Encompass Home Health 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 type of environment because it offers me unique learning opportunities."

Are you accustomed to working with a very large or 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.

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

Encompass Home Health 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 do 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."

Are you willing to earn your way up if the interviewer does not want to offer you top compensation? Discuss with the interviewer what you would expect for compensation if offered this position.

"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 do look forward to proving my worth to Encompass Home Health, Inc. in hopes to be considered for the median salary for the role."

Do you think it is possible to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader?

"I think that it is possible to be a great team member, even when disagreeing with the leader. It's all in how you maintain respect for each other despite the difference in opinion."

The interviewer wants to know that you can be diplomatic in the workplace, even when you may not agree with your leader. Show the interviewer that it is possible for you to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader from time to time. Explain that you believe everyone is entitled to their own professional opinion, yet capable of maintaining respect for each other at the same time. Show that even if you disagree with the final decision they make, you support the direction the team is heading.

"I believe that being a good team member is more about attitude than it is about compatibility. You do not need to agree with everyone 100% of the time, to be effective in your job."

Give an example of a great team environment you were a part of where the team members were there to support each other at all times. Why was this important to the work being accomplished?

"The current team that I'm a part of functions at such a high level for our patients and the care that we provide for them. I work as an RN and am part of a team with two CNA's that work with the patients in their homes. I know the personal strengths of each of my CNA's and I have the leeway to delegate their patients based on their strengths. We communicate on a daily basis through either email or phone and this communication is important. I hold a weekly meeting with them, where we meet for lunch in the field on Friday's to discuss the events of the week and the workload for the next week. This relationship works great because of our communication and the relying on our skill sets to serve our patients."

As part of the Encompass Health Way, the organization firmly believes that strength together is accomplished in a team based atmosphere where every person's personal strengths make the whole effort of the organization stronger. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear your thoughts about a time your worked for a high functioning team. Talk about the key traits of the team that you were a part of and how they made a full team effort possible and fluid in nature. As well, talk about the roles that you played on the team and reiterate to your interviewer that you believe in the notion that all members of a team bring their own unique skill set to make the team function as best as possible.

"Currently, my work setting is a great example of great teamwork and I hope that any future work settings that I am a part of exemplify this as well. As the Speech Therapist, I am relied upon to work with patients that need my services. I make myself available to the case managers when they contact me and I always keep some open time on my calendar each day for new patients that get assigned. I communicate well with the nurses, case managers and the rest of the care teams and they do this as well. There have been some times where it may take me a day or two to make it to a patient in a remote location. In these instances, I work with the nursing care team on preparing the patient as much as possible for my initial visit and I do this through solid communication. Having worked with this team for over five years, we all know each other and our processes well enough that we can prepare our mutual patients for what is to come down the road and the patients really take to this well."

What is your greatest weakness?

"I believe I could improve on 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 myself in an evening/weekend workshop for the next six weeks. We will see how stellar my skills are after that course!"

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 in place for improving on 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 maybe 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 it's truthful. My weakness is in not 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 often I'm not aware 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."

Rate your problem solving skills from 1-10. How do you justify your rating?

"I rate my problem-solving skills as an 8/10. I will, on occasion, have times when I am not as efficient as I would like to be but all in all, I do feel that my problem-solving skills are above average. My supervisor and co-workers will attest to my fast reflexes when a problem arises, and they would also say that I remain calm under pressure."

The interviewer wants to know how you would rate your problem-solving skills. Of course, you want to give yourself a strong rating; however, it's essential that you remain realistic. Everyone has room to learn and improve! Be sure to justify your score as well.

"I would say I get a solid 8.3 on a scale of 10. Seems weird to give myself something like a .3, but I think of it as an 83%, which is a B- teetering on a solid B. It's a solid grade, with definite room for improvement, since I'm certainly not perfect. The reason for the B-/B grade would be that I'm quick to take action and figure out the solution as I go, but sometimes I could benefit from taking a moment to pause and reflect or gather other contributors before taking action. That said, I believe I generally get the best outcome possible when faced with a challenge."

What does great customer service entail in the job that you are interviewing for? Why is it important for you to take this approach with those that you care for?

