Christiana Care Health System has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

"I have worked with diverse groups of people most of my career, including my time in University. I am most comfortable and happy in this environment because it offers me unique learning opportunities."

The interviewer wants to know if you are accustomed to working with a diverse team of individuals. Assure the interviewer that you can handle an environment that offers diversity. Even better, give an example of being able to embrace diversity in the workplace.

Focus on providing an example from work, a volunteer experience, or school. If you have not worked in a diverse environment, explain how you have not had the opportunity to work with various groups but are looking forward to the experience.

"I am so glad you pointed out your need for diversity at Christiana Care Health System, Inc. I greatly value diversity. I grew up in a fairly homogeneous town in Montana. When I hit my 20s, it was so important to me to learn about other cultures. I worked with community volunteer organizations in Peru, inner-city Chicago, and Russia."

Christiana Care Health System was initially looking for someone with 5 years' experience in a similar role. Considering you have just 2 years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?

"I would be happy to earn my way to the top compensation level if required. I assure you that, despite my being shy of experience by a couple of years, I am a top performer, and you would not be disappointed in my performance."

The interviewer asks this question to see if they can save the company some money if they offer you the position. Discuss with the interviewer what you would expect for compensation if offered this position. You need to decide if you are willing to earn your way up if the interviewer does not want to provide you with top compensation.

Focus on being honest and direct with the interviewer. If they offer you considerably less than you were hoping to make, you might want to reconsider the job offer.

"I understand I do not quite meet the qualifications of experience you are looking for and am willing to be compensated in adjustment to that fact. However, I look forward to proving my worth to Christiana Care Health System, Inc. in hopes of being considered for the median salary for the role."

We feel that making healthcare affordable is extremely important here at Christiana Care, and sometimes it is the little things that can help reduce costs on the front end for our patients. What are ways that you are wise with resources in your work?

"In my time as a Sonographer, I have learned many ways to help be a good steward of company resources. In the greater scheme, the department's costs reflect on the patients I treat, and I do my part to save money in a few different ways. Ultrasound equipment is a high-energy consumer, so I always ensure that I only run the machines when needed and turn off equipment and lights when not in use. When printing images, I ensure that I only print what is necessary or requested to help save on expensive paper and ink."

On a national level, the cost of healthcare is a concern for patients and can sometimes prevent them from seeking care. Healthcare organizations are implementing many initiatives to help decrease costs for their consumer, and some initiatives directly impact the front-line workers at hospitals and clinics. In your role, talk about some of the things you do in your work to cut costs. Whether it is reusing materials, being wise with your time to help save labor costs, or other measures, your interviewer is looking to hear that you feel that you play a role in your job in helping cut costs for the patient.

Focus on describing ways you have helped your patients and the company you work for save money. Some examples might be turning off the lights when leaving a room, using a water cooler rather than single-use plastic bottles, and giving samples of medicine to a patient rather than writing a prescription they must fill and pay for.

"In the urgent care setting, we work with patients with urgent health issues, and we have to think on our feet quite often. Even in this setting, it is vital to do what we think is only medically necessary to treat and care for the patient as best as possible while eliminating the need for extra costs on their bill. I know in the past, some providers would order as many lab tests as possible or as many radiology images as possible when the patient had to pay for these costs eventually. With a little extra investigative work on my end with the patient, I can eliminate the medical necessity of many things right off the bat."

Why do you think you will be successful in this role with Christiana Care Health System?

"I know I will succeed in this role because I have worked in this industry for five years with great training and mentorship. I have a solid understanding of X, Y, and Z (skills listed in the job description). Also, I have my updated certifications as outlined in your job description. I am well-prepared for this next step in my career."

The interviewer asks this question to see what skills and qualities you will bring to Christiana Care that will enable you to be successful in this role. Discuss your experience, knowledge, and hard and soft skills that will help you succeed if offered the position.

Rather than just sharing how you have gone above and beyond expectations in the past, focus on how your qualities will help you to meet and exceed expectations with Christiana Care Health System. Discuss the reasons why you will be great at this job. Talk about your qualifications and skills to help you do this job well. If you can, match your strengths to the requirements outlined in the job description.

"I believe my success with Christiana Care Health System, Inc. will come from having the hard and soft skills you are looking for, whether learned in school or gained through work experience. I know all the key players in this region and stay informed of best practices."

What is your greatest weakness?

"I believe I could improve some technical skills, including Excel and Word. Currently, I am at a beginner to intermediate level; however, I would be more comfortable at an advanced level. I have enrolled in an evening/weekend workshop for the next six weeks. We will see how stellar my skills are after that course!"

The interviewer wants to know a weakness you have identified in the workplace and what steps you are taking to improve. When a person can identify a fault and take measures to make that weakness a strength, it shows you are motivated to be the best you can be in your profession.

Pick a weakness that is not a core skill for this position. You can be candid in your answer, recognizing that you aren't great at something and acknowledging your need to improve. Be sure to have an action plan to improve this weakness. Perhaps you are watching TED talks to gain skills in a particular area, reading the latest-and-greatest book on the subject, or you are taking a seminar at a nearby community center. We are all human with our weaknesses, so don't be afraid to share yours!

