31 IWK Health Centre Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our IWK Health Centre interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view six answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. IWK Health Centre has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"I am so glad you pointed out your need for diversity at IWK Health Centre. 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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
2. IWK Health Centre 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?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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 IWK Health Centre in hopes to be considered for the median salary for the role."
Written by Ryan Brunner
3. HIWK ealth Centre has one of Canada's strongest focuses in healthcare research. What do you know about our research programs?
How to Answer
While it is very important for you to research IWK Health Centre and the research that they are involved in, it is equally important for you to tie research to your potential role with the organization and to give your personal fields toward research in the medical field. IWK has research projects in the fields of autism, vaccines, pediatric pain and family health, among other areas. Be sure to let your interviewer know that research in healthcare has led to many great advancements in the field and that you'd be proud to work for an organization that puts funds and resources into further research.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
Answer Example
"To start, I was simply amazed when I read about all of the research efforts that are underway at IWK. Having a niece and a nephew that are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, my siblings are often left with questions unanswered and I am a firm believer in the research that is being done here at IWK. I know through my research on the organization that you also have some great projects happening in gastrointestinal research for children with IBD and genetics research. I would love to be a part of an organization that values this type of research and would love to do my part as an RN in the pediatric field."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
4. Why do you think you will be successful in this role with IWK Health Centre?
How to Answer
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 IWK Health Centre. Discuss the reasons why will you be great at this job. Talk about your qualifications and skills that will help you to do this job well. If you can, match your strengths to the requirements outlined in the job description.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"I know I will be successful in this role because I have been working 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 all of my updated certifications as outlined in your job description. I am well-prepared for this next step in my career."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"I believe my success with IWK Health Centre will come from having all of the hard skills that 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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
5. How would you rate your ability to work in a noisy and chaotic work environment? Do you have an example of a time you had to do this?
How to Answer
At a healthcare facility like IWK Health Centre that has a strong focus on pediatric care, things can get very hectic with children of all ages, families and other visitors coming to the facility. Your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are able to stay focused on the details of your job to remain accurate and productive no matter the environment that you work in. If you have a specific example of a work environment like this, talk about the methods and techniques you used to ensure that you stayed focused on your work and avoided distraction.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I have spent a good portion of my working career in a pediatric setting. While things can get loud and crazy at times, I am able to stay focused on my patients and my work by closing doors to help minimize any outside noise. Knowing full well that the clinic can get loud at times, some patients don't understand that so I always try to minimize the situation in their eyes to let them know that I am focused on them in the moment."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"I would rate my ability to work in a chaotic environment as very well. As you can see, I am coming from one of the busiest delivery units in the Toronto area and I have experience working shifts where we had several mothers in full blown labor at one time. During these times of mass chaos of patients, family and staff, I have a great ability to stay focused on what I need to do in the moment while being able to prioritize and triage care to patients when needed. This experience would suit me well in this role with IWK Health Centre."
Written by Ryan Brunner
6. Rate your problem solving skills from 1-10. How do you justify your rating?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
7. At IWK Health Centre, we put a lot of effort and resources into ensuring that our staff members are able to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle and work/life balance. How do you ensure you are refreshed outside of work?
How to Answer
For this question, it is important to know that IWK Health Centre prides itself on promoting healthy lifestyles and work/life balances for their employees. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to get an idea of what you enjoy to do outside of work. When answering, remain focused on hobbies and activities that promote health and mental wellness and leave you recharged for the next time you come into the workplace. This question also gives your interviewer the chance to get to know you a little better, so you can be creative in your answer as well.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Overall, my life really does revolve around physical activity. Not being the type of person or family that sits on the couch and watches TV, I train for 10k and half marathon running events and work out on a regular basis. When not running, my family and I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, biking and kayaking all around the region. Of course, winter activities are important as well so we like to cross country ski and snowshoe when we can. This type of lifestyle benefits me both personally with great health and professionally as well with my ability to easily stand on my feet all day through 12 hour shifts."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"From a very young age, I learned to enjoy life outdoors and I spend a large portion of my time away from the clinic hunting and fishing. This lifestyle really excites me about the opportunity to come to the region as well. On top of these outdoor activities, I am very much into cooking and smoking my own sausage. These hobbies keep me active and on the go at all times and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Written by Ryan Brunner
8. What type of work environment do you dislike working in?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
9. With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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?"
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
10. Think about a difficult boss, professor or coworker. What made him or her difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
11. Being open and honest with patients and their family is a value that we hold very high at IWK Health Centre. Talk about a time where being honest in your job was difficult. How did you overcome this difficulty?