"In the field, I am on the front line exemplifying my company and I must take a customer focused approach both for their own care and for the betterment of the company. Home health patients can easily opt for care from another home care provider and I take my patients care personally by showing an empathetic and compassionate approach to their care as if I was caring for my own family member. This approach helps ensure that my patients stay in my care and even refer our services to others like many patients have told me they have done."

In healthcare, a customer service approach is necessary for caregivers to truly provide the best care possible. While some don't consider providing care to the sick or injured a customer service job, when broken down, customer service is what the job all boils down to. In your answer, talk about the patients that you care for as customers of the organization which you represent. The care you provide reflects on the organization and keeps the patient a customer for the rest of their life. Word of mouth on the excellent care they receive also helps future business for the organization and be sure to talk about that as well.

"In the Physical Therapy world, a customer focused approach is important for me to help rehabilitate my patients as best as possible. My customer focus starts with putting myself in the shoes of my patients and treating them how I would like to be treated. This caring approach opens my patients up to their goals in the rehab process and with this information, we can set a care plan that works for them physically and for reaching their goals. As well, a customer service focused approach is necessary on the business side of things. My patients have many options when it comes to receiving their physical therapy and I take my share of the market seriously. The gains I have seen in the market share of local patients can all be attributed to word of mouth from current patients and the customer service the my staff and I provide is key to those gains."

What type of work environment do you dislike working in?

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

Are you pretty flexible in your ability to work in most environments? Have you experienced a position where the atmosphere wasn't conducive to your productivity? Be sure to know the type of situation offered in this position prior, to the interview. If you aren't completely clear on the workplace environment or culture, kindly ask the interviewer to expand on the work environment for you.

"I prefer to focus on the positive, so if it's okay, I would like to share with you what my ideal work environment looks like. My ideal 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 problem-solving."

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 to be 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 field, and today's technology makes this reasonably easy! List several ways that you receive your industry knowledge and stay on top of trends. Tell the interviewer about those daily update emails you receive from professional organizations, conferences you attend, and seminars you have taken.Lastly, it's a great idea to ask the interviewer what resources they refer to for industry trends. That question can start up a great conversation, and you may learn a thing or two as well.

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

Think about a difficult boss, professor or coworker. What made him or her difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person?

"I once worked at a small medical facility where the primary physician was very demanding. When he would walk into the facility, employees would quietly announce that he was in the building, so that everyone could be prepared for his arrival. This physician had great intentions; however, his people skills were a little rough. I could see that he meant well, and I recognized that he wanted to do a lot of good things. When we interacted, I always took his feedback with the understanding that he didn't mean things as harshly as he might say them."

Show the interviewer that you work well with most personalities even though you recognize there are some folks out there who are quite difficult to please. Think about that one person at work who is seen as hard to please. Perhaps there is someone at work who tries to intimidate others. Talk to the interviewer about what made this person challenging and what their relationship was with you. Avoid speaking poorly of anyone and be sure to end your response on a positive note.

"In my previous position, I did have a coworker who didn't pull their weight. This unmotivated coworker created more work for the rest of the team by being slow and unresponsive. Our team started to complete most of the tasks when it came to group projects. It didn't take much time before our department head noticed this particular individual was slacking. I feel like, in most instances, the underachievers will weed themselves out over time, and it's rarely worth making a fuss over."

If Encompass Home Health hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

"When we were speaking earlier, you mentioned that you were urgently seeking 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 Encompass Home Health. 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 what your impact goal is, should you be the successful candidate. If you want to make an impact with your answer, refer to the immediate needs of the company 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. This concept is often called your 'value proposition' in marketing. "Hire me because I'll do X." But remember this is your campaign promise, if hired, it will likely be your first target to hit and depending on the environment, it could make or break you. The best approach is to give a functional analysis of the employers' needs and your skills."

If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?

"If I could choose any area of healthcare services to be a subject matter expert in, I would choose geriatric care. I do feel that this particular focus is not as popular as some, and become an expert in it would allow me to snowball in my career."

There are many facets of health care. If you could choose any area of healthcare to specialize in, which would you choose? Be sure to tie your answer into some aspects of what Encompass Home Health does.