"I know this will come off as cliche, but I am being truthful. My weakness is with delegating. I know what I want to be done and how I want it done, so it's often easier to do it myself. However, it can inhibit my ability to grow. I cannot take on every step of a project; I need to be able to give the task or a portion of it to another team member or direct report, let go of the control and know it will be taken care of. I've spoken with my current manager about it, and we've developed a system where he can call me out on the behavior since I'm often unaware of it. By bringing awareness to it at the moment, I find my propensity to hold onto control has decreased, so I'm certainly moving in the right direction."

Talk about a significant relationship you've developed in your time in the healthcare industry. How were you able to help deliver great results because of a personal touch with this person?

"As a Physician's Assistant in Pediatrics, I work with some awesome families and strong young patients. Last year, I began caring for a young boy who was diagnosed with autism and was pretty high on the spectrum. While I don't treat autism directly, it surely is something I've had to consider when seeing the patient for strep throat and an ear infection in the past year. Knowing that gaining the trust of the boy and his parents would be important, I took a very friendly and open approach to our first appointment together. I brought in toys and books to ensure the boy was as comfortable as possible so he could see my clinic as a safe space, which was a hit right off the bat. With the parents, we had a consult meeting right away to talk about their child's behaviors and expectations from me. These things have led to two successful diagnoses and treatments in my short time with the patient, and his parents sent me a beautiful thank you note after our last visit together."

The Christiana Care Way promotes a mission of service to its patients, and service is built on great relationships. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to gauge your ability to build strong relationships with those you serve and ensure that you understand why this is important.

In your response, think of a time when you had to potentially do some extra work to build a trusting relationship with a patient and talk about how that relationship helped work towards a positive outcome for them. Forming connections with your patients is an essential responsibility as a healthcare professional.

"As you can see from my experience, I have spent a good portion of my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the school setting. Building trusting relationships with the students I work with entails an empathetic and friendly approach because I am someone new in their life, and the children can be thrown for a loop the first time we meet. To best gain their trust, I use fun words and games to talk about what my time with them will be spent doing. I take time to listen to them, and this approach paid off with a middle school-aged student I was working with that had a bad stuttering issue develop and go untreated for a few years. My personable approach helped him trust me, opened him up, and relaxed him more for initial testing. The treatment approach I used helped him build confidence in speaking, and he made a great turnaround in the year I worked with him."

In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?

"I am a great problem solver because I do not allow stress to cloud my judgment and mute my sound decision-making. I am a keen observer with a great memory which allows me to recall unique solutions or ideas."

Employers want to know that you have a systematic approach to problem-solving. Consider the skills and qualities that help you successfully face problems. Perhaps you have a keen eye for detail. Maybe you can see opportunity when others can only focus on the issue. Share your strengths as a problem solver and your ability to come up with innovative solutions.

As a healthcare professional, you must think on your feet and quickly solve problems when they arise. Focus on describing your problem-solving skills and why you are excellent at coming up with solutions quickly and effectively.

"I believe I am a great problem solver because I am sure to gather as many facts as possible. I look at the problem and its potential solutions from multiple angles and am not afraid to make a creative decision that might seem off the beaten path."

What type of work environment do you most like working in?

"I can be productive in most work environments, as long as the positive mentality and teamwork are encouraged. I cannot work in an environment that feels negative or toxic."

The interviewer asks this question to see if Christiana Care's work environment aligns with your ideal environment. They do not want to invest time and money hiring you to find out that their company culture is not a match.

Focus on describing your ideal work environment and why that environment appeals to you. If you can find out the work environment at Christiana Care before your interviewer, you will be better equipped to respond to this question.

"My ideal work environment is organized, collaborative, positive, energetic, and encouraging. I love working with like-minded people who set challenging goals for themselves. I thrive when I work for supervisors who encourage curiosity and creativity in the workplace."

With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?

"Every morning, I listen to X Podcast because I find the information fresh and valuable. In addition to this podcast, I also subscribe to a couple of industry blogs. One is ABC, and the other is XYZ. I greatly value the information shared between fellow professionals. What resources do you prefer to stay on top of industry trends and changes?"

Employers expect employees to stay up-to-date on their respective fields, and today's technology makes this reasonably easy! List several ways you receive your industry knowledge and stay on top of trends. Tell the interviewer about those daily email updates you receive from professional organizations, conferences you attend, and seminars you have taken.Lastly, asking the interviewer what resources they refer to for industry trends is a great idea. That question can start up a great conversation, and you may learn a thing or two.

Focus on providing all the different ways you stay current in your field. Describe any continuing education courses you attend, annual or virtual conferences, webinars, podcasts, and professional organizations you are a member of.

"I am an avid fan of Google alerts! I will receive an email with the related information whenever there is a major headline about the healthcare services industry. In addition to this, I also subscribe to a couple of medical-related journals."

Talk about the listening skills and techniques you use when working with patients. Why are these skills and techniques important to use?

"Early in my career working as a nurse in the primary care setting, I learned and developed some great active listening skills with the help of my unit supervisor. It is often the things that go unsaid that need to be heard. When I am with a patient, I listen and pay attention to their demeanor, their tone of voice, and any uneasiness they may have. I then ask them further questions if I pick up on concerning non-verbal cues. I talk to patients in a comforting tone and take an empathetic listening approach by putting myself in their shoes and trying to feel what they are feeling."

