Sunday, November 4, 2012

Health Insurance Interview Questions


  1. Give your brief introduction and tell us something about your background?
  2. Do you know why health insurance is necessary?
  3. What kind of health insurance do you want? Do you know the difference between personal health insurance and family health insurance?
  4. Do you have any other health insurance? If yes, what kind of insurance do you own and how much are you paying monthly?
  5. What is your monthly income? Are you working or doing some business?
  6. How much insurance premium can you pay? For how long you want to continue with the policy?
  7. Can you tell me the renewal amount would you like to pay? Do you want to pay this amount monthly or annually?
  8. Would you like to avail extra schemes with health insurance policy by paying a little extra amount?
  9. Which insurance policy would you like to choose: accidental or general health insurance?
  10. Tell us the time to visit you regarding application submission and to collect principal amount to issue health insurance policy?

Healthcare information technology interview questions


This article contains a sample of the types of questions you will encounter in Information Technology (IT) and Systems Job Interviews. It covers positions such as: Help Desk and IT Support, Systems Administrator, Analyst, Developer, Software Engineer, Programmer, IT Manager and Head of IT.

You will find that many employers are now using Competency Based Interviewing techniques when recruiting for I.T. jobs. You should expect both Competency Based and Behavioural Questions exploring key skills such as:

Excellent Technical Skills
Good understanding of a commercial environment
Problem Solving
Team Working
Analytical Thinking
Ability to deliver against detailed technical specifications
For Senior IT appointments positions, you should expect questions exploring:

Your ability to build and motivate a team
Your ability to deliver and manage change projects
Strong commercial and sector awareness
Your ability to manage a large department
Your skills and experience with the development of IT strategy
For each of the above you should expect 3-4 questions along with standard questions exploring your Training and Qualifications, Skills and Experience, and Personality and Motivation.

Sample Interview Questions For IT Interviews

Here is a sample of interview questions for a variety of IT roles. How would you answer?

Interview Question 1: 'Explain to us what local area networks and wide area networks are, and how, if at all, they are related.'

Interview Question 2: 'As a 2nd line support agent, what criteria would you use when deciding to escalate a call to higher level support?'

Interview Question 3: 'We are looking for a skilled developer to liaise directly with clients and work on new code modules, system enhancements and solve functional and performance issues in products. Do you see this as being a challenge for you?'

Interview Question 4: 'Imagine you are a couple of months into a 6 month project and it is about to overrun on costs. How would you deal with this most effectively, what steps would you take?'

Interview Question 5: 'Describe a time when you used your skills to persuade a manager or colleague to accept your recommendations.'

Interview Question 6: 'We are looking for a Head of IT who has a strong knowledge of and expertise in the implementation of performance management techniques in a telecoms environment. Tell me more about your experience in this area.'


How to Succeed in IT Interviews

Want to dramatically boost your chance of success in your next interview? Want help answering Competency Based or Behavioural questions? Want to learn how to avoid mistakes that can result in failure?

IT interviews can be very difficult; while most candidates can answer technical questions relating to the software they use, many fail when it comes to Competency Based or Behavioural questions or even the common traditional questions favoured by many interviewers

