient that was refusing care?
16. How would you handle a confrontation with an Adventist Health colleague?
17. Walking with our patients on the floor can be monotonous at times. How do you make it more exciting for both you and the patient?
18. If hired aboard at Adventist Health, what is one area that you feel you could improve on as a Certified Nursing Assistant?
19. How can we ensure that you are motivated each and every day on the job to provide the best patient care possible?
20. If hired as our next Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health, how much orientation time do you feel is reasonable to be up and running?
21. Are there any common duties of a CNA that you are not willing or fearful to perform at Adventist Health?
22. Talk about some recent continuing education that you have received? Why is this important in your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant?
23. What experience with blood glucose monitoring would you bring to Adventist Health?
24. What do you know about various stages of pressure sores and how to care for them?
25. What documentation experience within an EMR system would you bring to our team as a Certified Nursing Assistant?
26. Describe your ideal patient that you would be working with at Adventist Health?
27. What drove you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
28. How do you feel about supervising other Certified Nursing Assistants and do you have any supervising experience?
29. How would your close colleagues describe working with you?
30. If offered to join the Adventist Health team, do you have any specific salary expectations?
31. If you were in a situation at Adventist Health where you needed to move a patient that was a little too heavy for you, what would you do?
32. If you were unable to get to work on time for a shift here at Adventist Health, what would you do?
33. If one of your colleagues displayed poor bed-side manners, what would you do?
34. How do you manage the normal work stress that our Certified Nursing Assistants feel from time to time?
35. How is teamwork important as a Certified Nursing Assistant and what type of team player would we be hiring if we offered you this role at Adventist Health?

Adventist Health Certified Nursing Assistant Interview Questions

1. Walk me through how you would enter a patient's room at Adventist Health.

2. Tell us about a time that you demonstrated patience with one of your patients.

3. What are your career goals in the healthcare field?

4. How would your patients describe you?

5. If offered this position at Adventist Health, what is your availability to work night or weekend shifts?

6. What do you know about Adventist Health?

7. If a patient at Adventist Health insisted that their personal hygiene was fine and it wasn't, what would you do?

8. If you had a patient here that insisted on hitting their call light all night when the reasons weren't justified, what would you do?

9. Give an example of a time where you used your sense of humor as a Certified Nursing Assistant. How would you bring a sense of humor to Adventist Health?

10. Why do you feel it is important to have a positive attitude as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health?

11. What is one interpersonal skill that you feel is important for a CNA at Adventist Health to have that you excel at?

12. What are a few technical skills that you would bring to Adventist Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

13. How would you bring a sense of care and compassion to the patients you would work with at Adventist Health?

14. What duties of this role do you feel that you would need the most training in from the start?

15. How would you work effectively with an Adventist Health patient that was refusing care?

16. How would you handle a confrontation with an Adventist Health colleague?

17. Walking with our patients on the floor can be monotonous at times. How do you make it more exciting for both you and the patient?

18. If hired aboard at Adventist Health, what is one area that you feel you could improve on as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

19. How can we ensure that you are motivated each and every day on the job to provide the best patient care possible?

20. If hired as our next Certified Nursing Assistant at Adventist Health, how much orientation time do you feel is reasonable to be up and running?

21. Are there any common duties of a CNA that you are not willing or fearful to perform at Adventist Health?

22. Talk about some recent continuing education that you have received? Why is this important in your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

23. What experience with blood glucose monitoring would you bring to Adventist Health?

24. What do you know about various stages of pressure sores and how to care for them?

25. What documentation experience within an EMR system would you bring to our team as a Certified Nursing Assistant?

26. Describe your ideal patient that you would be working with at Adventist Health?

27. What drove you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant?

28. How do you feel about supervising other Certified Nursing Assistants and do you have any supervising experience?

29. How would your close colleagues describe working with you?

30. If offered to join the Adventist Health team, do you have any specific salary expectations?

31. If you were in a situation at Adventist Health where you needed to move a patient that was a little too heavy for you, what would you do?

32. If you were unable to get to work on time for a shift here at Adventist Health, what would you do?

33. If one of your colleagues displayed poor bed-side manners, what would you do?

34. How do you manage the normal work stress that our Certified Nursing Assistants feel from time to time?

35. How is teamwork important as a Certified Nursing Assistant and what type of team player would we be hiring if we offered you this role at Adventist Health?