With Christiana Care putting such a strong emphasis on questioning and listening to the needs, wants, and feedback of patients, your listening skills will be critical in the job that you are interviewing for. Your interviewer will be looking to hear about your techniques for effective listening when you are with patients to get a sense of how you will work with patients if you are hired. In your answer, talk about why active listening is essential with patients by describing how you listen with all of your senses and pick up on non-verbal cues. Also, talk about the need to listen empathetically to your patients.

Focus on describing how you actively listen to your patients and their family members. Explain how you reiterate what they said so they know you genuinely listened to them.

"As a Physical Therapist, I take great pride in an individualized approach with each patient. This approach starts with attentive listening to their needs and desires in our working relationship. A couple of years ago, I attended a seminar on empathetic listening, where I learned how to approach a conversation with patients that promotes sensitivity and self-disclosure from my patients. Once I know the patient, their motivations, and what makes them tick, I can provide the best individualized care possible."

If Christiana Care Health System hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

"When we spoke earlier, you mentioned that you urgently sought to improve the level of patient care and compassion at this facility. I want to offer my strong skills when it comes to building patient rapport and help to improve the satisfaction of everyone that uses the services of Christiana Care Health System. I plan to make a positive impact very quickly."

When you start a new position, it is essential to set a goal on how you will make a positive impact quickly after being hired. Tell the interviewer your impact goal, should you be the successful candidate. If you want to make an impact with your answer, refer to the company's immediate needs, such as increasing budgets, or improving patient care, for instance.

This question is a delicate one, and you need to show respect for the onboarding process, then give a moderately ambitious project that you could execute. 'Hire me because I'll do X.' This concept is often called your 'value proposition' in marketing.

"My first goal at any new job is to get to know those I will be working with and what my supervisor expects from me. I will then complete the new employee orientation and see what needs to be accomplished in the unit I am assigned. If inventory needs to be organized or patient files need to be filed, I will do what I see needs to be done to make the unit run more efficiently."

Christiana Care puts a great deal of time and resources into gaining feedback from our patients. Why do you feel this is important to the organization?

"The people staying on inpatient units, using the restroom facilities, sitting in waiting rooms, and having their blood drawn in the lab are the number one priority at any clinic or hospital, and their feedback is vital. While working on an inpatient unit, the things I do daily can be taken for granted, and a small change in process may have a major impact on the patient and their care which we may not even know about without asking. I loved reading about Christiana Care's focus on patient feedback, and I'd love to be a part of those efforts here."

The interviewer asks this question to ensure you are on the same page as Christian Care Health System. Patient feedback is essential to them, and they want to see that you feel the same way.

As part of the Christiana Care Way, the organization believes that asking and listening to patient feedback is critical to learn about what is important to them, understand who they are, and learn about their wants and needs. For this question, echo the organization's sentiments by talking about why patient feedback is essential and why putting the feedback into action is even more important.

"Just as I would talk with patients about their needs individually in my ICU, I think it is important for healthcare organizations to ask their patients regularly about their happiness with the care they receive. On top of the direct care within the hospitals, community health assessments are also important to gauge the direction that an organization like Christiana Care focuses on in the future."

What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?

"The part of my career that brings me the most stress is when the schedule is running behind due to lack of hustle on mine or my team's part. I like to be on time with my schedule to ensure that our patients and clients are assisted properly. To keep from this becoming a stressful part of my career, I suggested that my supervisor implement a team meeting at the beginning of each shift to encourage and motivate the team to stay on track. My supervisor also included weekly incentives to motivate the team to stay on schedule. It has been very effective and reduced stress immensely on my unit."

Stress can often be a regular part of the day-to-day work experience. Talk to the interviewer about which areas of your career are the most stressful. Ensure that your answer does not include a factor that would make you appear unfit for the position. (i.e., an emergency room technician should not find the sight of blood to be the most stressful part of the job).

Focus on briefly describing the most stressful part of your job, spending more time answering how you combat the stress. The interviewer wants to see that you have healthy ways to manage your stress and that you will be a good fit for Christiana Care Health System if hired.

"To be completely transparent, I probably bring myself the most stress because of my innate desire to be the best. I strive for perfection too often, which causes undue stress on myself. I manage this by focusing my energy on productive activities that are good for my career."

Tell me about yourself.

"I have been a Registered Nurse for seventeen years and received my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Sacramento State University. I have worked my entire career at Sutter General Hospital, specializing in critical care. I am interested in shifting my focus to emergency care and am enrolled in a master's program to get a degree in hospital management. My goal is to become a hospital administrator with Christiana Care Health in the next five years. I enjoy traveling in my free time, have traveled to twelve countries, and speak four languages fluently. I look forward to sharing my experience and knowledge with your stellar organization."

This question is often asked at the beginning of the interview to break the ice and ease into the conversation. You want to have a prepared answer but do not want your response to sound rehearsed. Give a brief introduction describing your past, present, and future goals in your career. You can include some hobbies or interests to tie in how they help you be a productive and capable employee.