How to Answer
Working in the healthcare field can provide some difficult times where being open and honest with patients is extremely difficult, but necessary. Think of a time where your honesty was difficult for your personally and talk about the steps you had to take to overcome this difficulty. In your answer, be sure to keep the needs of the patient in focus while putting your own personal feelings and beliefs aside for the betterment of someone else. Your interviewer will be looking for you to take an unselfish approach in your honesty.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Having a septic patient recently under my care in the ICU setting, I knew that costs of lab tests would be sky high for a patient and their family that was under a very high deductible health plan. In hearing the families concern right away about the cost of a hospital stay, I knew that they had to be informed about potential cost of daily lab tests during the stay. I sat the spouse and children down in a consultation meeting to talk about the needed diagnostic tests for sepsis. I explained the medical necessity of the hospital stay and the lab tests to help treat the condition moving forward. I also talked about costs of the tests. By being up front and honest right away, the family was very appreciative as they wouldn't be face with the shock of billing once the patient was healed and discharged."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"In my time as a midwife, I've had to deliver the horrible new of a stillborn baby twice and it has been extremely difficult both times. The last time, a mother that was around 23 weeks came in with blurred vision and extremely swollen hands and feet. Knowing these were telltale signs of a stillborn baby, we went into testing right away. The scared mother was very frantic and I took a calm approach with her while running the necessary tests. Once my team knew that a heartbeat no longer existed, I approached the patient one on one in a very empathetic and compassionate manner. In these situations, I don't sugarcoat anything and just let them know the bad news up front. Watching an expecting mother break down and cry is never easy, but I know my approach helps put them at ease. When they are ready to talk about options moving forward with the baby, I wait until the time is right for them but also stress some urgency in the situation."
Written by Ryan Brunner
12. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?
How to Answer
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 IWK Health Centre does.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
13. What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?
How to Answer
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).
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
14. Talk about a time you worked hand in hand with a coworker to help them get better in their job. Why was this important to both you and the coworker you aided?
How to Answer
IWK believes in creating a supportive work environment where collaboration among individuals helps make the whole effort of the organization better. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to gauge your ability to step in as a colleague and provide assistance to someone in need on your team. For your answer, talk about a specific time where you went above and beyond your normal call of duty to help a coworker in need. Talk about the collaborative approach you took to educate and help your colleague and explain why this was important to all parties involved.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Last year, a colleague of mine in our labor and delivery unit was having a difficult time bathing newborns and teaching the new parents how to bathe their new child. Knowing how important of a step this was for both the baby and the parents, I took extra time after a shift of ours together to talk through the improvement points for the newer nurse. I approached her with an open mind and stated that I'd love to show her more effective ways to bathe a newborn and how to teach new parents. She was very thankful for me reaching out and said she only wanted to do the best for the patients. With the blessing of our director, she observed me over the next month bathing the babies. At that point, I let her take over with me in the room and she did an awesome job moving forward. I was very happy I took this approach with my colleague because she was able to become so much more effective in her time with the babies and their parents."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"Last month, we hired a new social worker that hadn't received a lot of training on our electronic health record system prior to being done with orientation and seeing patients. Working in the same office as her, she commented on how she wasn't properly trained and therefore didn't see the need to be detailed in her documentation of patients. Knowing full well that this could lead to a lot of care issues down the road, I asked her if I could take a few hours the next day to really properly train her on our EHR and our role as social workers in the system. She was very appreciative that I was able to do this when no one else had built this into her training and orientation with the organization. She came the next day with a great learners attitude and is doing great on documentation now."