"I have a variety of interests within healthcare service, so that is a tough question for me! I suppose if I had to narrow it to just one area of expertise, I would say palliative care and the necessary family care that comes with it."

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 teams part. I like to be on time with my schedule to ensure that our patients and clients are assisted properly."

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. (IE: a bus driver should not find driving to be the most stressful part of the job).

"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."

At Encompass Home Health, we believe that engaging with our patients on a personal level requires a deep personal connection to them. How do you go about developing personal relationships with the patients you care for?

"Having worked in home health for the past four years, gaining the trust of my patients is of utmost importance for their care. I am coming into their home to care for them and they need to be able to speak openly with me and trust in me that I am doing to best for them. To build this trust, I take the time to get to know my patients through personal conversations and I always bring an empathetic approach to their care. I ask questions, listen to their needs and respond to their needs in a team effort. If hired here at Encompass Health, you can rest assured that your patients would be in great care under me."

Relationship building is one of the cornerstones of the healthcare industry and this is even more true in the long-term care and home health settings that Encompass Home Health works in. Speak to your interview about your personality traits and interpersonal skills that help you build long lasting and effective relationships with the individuals that you care for. As well, explain why connecting on a personal level with patients is important in providing excellent care for them.

"Effective case management is really predicated on the personal connections I make with patients and their caregivers. To ensure that proper services are in place, I need an insight into the personal lives of the patients that I am assigned to and I do this through a compassionate and friendly approach to our conversations. I talk to them about their home life, their personal lives and those that are caregivers for them. Based on this info, I can work diligently to help them with the best services possible."

Encompass Home Health supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

"I find that with the right company, it's pretty simple to balance life and work. When I enjoy what I do it doesn't feel like a chore. I am always sure that when at home, my family gets my attention first. I take time on the weekends to do things for myself and ensure that I regenerate before the work week begins."

It is essential to keep a healthy work/life balance to prevent burnout. Talk to the interviewer about how you can maintain that appropriate balance for yourself.

"I make a strong effort to keep a healthy balance by spending my free time away from my cell phone and having more face-to-face time with my friends and family. I indulge in the things that make me happy, on my time off. By consistently rejuvenating in this way, I can give even more energy when I am at work."

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

"Whether I am doing an independent project, or working in a team environment, I always give my best. I enjoy the camaraderie of working in a team, but I can be successful working autonomously as well."

In which situation are you the happiest and most productive? Talk to the interviewer about your preference when it comes to teamwork or working individually. Be sure to avoid pigeonholing yourself into one particular scenario (IE: I only like to work by myself). You may work well without the need for much management or direction, or perhaps you are better driven in a collaborative and team led environment. Either way, be honest with the interviewer about your preferences without leaning negatively, either way.

"I have found, in the past, that I work well in an individually driven environment; however, I can certainly be productive in a team-based setting as well."

At Encompass Home Health, we continuously strive to go above and beyond to achieve excellence in our care. Can you talk about a time where you raised the bar for service excellence in the care you provided?

"A few years ago when I took the current position that I'm working in now, I knew right away from my first day of orientation that the organization was using outdated equipment all throughout our rehab facility. Knowing that modern equipment would greatly benefit patient outcomes, I approached our director about the possibility of upgrades. Together, we worked on a request for proposal for capital funding to upgrade our equipment for our PT patients. My role in the proposal was researching the requested equipment, writing features and benefits and then projections of improved outcomes with specific patient populations. A budget was approved to upgrade equipment over a three year period, so that was a huge win in my book!"

In the Encompass Health Way, the organization shows a dedication to continuous improvement by never settling for anything less than excellence. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you aren't the type of employee to settle for complacency, but rather that you are always seeking to improve. In the example that you provide, talk about a time that you noticed room for improvement in your job and explain the initiative you took to seek improvement. This can entail looking at new procedures for your team or simply you seeking out a way to improve yourself. Either way, make it clear to your interviewer that you have the initiative and drive to seek improvement in what you do.