Focus on describing how you became interested in your career, where you went to school, what degrees and certifications you have, and where you have worked. If you include a hobby or interest, describe how that helps you in your career. For example, if you enjoy traveling, you can explain how your travels have helped you learn about other cultures and customs, showing you embrace diversity.

"After working as a paramedic for the past five years, I switched careers and went back to school to become a Respiratory Therapist. I recently graduated at the top of my class at Duke University and am excited for this new chapter in my life. I am also a competitive person and enjoy racing mountain bikes in my free time."

We follow a servant leadership model here at Christiana Health. Are you familiar with the principles of servant leadership?

"Servant leadership is promoted in my current organization, and I can feel the effect in our lab. My supervisor empowers us to be a part of the decision-making processes in our department and promotes further education in the department for us to grow. This was a change from my previous position, where a dictatorship could describe our department leader more. I've noticed that my current job is much more fun and a much more productive environment, and I was so glad to read that Christiana Care promotes servant leadership."

There are many leadership models, and servant leadership is often used in healthcare. The interviewer asks this question to see if you are familiar with this leadership model's principles and your views on it.

Servant leadership is a philosophy where leaders work to empower their employees rather than the traditional approach of leaders having their employees work for their goals and needs. It is a fresh approach to management, and Christiana carries this philosophy over to how they care for patients and servant leaders. For this question, you need to research the fundamentals of servant leadership so you can speak to the points that hit home for you. If you've had formal training on the topic, talk about that to your interviewer.

"Having worked as a Director for five years now in the primary care setting, I naturally bring many of the core principles of servant leadership to my job without it being mandated. I firmly believe that a team is only as good as its weakest link, and I use a team-based approach to the training that I bring to my department and my leadership style. I believe in giving my employees, who are experts in their field, the chance to be heard on the important decisions regarding their work, and I know they appreciate me as their leader for doing that. I'd love to bring the natural skills that I already have to the servant leadership style here at Christiana Care."

Do you prefer to work in a team-based position or individually?

"For the past eight years, I have worked in a primarily team-based environment, and I do very well working on a team. I have had jobs that were more autonomous and enjoyed that as well. I would say I prefer both equally."

Working in healthcare, you will be required to work individually and on a team. The interviewer would like to know which you prefer to see if you will be a good fit for Christiana Care Health System. It is best to answer that you can work equally as well in both situations while describing which you prefer and why.

Focus on being flexible in your answer. If you say you only like working alone or only like working in a team-based position, the interviewer may feel that you may not be the right fit for their company.

"I prefer a team-based environment as I enjoy learning from others and working with a team towards a common goal. However, I have worked independently and can do well in either environment."

Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?

"I understand that compassion is one of the top qualities I need to bring to the workplace, being a healthcare professional. I consider myself a very compassionate individual. I am warm-hearted, responsive to my patients' needs, and always empathetic."

To succeed in the healthcare profession, you should have a solid level of compassion and empathy for your patients, clients, and customers. Talk to the interviewer about the compassionate qualities that you possess, describing how you rate your level of compassion for others. The interviewer wants to see that you have the qualities they are looking for at Christiana Care Health System.

If you have a letter of recommendation or past performance review from a previous employer that describes your compassionate nature, focus on sharing that information with the interviewer. When someone commends you on your compassion and empathy for others, it tends to hold more substantial value than when you describe yourself.

"Yes, I am an extremely compassionate person. My compassion and empathy for others made me pursue a career in healthcare. I have wanted to help people with illnesses or injuries get better ever since I was a little girl. Growing up, my mother was bedridden in our home with ALS. I wanted so much to make her better, but I couldn't. I decided nursing was a profession where I could do my best every day to improve the lives of others."

How would your former supervisor describe you?

"In my most recent performance review, my supervisor described me as energetic, compassionate, and empathetic. She said I am always to work earlier than my shift starts, and I will put in extra hours when needed. She also said I have empathy and compassion for my patients, family members, and coworkers. I have a copy of the review if you want it for your file."

The interviewer wants to see how you think your former supervisor would describe you to determine if you have the traits Christiana Care seeks in an employee. They want to hire an employee with a character that fits other team members and the company culture.

If you have a letter of recommendation or a performance review from a former supervisor, focus on sharing that information with the interviewer. When someone else describes you, it tends to carry more weight with the interviewer than if you express what you think your former supervisor would say.

"My former supervisor would describe me as hard-working, outgoing, and passionate in everything I do. He once told me I had the best work ethic he had ever seen and that I was a positive role model for the team. He said I am easy to get along with, and I am obviously passionate about providing the best possible patient care to everyone I am in contact with."

When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?

"When our facility came under new management last year, many new methods and policies came into place. I learned some exciting new approaches to our challenges in patient care and customer management. I quite enjoyed the process."

Being flexible and able to handle change is a skill that all employers desire to see. Discuss with the interviewer your ability to approach a problem using new methods. Give a recent example, but spend more time highlighting the resolution rather than the problem.

Focus on providing a workplace example in your response. The interviewer wants to see how well you handle change or if you are creative in solving workplace problems.