Written by Ryan Brunner
15. IWK Health Centre supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
16. Why is IWK's mission in the Maritime region in Canada important to you?
How to Answer
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island make up the Maritime region in the very eastern part of Canada. The region is very rich in culture and history and your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are entrenched in the culture and history of the region because they know that life outside of work is equally important in retaining you as an employee. Whether you grew up in the region and have worked their your whole life or you will be looking to relocate, it is important that you let your interviewer know that you will be able to thrive in the region while serving the mission of IWK Health Centre at the same time.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"I was born and raised in the more rural area of Arichat, but knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare at a young age. Having only left the region to train in midwifery, I am excited about the prospect of coming back to Nova Scotia to help the residents here. Our richly diverse population here in the province is where my heart lies and you'll quickly find that if I'm hired, I will be here for the remainder of my career."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"Having worked for a majority of my career around Montreal, I think my fluency in French and English will greatly help with the patient population here at IWK Health Centre. Personally, I am very attached to the outdoor recreation available in the region here and would love to spend my evenings and weekends fishing on the river. I think my skills as a Nurse Practitioner would bode well for IWK as an organization and the region would be great for me and my family to thrive in."
Written by Ryan Brunner
17. Talk about a time where your positive attitude helped keep a patient calm and focused at a time when it would have been difficult for them. Why do you think that approach was successful?
How to Answer
IWK Health Centre is focused on providing compassionate care to the women and children that they treat on a daily basis. To gauge your compassion in patient care, this question will focus on the approach that you take with patients going through a difficult time. Make sure to reiterate to your interviewer that your attitude and approach with patients is an integral part of the relationship you have with them and ultimately impacts the care that they receive when under your watch. Talk about the need to be positive and approachable in any situation with a patient and make sure that your example exemplifies this approach.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"As a midwife, it is important for me to have a positive and knowledgeable approach with all of the expectant mothers that I work with. I start this positive approach from the first time that I meet with a new expecting mother and this approach really helps us develop a trusting relationship in each other. A couple of years ago, I was working with a high school aged patient and her parents as well. Knowing that these are often very uncomfortable situations for the parents and the expecting young mother, I approached my first meeting with them and stayed focused on the health of the mother and the baby and laid out all that they could expect from me and the pregnancy process. The young girl's father made it very clear that he was not happy with the situation that his daughter was in and my educational and positive approach with him never wavered. Following the birth of his grandchild about six months later, he thanked me for the great helping hand that I provided to him and his family."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"As you know, social workers are often put in very difficult situations within the healthcare setting and I approach every interaction with patients and their family with respect and compassion. I took the treat others as I would want to be treated approach a few years ago during the discharge planning for a severely obese patient that was very belligerent and sometimes violent with staff. During my first meeting with him, he said he didn't want or need my services for when he was able to go home. In taking a listen first approach, it became clear that he wanted nothing more than to be independent in decisions made regarding his health. Knowing that, I let him know that I could bring some great resources to him and he could then decide which direction he wanted to go as the choice was ultimately his. By staying calm and not taking what he was saying personally, we found some great community resources that could provide help to him in his home and help with weight loss."
Written by Ryan Brunner
18. As part of our core value of excellence, we at IWK Health Centre believe in employees being accountable for their decisions and actions. Talk about a time where you had to be accountable for a mistake in the workplace and how did you own up to it?
How to Answer
In the healthcare field, split decisions can greatly impact the positive or negative outcome for a patient and their family. Some decisions can be a matter of life or death as well. And while your interviewer fully realizes that you are a human that makes mistakes, the important piece that they are trying to get out of this question is that you own up to your mistakes and take a personal sense of accountability in your actions. For this question, talk in detail about a mistake you made on the job and further explain how you went about fixing it. To elaborate further on your answer, talk about any lessons that you carried forward that still resonate with you today.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Early in my nursing career, I was working a night shift with minimal staff. We had a patient on a magnesium drip and I wasn't 100% comfortable on the IV setup my new employer was using. In nursing school and clinical rotations, I became very great at setting the IV's in patients but I wasn't familiar with the particular stand we were using at the time. Not wanting to bother my colleagues, I set up the bag for the appropriate drip and left the sleeping patient. Upon coming back to the room, I noticed the IV bag had only a quarter of the fluid left in it after an hour. Seeing right away that the bag was leaking badly because I hadn't hung it properly, I called for another nurse quickly. I also contacted the hospitalist to have another bag ordered quickly for the patient. Looking back, I definitely should have been more properly trained on the equipment and to this day, I never hesitate to ask for more training if I see it as necessary."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"Early in my career, I was running the food services for a large skilled nursing facility and ensuring that patient requirements for food was a duty I had to keep close tabs on. One day, a patient with a peanut allergy was given a meal that had been cooked with peanut oil and the patient went into mild anaphylactic shock in our dining room. After I heard the code called for out nurses, I ran out into the dining room and I immediately knew what she had been served. I let the attending nurse know right away and epinephrine was administered immediately and the patient came out of shock quickly. When the patient was back in her room, I went and apologized to her directly, in-person and gave her a great big hug to show my remorse. While the situation could have been much worse, I developed a great patient tracking system in the kitchen there that I still use to this day when preparing personalized meals for patients with special food needs."