"Five years ago when I made the transition to home health nursing, I felt like I was able to hit the ground running from the start based on my extensive inpatient experience early in my career. In a time of great need for my organization though, I didn't get a lot of face to face mentoring with my team and was kind of thrown to the wolves with patients in the home care setting. After my first week, I approached my supervisor about using available CME funds to take a couple of online CME courses on the legal risks and management of diabetes in the home health setting. She approved and the courses really helped me become the more well-rounded home health nurse that I am today."

How would you describe your personality?

"I would describe my personality as approachable, light-hearted, and positive. I believe that, if asked, my colleagues and supervisor would say the same about me."

Personality and character are two very different things. The interviewer is looking for more information on your traits vs. your integrity. Your example could include buzzwords such as introverted, energetic, and confident.

"I'm genuinely easy-going, probably from all the international travel I experienced in my 20's. I like to do the right thing, and sometimes I get stressed trying to reach that goal, but I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. I can be funny, but my sense of humor is pretty dry, so people don't always know that about me when they first meet me."

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 was able to learn 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 make sure to spend more time highlighting the resolution rather than the problem.

"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 learn new software all the time. I'm finally getting old enough to realize that its difficult to be constantly adapting. I think 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 2:15 compressions to continuous compressions and I had to adapt to avoid my past way of thinking."

Encompass Home Health seeks to hire those with strong problem solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?

"In my most recent position we had a consistent problem with employees showing up late for their shifts or calling in sick at the very last moment. Rather than the typical documenting and reprimanding style that management usually takes, I decided to track the results of an accountability reward system. For 180 days, my employees were rewarded for coming to work 10 minutes early. Also, for every month with zero sick days, a bonus was added. In the end, we awarded those with perfect attendance a $600 bonus. The bonus' cost us less money, in the end than the cost of lowered productivity due to absent employees. The program was a success, and upper management chose to keep it implemented for another six months. We will re-assess in December, but it seems to be working very well."

Problem-solving and dispute resolution are critical skills to possess. Display to the interviewer that you are capable of problem-solving within the workplace. Talk about a time when you were creative, proactive, and displayed the leadership qualities required to resolve a workplace issue.

"I was working in a clinic where the primary population was low income. We had a lot of concerns with patients not showing up for appointments when expected. The staff wanted to start double-booking patient time slots. Instead, I got permission to spend a day in a highly-rated clinic serving the same population. Instead of scheduling, they had these 'drop-in mornings' with a common waiting room. I took these methods and incorporated them into our setting. We did that twice a week, and it completely solved our scheduling problem."

Talk about a time where you had to be transparent with a patient or colleague, even thought it may have been difficult for you. Was there a difficult conversation you had to have with the individual?

"Last year, we had a suspected Tb patient that was in an isolation room and I was the head nurse in charge of the patient in isolation. Because of the patient's status, visitation to the room was against policy outside of hospital staff and only the spouse was allowed in once per day if properly garbed. The third day in isolation, the patient's daughter and family showed up at the hospital to see the patient. Knowing that both the daughter and the patient would be heartbroken with the news that they couldn't see each other per policy, I approached them both from the safety standpoint and explained just how dangerously contagious the illness could be. To make the situation a good one, I helped set up a video call between the two with me in the room and it went over very well!"

Transparency in the healthcare industry is vital, whether it is telling the honest truth to the patients that you care for or the coworkers that you work side by side with. Sometimes, transparency comes with the need to have difficult conversations. For your interviewer to get a sense of your ability to do this, talk about a time that was difficult for you to be honest with someone you were working with. Explain the situation and how you handled it while reiterating your ability to have difficult conversations with those that you work with.

"During my time as a Nurse Manager overseeing several hospital units, I've had to have many difficult conversation with employees and families. While never easy, I always feel a sense of personal responsibility to the person to be transparent and have these conversations. Just recently, an employee under me was being investigated for patient neglect due to a fall that had happened on her watch where the patient broke a hip. Knowing that the employee felt so terrible about the circumstances and owned up to the mistake, I still had to inform her that the organization was conducting a formal investigation. I brought her in to my office and explained why the investigation was being conducted. Hearing that a major injury like that automatically prompted one, I urged the employee to be as upfront and honest as possible with the staff that would be interviewing her. In the end, neglect was never found to be true and the employee thanked me very much for my transparency."

Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?

"I have experience in ordering medical supplies and maintaining inventory. I fully understand that there is an art to being properly organized when it comes to the availability of supplies. For medical ordering and inventory, I have used a variety of software and programs such as ABC and XYZ."

The interviewer would like to know if you understand what it takes to keep on top of ordering medical supplies and inventory. Assure the interviewer that you are capable of foreseeing needs, and making the appropriate action. Highlight your ability to be responsible when it comes to related administrative tasks.

"Yes. I used to do this in my former position. I was responsible for maintaining supplies on the general surgery ward for five years. It was great at working behind the scenes with the result being efficiency for others."

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."

The interviewer would like to know how they could continue to motivate you - even on the hardest of days. Do you need to have verbal recognition? Are you motivated solely by the success of your team? Talk to the interviewer about how you have stayed motivated in the past.

"My chosen career was helping people at exactly the point they were least capable of censoring themselves or giving back. 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 in other places 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 peoples lives. And I make work-related goals I can achieve for satisfaction."

If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any area of healthcare services, which would you choose?

"If I could expand my expertise in any healthcare service area I would choose anything within primary care. This is one of the reasons I have applied with your company. I feel that your focus will be a great fit with my long-term career goals."

The interviewer would like to dig deeper into your true areas of interest when it comes to healthcare services. They want to know that your passions align well with what Encompass Home Health is offering. Talk to the interviewer about the areas of healthcare you would like to focus on most, and then tie that information in with what the position at Encompass Home Health would be offering you.

"I'm interested in research. One of the things that attracted me to working with your company is your ongoing community-based research collaborations. I'd be curious to hear if the [clinic/hospital/program] had any needs in this area. Is this something junior staff can be involved in?"

Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that 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. This organization includes my scheduling, paperwork, and more. If I am offered a position with Encompass Home Health you will never find me to be disorganized! I utilize my Outlook calendar and set alerts for myself for deadlines and important activities. My documentation is strong as well."

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, be sure to 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 its 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 Encompass Home Health, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?

"I have a clean criminal record and am happy to comply with any background check you require of me."

Working in the healthcare services industry means that 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.

"No problem. I understand that it's part of the job. But I want to be up-front, I have done a full background check before, and there is a possibility you will see a charge for possession of marijuana in the check. It was several years ago, and it's no longer an issue for me because I've made significant changes in my life to pursue this career. But I don't want you to be surprised by the information. I'm happy to answer any questions you have."

"I have a misdemeanor on my record from 15 years ago. I am happy to continue in the interview process and comply with your background checks should you allow for some exceptions."

Encompass Home Health believes in doing what is right at all time, even when no one is looking. Talk about a time that you made a mistake on the job and had to take ownership of that mistake. How did you handle the situation?

"A couple of years ago, my unit instituted a rotating swing shift for all of the RN's and HUC's on our unit and this was quite a bit change for me coming off of three years of working straight evening shifts. The first week of the changeover, I remained on second shift and that entailed working the Saturday over the weekend. The following Monday when I was to start my day shift, mere habit had me thinking that I wasn't starting until 3:00 pm and then my phone rang shortly after 7:00 am. Answering to my unit supervisor, I was super apologetic and let her know I would be leaving my house in 20 minutes to show up within the hour. The mistake wasn't an issue as we had enough coverage on our unit that morning and the event caused a few laughs at my expense, but I took a lot of measures to ensure that it would never happen again. I now keep a printed work schedule on my refrigerator at home and a copy on my phone as well."

As humans, mistakes in the workplace are inevitable and your true character is reflected in how you handle that aftermath of a mistake. Your interviewer will be looking to hear just you've handled such a situation in your work history by having you talk about a mistake that you made and then explaining how you handled the events after to make it right. In your example, think of a situation where a mistake happened, making sure that the error didn't jeopardize patient safety or the safety of others. It is critical to talk about the steps you took the make the situation right and what lessons you learned from the mistake.