"It's funny; they say people in medicine are 'lifelong learners.' But on top of that, we're in this digital revolution, and everyone has to constantly learn new software. I'm finally getting old enough to realize that it's difficult to be constantly adapting. My 75-year-old aunt telling me how to use my iPhone helped me appreciate that it's all about humility. Not WHO is teaching you, but if you are willing to learn. In the medical context, I just took an updated CPR course, and it went from the 15:2 compression to ventilation ratio to continuous compressions. I had to adapt to avoid my past way of thinking."

As part of the Christiana Care Way, we believe that your medical expertise is only effective when it is paired with respect and compassion. Why is gaining the respect of your patients important and how do you build respect with them?

"As an RN in the emergency setting, I have a short window of time to build the trust and respect of the patients I care for. The patients we see in the ED setting are often experiencing traumatic and scary events in their lives. I build trust by working with them in a compassionate and educational manner while maintaining my composure in the tensest situations. My patients need to know that I am focused on their care and not overwhelmed or scared in the situation, and by doing this, they are more often than not able to relax and receive the best care that I can provide for them."

While you may have the greatest of skills as a nurse, respiratory therapist, or any other job in healthcare, these skills aren't fully translated to great patient care without your ability to build respect with your patients and show compassion to them. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you see the importance of developing a trusting, respectful relationship with your patients and what you see as the keys to doing this.

Focus on sharing several ways you build respect with your patients. Explain how you feel it is a mutual relationship and that you must show respect to gain respect.

"Having been in practice as a Nurse Practitioner in the Hospice setting for the last ten years, building respect with patients and family members is of utmost importance in my role. To build a respectful relationship from the start of our working relationship, I approach each new patient interaction very transparently and give them all of the information they need to know, even if what I'm sharing is hard news to take. I listen to my patients and their loved ones in trying to find out their wants and needs in my care, and I use this knowledge to provide the best care possible. By taking this approach, I find that the people I work with and care for are more open with me and respect my care and me as an NP more."

At Christiana Care Health System we seek to hire individuals who have ambitions of growing their career. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

"In 3-5 years, I would like to see my career with Christiana Care Health System include a path towards a leadership role. I am keen on paving a long-term career in the healthcare industry and would love the opportunity to do that here."

Every hiring manager would like to know that their investment of time and training will pay off. Assure the interviewer that you see this position as a long-term fit while describing how this role with Christiana Care Health System fits into your 3 to 5-year plans.

Focus on being specific about your 3 to 5-year plans. Let the interviewer know your professional development plans, how you plan to achieve them, and how you see yourself with Christiana Care in the long term.

"One of the attractive points of working for Christiana Care Health System, Inc. is that you care about the growth of your employees. I'm motivated to learn and am looking for a long-term fit. In 3-5 years, I'd like to be grounded in the clinic, learn about your patient base, and earn certifications that would help the unit advance. I want to get involved in some of the local volunteer organizations. I speak Spanish, and I am interested in urban outreach. It would be nice to do something formal in that context, such as health education or fundraising."

By looking to build a system of care that is valuable to our patients, how would you demonstrate your value from day one in this position with Christiana Care?

"While fairly young in my career as an Occupational Therapist, you can see that I do have direct experience working in the home health setting in my current position. While my time now is split between the clinic and home health, I've loved working in and thriving in the home health setting, and this position excited me when I saw the posting. From day one, I'll be able to effectively manage a caseload of home health patients with the ability to prioritize my work daily. If hired for the position, my experience will help me hit the ground running."

Christiana Care Health System is interviewing you to bring a specific set of skills to the position you are interviewing for. The interviewer will be looking to hear how you can hit the ground running on day one on your job and benefit the company if hired.

For your answer, do your research on the position you are interviewing for and talk about your specific skills that match the job description. Whether you are an experienced employee, a new graduate, or somewhere in between, you have the skills for the job. Now is your time to let your interviewer know what those skills are so they can see you have the qualities they seek in a candidate.

"In my current role as an RN, I've worked closely with discharge planning for patients on my unit and with the RN Case Managers. I feel I am ready for the move into a Case Manager position. I've been preparing for this career move by focusing on patient education and patient assessments prior to discharge. This focus, coupled with my great communication skills, makes me an excellent candidate for this position. From day one, I will learn everything I can about the position and what is required from me to be successful in this role."

It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job'. How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

"I am an easily motivated individual, and it does not take much to keep me engaged. I am fully aware that healthcare-related positions can seem thankless. Honestly, the best thanks that I can get is a pat on the back now and then. The majority of my motivation comes from simply helping people."

Talk to the interviewer about how you have stayed motivated in the past. Describe if you need verbal recognition or if you are inspired solely by your team's success. The interviewer would like to know how they could continue encouraging you - even on the most challenging days.

The interviewer wants to understand how they can best manage and motivate you if hired. Focus on describing what inspires you to keep moving forward in your job, even when faced with challenges.

"My chosen career was helping people at exactly the point they were least capable of helping themselves. So, I stopped needing thanks from my patients. It's not like I don't need positive reinforcement. Everyone does. But I made a point to find it elsewhere instead of expecting it from my patients. Nowadays, I make an effort to expressly thank the people I work with when they do a good job. I focus on being grateful to be allowed to see private, raw, emotional parts of people's lives. And I make work-related goals I can achieve for satisfaction."

