How to Answer: Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion, and Kaiser Permanente strives to provide compassionate care to their patients. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Kaiser Permanente job interview.
2. Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion, and Kaiser Permanente strives to provide compassionate care to their patients. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?
How to Answer
To succeed at Kaiser Permanente, you should have a solid level of compassion for your patients or customers. Talk to the interviewer about the compassionate qualities that you possess and that you'd bring to this role with Kaiser Permanente. Prior to your interview, try to think of some keywords that define your compassion and empathy for others in the work that you do. These can include terms like sympathy, empathy, humanity, kindness, caring, and heart.
Written by Ryan Brunner
1st Entry Level Example
"I definitely consider myself a compassionate person. I take the opportunity to understand others and really try to put myself in their shoes to better understand their perspective of a situation. In my friend group, I've always been the natural counselor, helping others in difficult times and being there for those who need someone to listen. I always listen with an open mind and heart and never cast judgment. I believe I could add value to Kaiser Permanente by contributing this strength and core value if given the opportunity."
Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"I understand that compassion is one of the top qualities that I need to bring to the workplace at Kaiser Permanente and I consider myself a very compassionate person. I am warm-hearted, responsive to my patients' needs, and always empathetic to others. I take the time to listen and reflect back to ensure that I am providing the best care possible."
Written by Ryan Brunner
2nd Answer Example
"My main reason for pursuing a career in healthcare was due to my compassionate nature with people. While I always do my best to provide kind and considerate care to my patients, I heavily emphasize things like patient privacy and patient advocacy when necessary. These go above and beyond what it means to provide compassionate care."
Written by Ryan Brunner
User-Submitted Answer
"I see myself as a compassionate person; I see more than a sick person picking up their prescription. I don't know what the patient could be going through, but showing I care for them and treating them like family will make a difference for them to feel better."
Written by an Anonymous User

Our Professional Interview Coach
Rachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer
This is a great response, and it shows that you truly do care about the people that you come across every day.
User-Submitted Answer
"I have much compassion for my patients because I remember how terrifying my lengthy hospitalization as a 10-year-old was. As a result, my empathy guides me to be gentle and honest during a procedure. My goal is to have my patients view me as a healer and someone they trust to take care of them."
Written by an Anonymous User

Our Professional Interview Coach
Amanda Knight Reviewed the Above Answer
Compassion and empathy are dual characteristics that are vital to providing high-quality medical care to patients. Our ability to be compassionate with others is often rooted in our own life experiences, meaning those that have experienced suffering can sometimes have a greater capacity for compassion than anyone else. You can make this answer more impactful by explaining why you experienced a lengthy hospital stay as a child and how that influenced you. Do you remember receiving compassionate care during that time that inspired you to want to care for others in a similar way? Are there specific actions you take to express compassion, such as always using a patient's name, actively listening to their concerns, allowing them to ask questions, and expressing how the procedure will help them toward the goal of healing?
User-Submitted Answer
"Yes, I do consider myself a compassionate person. We don’t always know what a patient’s situation is when they are coming in so I always try to be as gentle and kind as possible for them to feel at ease. This can help them to feel open explaining why they are not in the best mood or what is troubling them. And the whole visit is much smoother that way."
Written by an Anonymous User

Our Professional Interview Coach
Jaymie Payne Reviewed the Above Answer
Excellent job! It's important to be compassionate in healthcare, and it sounds like you understand the importance of empathy and perspective when working with patients.
User-Submitted Answer
"I think that those who choose to be in the social work profession have some level of compassion. I chose this profession for that very reason. I consider myself a very compassionate person who finds joy in helping others and I do so in an empathetic and caring way."
Written by an Anonymous User

Our Professional Interview Coach
Jaymie Payne Reviewed the Above Answer
Compassion is important in every role at Kaiser Permanente. It sounds like you're passionate about caring for and helping others.