"In the first year out of college in my first position working as a Speech Pathologist, I was responsible for filing reports to families of tee children that I worked with. After filing a report on a child to the family and the state, I received a phone call from the child's mother who was very mad that the wrong name was in the report multiple times. I apologized greatly and let the mother know I would look into the report and get back to her shortly. After pulling the report, I realized that all of the data sent to the parents applied to their child and that I had just transposed the name of another child on the report. I called the mother back and apologized and explained the mistake and promised I would file a new report immediately. I let my director know of the situation as well and I took the proper steps to complete and refile the report. Looking back immediately on the situation, a simple ten minutes of proof reading would have prevented the mistake and I now take the time with all paperwork to proofread before submitting."

At Encompass Home Health we take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, coworkers, and patients. Do you consider yourself to be a strong relationship builder?

"I have often been complimented on my relationship building skills. I like to get to know people and ask them questions about themselves. Most people love to talk about themselves, and I find it's a great and simple way to start building rapport with others. I consider myself to be a strong relationship builder and take pride in my 'people skills'. Rest assured, I would be a great ambassador of positive relationships for Encompass Home Health."

Assure the interviewer that you would treat everyone at Encompass Home Health with great respect and a positive attitude. Discuss the ways that you would build strong and healthy relationships if hired.

"Some ways to build strong relationships in the workplace: - Have strong follow-up - Offer sincere conversation - Get to know people on a personal level - Be trustworthy - Avoid gossip - Offer mutual respect - Be mindful of your actions - Compliment others - Be positive - Be a strong listener"

"I am happy to hear that Encompass Home Health, Inc. values long-term relationships. This fact is a bonus for me, and it's one of the reasons I chose to work in the medical field. I like working in an industry where genuine care is valued. Healthcare is not a place for gimmicks because health is precious and irreplaceable. In the past, I've had a lot of success by focusing on building a reputation for consistency and followup. What you describe is a good fit for me, these skills are valued by reputable vendors, and I'd like to represent a company that wants to create long-term sustainable partnerships."

Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.

"I have a nursing degree as well as additional on the job training within clinical research. I feel that my nursing education opened up many potential industry-related avenues for me. I graduated top of my class and completed a valuable internship with 'XYZ Health Services'. All of these experiences have helped prepare me for success in this role with Encompass Home Health."

Take a few minutes to walk the interviewer through your formal post-secondary education as well as any on the job training. Talk about your most positive take-away's from your post-secondary experience and be sure to tie in how that experience will help you succeed in this position.

"I did my undergraduate in chemistry and medical school at St. George's University. I loved surgery, so my electives were in general surgery, trauma epidemiology, and orthopedics. I'm happy to be moving on to more responsibility as a resident. I have had some amazing mentors, and I found that I could perform with some different teaching styles."

In the healthcare services industry there are many emotions in a day. Have your emotions ever been in the way of your productivity?

"Everyone is emotional to a certain degree, and I would consider myself kind-hearted and open. A career in healthcare can be emotional at times; however, I choose to focus on the positives. For instance - if we are close to losing a patient, I will focus on the positive memories rather than the illness. This mindset has consistently allowed me to continue with a productive shift no matter the emotions that come my way. "

The interviewer wants to know if you consider yourself to be an emotionally driven person. Talk to the interviewer about your emotions and if they have ever affected your productivity at work. Keep in mind - almost everyone is an emotional creature to some degree, but there are other ways that you can describe yourself that have a more positive connotation. If you are passionate, you could choose to refer to yourself as: - Expressive - Communicative - Open - Unreserved - Warm Hearted

"This is a great question. I think the right answer is, 'of course, but not for long'! We've all had those tough cases. A child dies, a patient yells at you, or you have to give someone a cancer diagnosis. Its professional to take a few minutes after an encounter like that and let those emotions come and go. I cope with these emotions by telling myself that it's not my story, its the patient's story. I think it's okay to be moved by someone else's experience, but I don't need to make it mine."

At Encompass Home Health we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?

"My entire career has been dedicated to the healthcare services field. I find it incredibly rewarding and interesting because I get to help others and every day brings new challenges! One of the reasons I applied for this role with Encompass Home Health is because I can see a long-term fit here. I plan to work in the healthcare segment for my entire career."

Assure the interviewer that you are dedicated to a lucrative career in the healthcare services industry. The hiring manager would like to know that this position fits into your long-term plan and that, if hired, you would stay with Encompass Home Health as long as possible.