We value feedback given to us from our patients and the greater community here at Christiana Care. How do you go about seeking feedback for the work that you do and why is this important?

"Working as a Sterile Processing Tech, most often no news is good news as it relates to my work. If a surgeon and their team are happy with my work, I will usually not hear about it. But if something is not right, I will hear about it immediately, and that is just the nature of the beast in our world. To get feedback, I communicate with my director regularly to obtain any information given by surgeons. We are also a small enough organization where I can approach the providers with new ideas and seek their input, and I don't hesitate to do this either."

Feedback is an integral part of the culture and fact-finding for Christiana Care because patients and the greater community often have significant input on how the company is performing. The organization can look for trends in patient care and react accordingly based on feedback. For you personally, feedback on your performance should be important as well, and your interviewer will be looking to hear how you value feedback and how you go about obtaining feedback on your work.

Talk about why receiving feedback, whether positive or negative, is important and how you've sought and received feedback in the past. Focus on keeping your answer detailed yet concise.

"As a nurse, the most important feedback that I can receive is directly from my patients, and I don't hesitate to do this through different avenues. My current department does patient care surveys, but return rates aren't usually the greatest, so reliable results are hard to determine. At the end of a simple examination or consult visit with patients, I don't hesitate to ask if I missed anything on their end or if there are any concerns that they have that I didn't address. This feedback often helps me become a better all-around nurse, and hearing it from my patients' mouths is the most important place to hear it from."

Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?

"I am a highly detailed person, and I thrive on having a high level of organization in my day. If I am offered a position with Christiana Care Health System, you will never find me to be disorganized! This organization includes my scheduling, paperwork, and more. I utilize my Outlook calendar and set alerts for myself for deadlines and important activities. My documentation is strong as well."

The interviewer wants to determine if you meet their standards for accuracy and organization in the workplace. If you do not come across as someone who pays attention to detail or considers being organized a priority, they may pass you over for another candidate. Assure the interviewer that you are a meticulous person with strong organizational skills.

The success of the healthcare industry thrives on the accuracy of information and organization. Talk to the interviewer about the ways that you ensure accuracy and organization in your day-to-day activities. Perhaps you use a particular app or software. Maybe you are a pen and paper person. Whatever your method, highlight that you are successful in organizing your day.

"I'm a bit of a nerd. I carry around a notebook and write down important facts if I think there is a chance I will forget them. But this is usually just for transitions. Every clinic I've ever worked in has its way of communicating and recording facts, so I put time and attention into using the system the people around me are using. That way, it's easier to transition care, and the patient has all their info in the same place. My notebook saves me when I'm swamped, but I try to be efficient and put info directly into the [group record/EMR/chart] when I can."

In order to work for Christiana Care Health System, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?

"Yes, I consent to a full background check and saw that was a requirement for the job. The most incriminating thing that will show up is a parking ticket I received four years ago for parking in a red zone at a hospital. My wife was in labor, and I knew I had parked illegally as she was about to give birth, and I was frantically trying to get her inside the hospital. I paid the ticket and have never parked in a red zone again."

Working in the healthcare industry means you are in contact with vulnerable people, children, pharmaceutical drugs, drug-related equipment, confidential information, and other areas of sensitivity. Assure the interviewer that you are able and willing to pass a complete background check. If you have a criminal record, you must disclose this.

If you have passed a criminal background check in the past, focus on letting the interviewer know. If you have not had a background check performed but have no criminal record, assure the interviewer you consent to the check and will pass as you have nothing incriminating in your past. If you have a criminal background, explain the situation, what happened to you, and how you have changed from that experience.

"Yes, I consent to a full background check and any other tests that are required. I have no criminal history, so I will pass the background without any problems."

What is your patient care philosophy?

"Every day at work, I remind myself that everyone I come across has their struggles. I make sure to get to know my patients whenever possible. Every person we care for has a story, and everyone has the right to compassionate care."

The interviewer wants to hear how you approach patient care to determine if you will be a good fit for the Christiana Care team. If your patient care philosophy significantly differs, the interviewer may question hiring you.

It's always a great idea to research the company before your interview. You want to know their patient care philosophy so that your answer can reflect what is important to them. Think of how you would describe your patient care philosophy. Focus on keeping your answer concise yet sincere.

"My patient care philosophy aligns with your philosophy, which is why I applied to Christiana Care. I believe in treating all patients and their families in a neighborly fashion. I respect everyone I work with and provide expert, caring treatment to all."

We at Christiana Care often use the term neighbors when referring to our patients. How do you feel about using that word to describe our patients?

"Upon reading the website when I applied for this position, I was impressed that this organization sees its patients as neighbors. I remember my childhood and watching Fred Rogers talk about being a neighbor. Being a neighbor means being happy and cordial to everyone around you, no matter how you feel. Being a neighbor also means helping out when others are in need. I would be able to bring this neighborly approach to the patients I would be working with as a Phlebotomist by taking an empathetic approach to each patient with a smile on my face and using the AIDET approach to keep them at ease during my time with them."