Written by Ryan Brunner
19. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
20. IWK Health Centre seeks to hire those with strong problem solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
21. At IWK Health Centre, a strong focus of ours is working with pediatric patients. What do you see as the positives and negatives of working with pediatric patients?
How to Answer
A focus on pediatric patients requires a passion and a skill set that make the specialty certainly unique. Talk about the positive experiences you have working with pediatric patients and how they have impacted your career. If you don't have direct experience working with peds patients, make sure to talk about the skills you have that would make you working hi this role positive. On the back end of this question, be sure to talk about a common misconception about difficulties in working with pediatric patients and describe your ability to overcome that.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"First and foremost, I absolutely have loved my experiences working with pediatric patients in the x-ray and CT scan settings. The children are often scared and in an unfamiliar place and I really love working with them through a friendly and loving approach. I've heard many other techs want to shy away from peds patients because of the need to work closely with overbearing and concerned parents. But as a mother myself who has had a child go through some scary health issues, I know where those parents are coming from. I think my calm demeanor and expertise in my field would help put parents and the kids at ease while I am getting the needed images."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"Working on a large med/surg unit, we at times would have a pediatric patient on the unit and I really loved providing care for them. They most often were the patients that brought a smile to my face in seeing their smiles and overall positivity in a time where most would be scared or sad. The difficult part about working with younger patients is their overall lack on knowledge in the medical field and to combat this, I made learning a fun thing for them. By doing something as simple as taking a blood pressure reading, I used fun games to explain to the kids what I was doing and that helped put them at ease and engage them in any processes at the same time."
Written by Ryan Brunner
22. Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
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?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
24. As part of our focus on patient and family centred care, why do you feel it is important that IWK Health Centre focuses on involving patients and families in their healthcare decision making process? How do you go about this in your work?
How to Answer
In the healthcare world, you are the expert in your field and teaching moments for patients and family members come on a daily basis. Beyond the importance of educating those that you work with comes honoring cultural differences of patients and advocating for individuals and families to be a part of the decision making processes in their care. For this question, talk about why it is important for patients and families to be empowered in their healthcare decisions and talk about the approach that you take with patients to help empower them in their care.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Involving patients and their families in decision making processes is extremely important and a delicate balance that I must weigh in on in every situation as a Nurse Practitioner. As the expert on health and disease for my patients, I must be the educator and the provider of resources for my patients. But their involvement is equally important as they know the home life and personal needs of the themselves or their loved one and these needs go a long way in making healthcare decisions. I try to take an educational approach while also welcoming feedback and thoughts from the patient and their family. Through this approach, we can all move forward making sounds decisions for the care of the patient."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"As a Psychologist in the healthcare field, I have faced many patients and families where involvement from all was extremely important. With mental health being such an unknown to most people, I do my best to have an open approach in regard to educating my patients and their family members. Whether I am working in an inpatient or outpatient setting, the reality is that a patient is only under my care for so long and then they are back out to their home life in the real world. Knowing this, I try to educate my patients and their loved ones as best as possible to help them make sound care decisions moving forward so all can have a great outcome in the end."
Written by Ryan Brunner
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?
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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 IWK Health Centre 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."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
26. Our primary focus here at IWK Health Centre is women and children. What experience do you have working with those patient populations?
