We work with one of the most diverse patient populations of any health care system in the country. What strategies do you use to effectively communicate with patients with a culture and background different than yours?

"I love to work with diverse patient populations because I learn so much about other cultures and traditions. In many situations, such as when the doctor is rounding, I use the hospital's translation team to ensure the patient and their family understand exactly what is happening. In other situations, I check to see if a family member speaks English and utilize them to help get the message across. I use a lot of non-verbals, actions, and pictures to demonstrate what is going on."

Describe what tools and strategies you use to work with diverse patients effectively. You may use a translator or a translation app if you are working with a language barrier, or perhaps you researched your patient population to discover their religious and cultural beliefs. Or, you may have learned another language to speak with your non-English speaking patients. Whatever you do or use, the interviewer wants to see that you try to effectively communicate with all patients.

"I worked with many Hispanic patients in my previous job and would utilize my coworkers or a translator to translate. I missed being unable to communicate with my patients directly, so I enrolled in a Spanish immersion program and now speak fluent Spanish. It is nice to learn more about my Spanish-speaking patients' backgrounds, families, and cultures. I believe everyone in healthcare should make an effort to communicate with the population they serve."