The interviewer wants to see that you will use Christiana Care's terminology to describe their patients. If they choose to hire you and you refuse to call your patients neighbors, you will not be adhering to the company brand, which could confuse the patients and staff.

Right in the organization's mission statement, Christiana Care Health System says that they serve their neighbors as expert, caring partners in their health. When you answer this question, think about what the word neighbor means and what it means to be a genuinely great neighbor. Neighbors take time for each other, they help each other when help is needed, they look out for each other, and they greet each other with smiles every day. Neighbors do this because they coexist together; in reality, Christiana Care believes that we are all neighbors that coexist with each other in their marketplace.

"In one simple word, I feel awesome about that! I think about the neighborhood I grew up in and the fact that my mother could walk next door to borrow an egg or a cup of sugar, and she wouldn't hesitate to do so. I think about my brother and me mowing an elderly gentleman's lawn every summer because of his inability to do so. It was really everyone helping each other out when others were in a time of need, and this is such a refreshing approach when thinking about patient care and how to treat a patient in the best way possible."

Christiana Care believes the key to providing truly great health care is to partner with our patients and their families. In your role, what do you think would be the keys to creating a partnership with your patients and their caregivers?

"Practicing as a PA in Family Medicine, I see every patient as a chance to build a partnership towards greater health outcomes for them. This is the reason that I pursued a career in primary care. My partnerships are built solidly by gaining my patients' trust through knowledgeable and compassionate care. Once I have trust, I use conversation to help open windows into the personal lives of the patients I work with and then use that information to help in care processes. I use hobbies, family, friends, and anything else I can to help my patients see motivation in their own health and put it on them to help take ownership of their health. I also include patients in decision-making processes, from things as simple as prescribing medication to using external community resources to aid them."

The interviewer asks this question to see if your patient care philosophy aligns with Christiana Care Health System. They want to determine if you would be a good fit for the team if hired and carry on their partnerships with your patients and family members.

The Christiana Care Way states that the organization believes the key to providing truly great health care is to partner with our patients and their families, building a system of care that is effective, affordable, and valuable to everyone who is touched by it. Think about the role you are interviewing for and research the role as best as possible to find out ways that you can partner with your patients. Some points to touch on in your answer would be involving them in decisions, seeking their motivations, celebrating success, informing patients in the easiest way possible, utilizing community resources, and communicating your role in the process to the patient.

"Working as a CT Tech, I don't often have the chance to build long-term relationships with the patients that I see, but I think there are little things that I do that help build a partnership with my patients and my organization. I work with patients so they can be comfortable during their scans. By taking a compassionate approach with each patient, I ask questions about comfort and pain prior to scanning. When scanning, I talk with the patient to describe what is happening and what will then happen once the images are complete. In talking to them, I understand their knowledge and talk in a manner where they understand my terminology. I believe that working in this manner sets myself, my patients, and the organization up for a mutual partnership in the best way possible."

In the healthcare industry, there are many emotions in a day. Have your emotions ever interfered with your ability to perform your job?

"No, I do not let my emotions interfere with my job duties. I recently was tasked with telling a couple that their daughter was stillborn. It was an emotionally charged event, but I kept my composure and stayed with the family throughout their stay. I understand that I have to be strong for others, and it does not help if I cannot remain professional while performing my job responsibilities."

Working as a healthcare professional can be emotionally draining at times. The interviewer understands this, but they want to ensure that you will not let your emotions interfere with your work if hired.

Describe that you realize healthcare can be emotionally draining while explaining that you can keep your emotions from interfering with your job. Focus on describing an emotional day you had at work and what measures you took to keep your emotions from interfering with your work.

"I have experienced a lot of emotional days during my seven-year career, but I have never let my emotions interfere with my ability to perform my job. I can be an emotional person away from work, so I have had to work on keeping my composure when faced with sadness at work. What helps me is knowing that my strength helps my patients and family members get through tough times. If hired, I can assure you that my emotions will never interfere with my ability to remain professional at all times."

Here at Christiana Care, we take a team based approach to our care for patients. Talk about a great working team that you were a part of. What made it great and what role did you play on the team?

"In my current position as the nursing supervisor of our critical care unit, we have a great team that communicates and functions well. This team effort stems from the highest level of our organization with open communication and transparency throughout the system. This transparency allows my team to be open and honest with their needs and questions, and the nursing staff is always there to help each other in a give-and-take relationship. This team effort truly makes my job as the supervisor easy. I take time to schedule both fun team-building events and social events to help foster the team atmosphere even further. What can you say about the cohesion of the team in this unit that I am interviewing for?"

To ensure that patients are receiving the best and most thorough care possible, Christiana Care takes a team-based approach that is necessary due to the size and overall function of the organization. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to understand your work as part of a larger team and how you see and contribute to a highly functioning team effort. In your example, talk about your ability to work well with a diverse group of individuals while all are working toward one goal. Discuss your ability to problem solve as part of a team and use your area of expertise to contribute.

Focus on providing a detailed response highlighting the workplace experience you have working with a team. If you are new to the healthcare industry, you can use an experience from school, a previous job, or a sports team.