Top 30 Questions that can be Asked in a Health Care Job Interview


The health care industry is a combination of human touch and technology. Health care jobs are in increasing demand in today’s world. Health care employees work round the clock and meet a lot of people’s needs from new born to the patients who are very ill and suffering.
Health care industry is employing more and more people. The average working hours of a health care employee is eight hours with shifts. Sometimes they have to work on off hours. There are good earning prospects in the health care industry. One can choose either to work in hospitals or get into nursing. The health care industry provides a lot of job opportunities to people with the right education. A proper training is given once recruited.
However, it is not an easy task to get jobs in health care. A candidate who is selected for a health care job interview needs to have at least a high school degree in science and diploma or undergraduate degree in science.
Those who want to have a career in health care should be tolerant and should have the desire to help others. They should possess an ability to deal with people of various backgrounds. The specialists with a lot of experience can move up to department head positions or hospital management. They have enormous power and responsibilities as well.
Here are some most likely questions that are asked in a health care job interview.
  1. What did you gain during your education in medical?
  2. What are your weakness which concerns you and you want to change?
  3. How would you address the problem of smoking among teens?
  4. Why did you decide to apply for medical school? What inspired you the most to do so?
  5. What do you do during your free time?
  6. What other medical companies you are applying for?
  7. In your view, what do you think about abortion?
  8. Why did you join a medical school?
  9. What was the reason for choosing this specific program?
  10. Being in the medical field, will you perform abortions?
  11. Can you tell 5 things about you that you want to change?
  12. In your view how would you relate science and medicine?
  13. Can you tell me one thing that you are proud of yourself?
  14. In your view, what do you think is wrong with the current health care system in Canada?
  15. In your view, what do you think is wrong with the current health care system in India?
  16. Is there a good deal of drug usage in the medical schools that you studied?
  17. Which of the courses that you took in college was of interest to you?
  18. What other activities interests you apart from medicine?
  19. If you were to do anything different, then what would you do?
  20. What kind of relationship should a doctor and patient have?
  21. How has your parents influenced you in making you a physician?
  22. How do you feel to be a physician?
  23. There is a lot of research you have done in your previous job, what is it that you have learnt out of it?
  24. What are the goals that you want to achieve in the area of medicine?
  25. List out the qualities that a physician should possess.
  26. What frustrates you the most?
  27. What have you read about medicine/health care in newspapers?
  28. List out at least 5 issues that medicine tackles these days. Of the 5, which is most important and why do you feel so?
  29. Describe your experience on helping others or doing a volunteering activity.
  30. IS AIDS education necessary for all teenagers?

Interview Questions for the Health Services Industry


General 

  •   What do you enjoy most about working in the health services field? 
  •   What do you like the least about working in the health services field? 
  •   What are the most important qualities a health services professional should have? 


Hospital Administration 

  •   Why did you choose hospital administration as a career? 
  •   What are some of the ways the health services industry can improve? 
  •   What size hospitals have you worked for? How many beds? 
  •   What are your areas of specialty in health services? 
  •   In your opinion, what is the most important issue in medicine today? 
  •   What impact do you hope to make in the health services industry? 
  •   In your opinion, what is the most important advance in medicine in the last 20 to 50 
  • years? 
  •   Are you accustomed to suggesting areas for research? 
  •  Have you designed and carried out research projects? 
  •   If you were given money to set up a research group, what would you research? 



Nurses 

  •   Why did you choose nursing as a career? 
  •   What stimulated your interest in medicine? 
  •   What was the nurse-to-patient ratio at your last job? 
  •   What shift lengths are you accustomed to working? 
  •   How much autonomy were you given in your last position for making decisions 
  • regarding the care of patients? 
  •   What value did you bring to your last nursing staff? 
  •   What type of scheduling process are you accustomed to—self-scheduling, unit 
  • scheduling, etc.? 
  •   In your last position, how much independence were nurses given in order to be 
  • creative problem-solvers? Can you give me examples? 
  •   What do you do when you have too many patients and too little time? 
  •   What is it about you that allows you to devote yourself to others this way day after 
  • day? 
  •   Over the course of the last year, how many times were you asked to work late 
  • because your replacement was absent? Did you stay late? 
  •   Can you tell me what you would consider as valid reasons for missing work? 
  •   What do you do if you realize a snowstorm is coming an hour before you have to be 
  • at work, and you know it will take you much longer than usual to get there? 
  •   What do you do if your shift has ended but your replacement is not there yet? 
  •   What would your previous supervisor tell us about your attendance? 
  •   How many days of scheduled work did you miss in the past 6 months due to 
  • unexcused absences? 
  •   What parts of your nursing job do you like the least? 
  •   What would you do if you were directed to do some menial tasks for a patient that 
  • are usually not your responsibility? 
  •   Do you plan on staying in the nursing profession for the long term? 
  •   What made you decide to become a nurse instead of a doctor? 
  •   What support services were available to you in your last position? 
  •   Describe for me a situation when you went beyond the call of duty for a patient. 
  •   How do you keep yourself from getting burned out? 
  •   Describe for me the types of technology you have used. 