"I know this career can take a toll on personal life, and I understand that while it can be more-or-less sustainable, it's more than just a job for me. So far, I have dedicated my entire adult life to this career. I have shadowed numerous professionals and have worked multiple clinics. I know this is the right career for me."

"This career is not just something I want to do 8-5 to get by; it's something I want to BE. I want to be someone who dedicates themselves to a craft. I chose healthcare because the learning opportunities are endless. It's constantly evolving. I find the human body is fascinating, and I think that society is only healthy when it cares for its wounded."

Encompass Home Health Interview Questions

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1. Encompass Home Health has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?
2. Encompass Home Health 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. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader?
4. Give an example of a great team environment you were a part of where the team members were there to support each other at all times. Why was this important to the work being accomplished?
5. What is your greatest weakness?
6. Rate your problem solving skills from 1-10. How do you justify your rating?
7. What does great customer service entail in the job that you are interviewing for? Why is it important for you to take this approach with those that you care for?
8. What type of work environment do you dislike working in?
9. With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?
10. Think about a difficult boss, professor or coworker. What made him or her difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person?
11. If Encompass Home Health hired you today, what would you accomplish first?
12. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?
13. What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?
14. At Encompass Home Health, we believe that engaging with our patients on a personal level requires a deep personal connection to them. How do you go about developing personal relationships with the patients you care for?
15. Encompass Home Health supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?
16. Do you prefer to work in a team based position or individually?
17. At Encompass Home Health, we continuously strive to go above and beyond to achieve excellence in our care. Can you talk about a time where you raised the bar for service excellence in the care you provided?
18. How would you describe your personality?
19. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
20. Encompass Home Health seeks to hire those with strong problem solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?
21. Talk about a time where you had to be transparent with a patient or colleague, even thought it may have been difficult for you. Was there a difficult conversation you had to have with the individual?
22. Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?
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. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any area of healthcare services, which would you choose?
25. Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?
26. In order to work for Encompass Home Health, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?
27. Encompass Home Health believes in doing what is right at all time, even when no one is looking. Talk about a time that you made a mistake on the job and had to take ownership of that mistake. How did you handle the situation?
28. At Encompass Home Health we take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, coworkers, and patients. Do you consider yourself to be a strong relationship builder?
29. Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.
30. In the healthcare services industry there are many emotions in a day. Have your emotions ever been in the way of your productivity?
31. At Encompass Home Health we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?

Encompass Home Health Interview Questions

1. Encompass Home Health has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

2. Encompass Home Health 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. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader?

4. Give an example of a great team environment you were a part of where the team members were there to support each other at all times. Why was this important to the work being accomplished?

5. What is your greatest weakness?

6. Rate your problem solving skills from 1-10. How do you justify your rating?

7. What does great customer service entail in the job that you are interviewing for? Why is it important for you to take this approach with those that you care for?

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

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

10. Think about a difficult boss, professor or coworker. What made him or her difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person?

11. If Encompass Home Health hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

12. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?

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

14. At Encompass Home Health, we believe that engaging with our patients on a personal level requires a deep personal connection to them. How do you go about developing personal relationships with the patients you care for?

15. Encompass Home Health supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

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

17. At Encompass Home Health, we continuously strive to go above and beyond to achieve excellence in our care. Can you talk about a time where you raised the bar for service excellence in the care you provided?

18. How would you describe your personality?

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

20. Encompass Home Health seeks to hire those with strong problem solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?

21. Talk about a time where you had to be transparent with a patient or colleague, even thought it may have been difficult for you. Was there a difficult conversation you had to have with the individual?

22. Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?

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. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any area of healthcare services, which would you choose?

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

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

27. Encompass Home Health believes in doing what is right at all time, even when no one is looking. Talk about a time that you made a mistake on the job and had to take ownership of that mistake. How did you handle the situation?

28. At Encompass Home Health we take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, coworkers, and patients. Do you consider yourself to be a strong relationship builder?

29. Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.

30. In the healthcare services industry there are many emotions in a day. Have your emotions ever been in the way of your productivity?

31. At Encompass Home Health we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?