"A couple of years ago, before transferring to my current position, I was the HUC in the Emergency Department, and the true team effort there made patient care and life for all employees much better. In my role as the HUC, I wore many hats in the department by doing things like EHR updates, transcribing, updating the census board, answering phones, and many other duties. Because I worked with our providers, nursing staff, EMTs, and patients all at once, communication was key between myself and all of my team members, which never faltered in my time there. I prioritized my tasks to best help the patients and our staff in the way that made the most sense at the time. The providers and other staff never hesitate to stay in communication with me when needed as well, and this revolving cycle of communication led to a great team effort."

Christiana Care Health System Interview Questions

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1. Christiana Care Health System has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?
2. Christiana Care Health System was initially looking for someone with 5 years' experience in a similar role. Considering you have just 2 years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?
3. We feel that making healthcare affordable is extremely important here at Christiana Care, and sometimes it is the little things that can help reduce costs on the front end for our patients. What are ways that you are wise with resources in your work?
4. Why do you think you will be successful in this role with Christiana Care Health System?
5. What is your greatest weakness?
6. Talk about a significant relationship you've developed in your time in the healthcare industry. How were you able to help deliver great results because of a personal touch with this person?
7. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?
8. What type of work environment do you most like working in?
9. With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?
10. Talk about the listening skills and techniques you use when working with patients. Why are these skills and techniques important to use?
11. If Christiana Care Health System hired you today, what would you accomplish first?
12. Christiana Care puts a great deal of time and resources into gaining feedback from our patients. Why do you feel this is important to the organization?
13. What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?
14. Tell me about yourself.
15. We follow a servant leadership model here at Christiana Health. Are you familiar with the principles of servant leadership?
16. Do you prefer to work in a team-based position or individually?
17. Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?
18. How would your former supervisor describe you?
19. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
20. As part of the Christiana Care Way, we believe that your medical expertise is only effective when it is paired with respect and compassion. Why is gaining the respect of your patients important and how do you build respect with them?
21. At Christiana Care Health System we seek to hire individuals who have ambitions of growing their career. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
22. By looking to build a system of care that is valuable to our patients, how would you demonstrate your value from day one in this position with Christiana Care?
23. It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job'. How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?
24. We value feedback given to us from our patients and the greater community here at Christiana Care. How do you go about seeking feedback for the work that you do and why is this important?
25. Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?
26. In order to work for Christiana Care Health System, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?
27. What is your patient care philosophy?
28. We at Christiana Care often use the term neighbors when referring to our patients. How do you feel about using that word to describe our patients?
29. Christiana Care believes the key to providing truly great health care is to partner with our patients and their families. In your role, what do you think would be the keys to creating a partnership with your patients and their caregivers?
30. In the healthcare industry, there are many emotions in a day. Have your emotions ever interfered with your ability to perform your job?
31. Here at Christiana Care, we take a team based approach to our care for patients. Talk about a great working team that you were a part of. What made it great and what role did you play on the team?

Christiana Care Health System Interview Questions

1. Christiana Care Health System has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

2. Christiana Care Health System was initially looking for someone with 5 years' experience in a similar role. Considering you have just 2 years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?

3. We feel that making healthcare affordable is extremely important here at Christiana Care, and sometimes it is the little things that can help reduce costs on the front end for our patients. What are ways that you are wise with resources in your work?

4. Why do you think you will be successful in this role with Christiana Care Health System?

5. What is your greatest weakness?

6. Talk about a significant relationship you've developed in your time in the healthcare industry. How were you able to help deliver great results because of a personal touch with this person?

7. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?

8. What type of work environment do you most like working in?

9. With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?

10. Talk about the listening skills and techniques you use when working with patients. Why are these skills and techniques important to use?

11. If Christiana Care Health System hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

12. Christiana Care puts a great deal of time and resources into gaining feedback from our patients. Why do you feel this is important to the organization?

13. What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?

14. Tell me about yourself.

15. We follow a servant leadership model here at Christiana Health. Are you familiar with the principles of servant leadership?

16. Do you prefer to work in a team-based position or individually?

17. Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?

18. How would your former supervisor describe you?

19. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?

20. As part of the Christiana Care Way, we believe that your medical expertise is only effective when it is paired with respect and compassion. Why is gaining the respect of your patients important and how do you build respect with them?

21. At Christiana Care Health System we seek to hire individuals who have ambitions of growing their career. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

22. By looking to build a system of care that is valuable to our patients, how would you demonstrate your value from day one in this position with Christiana Care?

23. It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job'. How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

24. We value feedback given to us from our patients and the greater community here at Christiana Care. How do you go about seeking feedback for the work that you do and why is this important?

25. Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?

26. In order to work for Christiana Care Health System, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?

27. What is your patient care philosophy?

28. We at Christiana Care often use the term neighbors when referring to our patients. How do you feel about using that word to describe our patients?

29. Christiana Care believes the key to providing truly great health care is to partner with our patients and their families. In your role, what do you think would be the keys to creating a partnership with your patients and their caregivers?

30. In the healthcare industry, there are many emotions in a day. Have your emotions ever interfered with your ability to perform your job?

31. Here at Christiana Care, we take a team based approach to our care for patients. Talk about a great working team that you were a part of. What made it great and what role did you play on the team?