How to Answer
IWK's unique focus on the care of women, infants and children in the Maritime region of Canada is something your interviewer will be looking for you to have interest and a belief in. Speak to your experience working with these populations. If you don't have direct experience working with these populations, don't fret it. Just be sure to talk about the importance of their care and the skills you could bring to working with those populations. It will be important for you to research the specific job that you are interviewing for and the history of IWK Health Centre as well.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Having worked in a labor and delivery setting for the past two years as a nurse, I was very motivated to apply for this position because of IWK's strength of the region in maternal services. I'd love to be a part of the team here that delivers over 4,000 babies in a year. Knowing that my career would lean towards a path of working with new mothers and newborns, this position would be a dream job in my book."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"Working as a Surgical Tech in a very broad OR for the past five years, I have experience working on women's specific surgeries. Having been a part of hysterectomies and laparoscopies, I would feel very comfortable stepping into this role in the OR here at IWK. I feel very strongly about mission and values of your organization and see women's health as a very important need in the region. Are you able to elaborate on any of the specific surgeries that are performed here that I may not have direct experience with?"
Written by Ryan Brunner
27. What is your patient care philosophy?
How to Answer
It's always a great idea to research the company before your interview. You want to get to know their care philosophy so that your answer can reflect what is important to them. What is the core of your care philosophy? Keep your answer concise yet sincere.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Every day at work, I remind myself that everyone I come across has their struggles. Every person we care for has a story. I make sure to get to know my patients whenever possible. Everyone has the right to compassionate care."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"I have three philosophies when it comes to my work. One for the clinic, one for me, and one for the patient. First, I work in a system, and I respect that. I follow the rules, I maintain my certifications, and I appreciate the policies and values of whatever site I work. Patient care is a privilege, and I respect the role I have in clinical care and the part other people have. Second, I want to be the best at what I do. Every day I learn something, and that's because I choose to get better.
Last, I adapt to the individual. If I'm meeting the requirements of my position, and evolving within my profession, then I am free to adjust to my patient and be the provider they need. Some patients need a lot of attention; some want less, and some need boundaries. I have trained myself to adapt my communication style, so a patient gets what they need."
Written by Ryan Brunner
28. At IWK Health Centre we take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, coworkers, and patients. Do you consider yourself to be a strong relationship builder?
How to Answer
Assure the interviewer that you would treat everyone at IWK Health Centre with great respect and a positive attitude. Discuss the ways that you would build strong and healthy relationships if hired.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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 IWK Health Centre."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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"
Written by Ryan Brunner
3rd Answer Example
"I am happy to hear that IWK Health Centre 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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
29. Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.
How to Answer
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.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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 IWK Health Centre."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
30. At IWK Health Centre, we believe in building strong relationships with with patients and families as their partners in decision making processes in their care. How do you go about building relationships with those that you care for?
How to Answer
As part of the path to providing care and passion in your job, IWK Health Centre holds building successful relationships as one of their primary core values. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear how you go about building relationships with the patients and families that you work with in your role. It is important to focus your answer on your ability to build trust and rapport with your patients and speak to why that is important in your role in the healthcare world.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"Having worked many years in the maternity ward of a large hospital, building trust in the new parents that I work with is job number one once their new addition is born and on my unit. I build trust in my patients by being knowledgeable in my job and taking a concern for their needs. I listen attentively to their needs and cater to them to the best of my abilities. If I say I'm going to do something for them, I walk my talk and do those things in a timely manner. New parents are often very vulnerable while in my care and the trusting working relationship I build with them helps them focus on their family and new addition to the family with ease."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"Having worked in the primary care setting for a few years as a newer Nurse Practitioner, building long-term relationships with my patients is a key to building my practice into what it has become in a relatively short amount of time. I build relationships with my patients by being an attentive listener and focusing on the concerns and needs of my patients. I also do my best to help educate my patients on their healthcare needs and this helps build a trust for them on my end because I am telling my patients that I am truly invested in their care and well-being. If hired for this position, the patients here at IWK Health Centre would greatly benefit from the relationships that I am able to build with them for long-lasting care here."
Written by Ryan Brunner
31. At IWK Health Centre 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?
How to Answer
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 IWK Health Centre as long as possible.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"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 IWK Health Centre is because I can see a long-term fit here. I plan to work in the healthcare segment for my entire career."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 27th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner
3rd Answer Example
"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."
Written by Ryan Brunner