Interview Questions and Answers

I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in August 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health sciences and a minor in Public...

I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in August 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health sciences and a minor in Public Health. Right now, I’m taking classes to prepare for my “Tell Me About Yourself” master’s in nursing while also working part-time at Guidepost Montessori. I recently became a certified CNA and completed my clinical training in a memory care unit. I’ve always been drawn to caregiving roles — through clinical internships, volunteer work, and teaching — and now I’m excited to step into a hospital setting where I can continue learning and growing as I work toward becoming a nurse. I’ve always been drawn to RUSH, as it’s such a renowned hospital that I’ve admired for years and always hoped to be part of. My mom’s cousin Julie (who is more like an aunt to me) has Why do you want to work at RUSH? worked here for many years and shares such amazing things about the culture, teamwork, and support for the staff. I also respect RUSH’s Magnet status, which really shows its commitment to nursing excellence. AS I begin my career in healthcare, I couldn’t think of a better place to learn grow and develop.  I completed my clinicals in the memory care unit at an assisted living facility during the evening shift. I assisted residents with hygiene, What clinical experience have you mobility, vitals, feeding, and had so far? emotional support. All the residents had some form of dementia, so I learned how to stay patient, calm, and adaptable while always providing safe, respectful care. I’d say my biggest strengths are my compassion, communication skills, confidence, and my ability to stay What are your strengths? calm under pressure. Working in memory care and as an assistant teacher, I’ve learned how to build trust with people who are anxious or confused, and I take pride in being detail-oriented, especially with safety and patient comfort. I’m also confident in what I do, which helps me communicate clearly with my team and patients and provide care that both supportive and effective. One of my weaknesses has been overthinking or second-guessing myself, especially when I first started in clinical settings. I care deeply about doing things correctly, so I What are your weaknesses? used to worry about making mistakes. But through training and hands-on experience, I’ve become more confident, and I’ve learned to ask questions when I’m unsure while still trusting my clinical judgement.  My goal is to become a registered nurse and eventually work in a hospital setting where I can provide direct, compassionate care to patients. I’m currently taking prerequisite classes to prepare for a What are your career goals? master’s in nursing program, and working as a PCT is a key step in that journey. It gives me the hands-on experience I need to grow my clinical skills, build confidence, and understand patient care on a deeper level. I’m excited to be in an environment like RUSH that values education and professional development – I know that being part of a supportive team here will help me grow both personally and professional as I work toward becoming a RN. I’m motivated by the opportunity to make a direct impact on someone’s day - whether it’s helping them feel What motivates you to work as a clean and comfortable, offering a kind PCT? word, or being someone, they can trust. I’ve always been drawn to caregiving roles, and working as a PCT lets me be present or people during vulnerable moments, which I find incredibly meaningful.  I think one of the biggest challenges is managing emotional and physical demands – especially when working What do you think is the biggest with patients who may be confused, challenge of working in patient care? in pain, or emotionally distressed. It can be hard to see people suffering but I feel already learned how to stay present and supportive while also leaning on your team when needed. Taking care of myself emotionally is just as important as caring for patients. I stay observant and always take my time during care, especially with patients I see regularly. I look for both physical and behavioral changes. I How do you ensure that you notice always compare what I’m seeing to changes in a patient's condition? how the patient normally acts, and I communicate any changes immediately to the nurse, even if they seem small. I learned in memory care, how subtle changes can mean a lot, so I’ve trained myself to pay close attention and never ignore m instincts. During my clinicals on the memory care unit, I was assisting a resident during dinner who had a history of dysphagia. While eating, he suddenly began coughing forcefully and appeared to be choking. I immediately recognized the Describe a time you had to act signs and stayed calm. I stood next to quickly in a high-stress situation. him, encourage him to keep coughing, and monitored his breathing closely. I didn’t intervene physically right away because I knew he was still able to cough and get air. I gently reminded him to take small sips of water and to sit upright, while also signaling to the nurse in case it escalated. He eventually cleared the food on his own. Afterward, I documented the incident and reported it  to the nurse so the care team could reassess his dietary needs. In memory care, I often worked with residents who became agitated in the evenings. Many residents would experience sundowning and would Tell me about a time you helped a become confused, some would pace, patient or resident who was anxious, and some would even wander into confused, or aggressive. (1) other residents’ rooms. I always calmly redirected them, guiding them to a quiet area, and stayed with them until they were settled down. I then notified the nurse and documented the behavior. During my time on the memory care unit, I was assisting a resident who was typically a gait belt transfer. One evening, I was helping her from her wheelchair to the toilet using the gait belt. As she stood up and got into Tell me about a time you helped a position to sit on the toilet, she suddenly patient or resident who was anxious, became very anxious, nervous and confused, or aggressive. (2) slightly aggressive. I immediately stayed calm, kept a firm but gentle hold on her with the gait belt, and used a soft, reassuring tone to let her know she was safe, and I was there to help. I gave her a moment to settle, then slowly guided her back into her wheelchair for safety. Afterward, I reported the incident to the nurse, and we reassessed her needs. She was eventually switched to a sit-to-stand transfer to make things safer and more comfortable for her moving forward. When a patient refuses care, I stay calm and respectful. I try to understand the reason behind the refusal – whether its fear, discomfort, or confusion. I’ll take a step back and re-explain the purpose – why it’s What do you do when a patient important, how it helps them, and refuses care? what options they have. I try to offer choices to help them feel more in control, like asking if they’d prefer to  try again later or adjust how it’s done. If they still refuse, I respect their decision, document it properly, and notify the nurse so we can reassess the approach and make sure the patient’s needs are still being safely met. In memory care I worked with several resident who had moments of confusion or agitation. When someone is being non-cooperative, I remind myself that it often comes from a place of fear frustration or not feeling well. I approach them with patience, using a calm tone, How do you handle difficult or non- and try to redirect or deescalate the cooperative patients? situation. For example, I worked with a resident who, one evening, became upset during a transfer and started raising her voice and pulling away. I paused the transfer, reassured her gently, and gave her a few moments to calm down. I was able to guide her back safely and then spoke to the nurse about adjusting her care plan, which resulted her being moved to a sit-to-stand transfer. It’s all about building trust and meeting patients where they are. I would immediately report it to the What would you do if you noticed a nurse, provide details about the change in a patient’s condition? change, and stay with the patient if necessary. Even small changes, like a drop in appetite or increased confusion, can be signs of something serious.  I assess which patients have the most urgent needs first, such as toileting, Describe how you prioritize care pain, or safety risks. I also stay in when managing multiple patients. communication with the team and stay organized with a mental or written checklist. This helps ensure every patient receives timely care. I always explain what I’m doing before starting, close doors and How do you ensure patient dignity curtains for privacy and speak during personal care? respectfully. I involve the patient as much as they’re able, to help maintain their independence and comfort. Ultimately, I think listening to the patients is the most important in ensuring patient dignity. I understand that hygiene-related tasks and handling bodily fluids are a normal part of patient care. I How do you handle bodily fluids or approach them professionally and hygiene-related tasks? with respect, always making sure the patient feels comfortable and dignified. I use proper PPE, follow infection control protocols, and treat the patient with respect and compassion throughout.  During my clinicals in the memory care unit, teamwork was essential. I worked closely with the nurses and CNAs to make sure each resident’s care plan was followed. I completed Tell me about a time you worked as all the tasks assigned to me by the part of a healthcare team. nurse, such as assisting with bathing, feeding, vital signs, and ensuring patient safety. After completing those tasks, I always checked in to see if there was anything else that needed to be done or if any of the other CNAs or nurses needed help. I always stayed ready to support the team. I learned how essential communication and collaboration are in delivering safe, efficient, and compassionate care, especially in a fast-paced environment – like that of a hospital. I communicate in a direct, respectful, and timely way. I know that small How do you communicate with nurses changes in a patient’s behavior or or other care team members? condition can be important, so I always share what I observe, even if it seems minor. I also ask questions when I’m unsure about something or want to confirm the right approach. I believe good communication is about being proactive, honest, and always focused on what’s best for the patient. If I ever disagreed with a nurse’s instructions, I would still follow them unless I believed they compromised the patient’s safety. I would respectfully ask for clarification, share my concerns calmly and ask questions t better to understand the reasoning. I know What would you do if you disagreed that nurses have more training and oversight, so I would never approach it in a with a nurse’s instructions? confrontational way – it’s about advocating for the patient while also working as a team. At the same time if I were ever asked to perform a task outside of my job description or scope of practice, I would politely decline  and explain my limitations. I would also consult with my supervisor if needed to ensure the patient still receives the care, they need in a safe and ethical way. In the end, I would document what was necessary and escalate the issue appropriately if it posed a serious safety concern. I stay focused, take things one task at How do you manage stress during a time, and communicate with my busy shifts? team when I need help. I also remind myself that staying calm helps both patients and coworkers. During my clinicals in the memory care unit, I spent a lot of time with a resident whose dementia had progressed to the point where she no longer spoke English, only Chinese. Even though I didn’t speak her language, I used a translation app to Tell me about a time you went above try to understand her and communicate and beyond. with her while providing care. I always made sure to approach her with extra patience and respect. On one of my last days, she came out of her room and, to my surprise, began speaking some English to me – she remembered that I was a student and kept referring to a rose that I had given her. That moment means so much because it showed that the time and effort, I put into building trust with her really made an impact. Going above and beyond to connect with her personally helped her feel safe and seen, which is what patient care is really all about.