 CNA 

  •   Why did you choose certified nursing assistant as a career? 
  •   Describe for me a situation when you went beyond the call of duty for a patien
  •   Why do you want to work here? 
  •   Do you plan on staying in the CNA profession for the long term? 
  •   What parts of your CNA job do you like the least? 
  •   How many days of scheduled work did you miss in the past 6 months due to 
  • unexcused absences? 
  •   What do you know about restorative nursing? 
  •   How do you establish priorities and structure your workday? How do you keep things 
  • flowing while there are interruptions? 
  •   To what extent would people describe you as predictable? 
  •   What are some of the strategies you employ for dealing with difficult people? 
  •   Describe a conflict you have faced in a work environment.  How did you resolve it. 
  •   What percentage of the day do you spend documenting?  Do you find you have 
  • enough time to document your work? 
  •   What does “on-time” mean to you?  What would your previous employer say about 
  • your attendance? 
  •   What didn’t you like about your last job? 
  •   Give us an example of when you had to be flexible or adaptable in your job? 





Saturday, November 3, 2012

Top 10 Interview Questions for Healthcare Job-Seekers

Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you’ll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: “I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful.” 

Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: “With five years’ experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, “I’ve selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices.”

What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it’s best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, “My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility.” 

Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you’re unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: “I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me.”
If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: “After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience.”

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. “I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me.” 

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can’t?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: “I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly.” 

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It’s time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss’s quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else’s words: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.” 

What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: “I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?” 

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer “a bunny,” you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer “a lion,” you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?









Simple Interview Questions in Healthcare Staffing Not to Overlook


Many medical staffing recruiters may feel expert interviewers, but it is always good to have a quick refresher.  And if you are a medical staffing startup you are starting to interview healthcare professionals based on you applications you have received, you should be prepared with some simple interview questions. 
These questions are designed to help a medical staffing agency understand the caregivers you are supplying and what they would bring to the table in an interview as well as interview questions you can use to build your own team.  Try not to overlook these questions and look for responses that are similar. Keep in mind that all interviews are not the same so based on the application you will be able to tell which questions you should ask.


Q: Tell me about yourself.

A: Identifies some of their main attributes. They should describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasizing those skills relevant to the job on offer.

Q: What have your achievements been to date?

A: You want them to select an achievement work-related and fairly recent. They should identify the skills they used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company.

Q: What do you like about your present job?

A: This is a straightforward question. All they have to do is make sure that their ‘likes’ correspond to the skills required for the job on offer. They should be enthusiastic while describing; and describe their job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it.

Q: What do you dislike about your present job?

A: They should be cautious with this answer. They should not be too specific as they would draw attention to weaknesses and will leave them open to further problems. One approach could be for them to choose a characteristic of their present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes etc. They should give their answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in stride as part of the job.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: This is one question they know they are going to get, so there is no excuse for being unprepared. They should concentrate on discussing their main strengths. They should list three or four proficiencies like their ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, their ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may also ask them to give examples of the above.

Q: What is your greatest weakness?

A: They should not say they have none or no weaknesses - this will lead to further problems. They should use one of two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on their part in an area, not vital for the job. The second option would be to describe a personal or professional weakness, which could also be considered to be a strength and the steps they have taken to combat it. An example would be: “I know my team thinks I’m too demanding at times - I tend to drive them pretty hard; However, I’m getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick”.

Q: Are you happy with your career-to-date?

A: This question is really about their self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be ‘yes’, followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that has made them happy. If they have hit a career plateau, or they feel they are moving too slowly, then they must qualify their answer.

Q: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?

A: The purpose of this question is to find out what their definition of difficult is and whether they can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show them in a positive light, they should select a difficult work situation that they did not cause and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. They should also explain how they defined the problem, what the options were, why they selected the one they did and what the outcome was. Always should end on a positive note.

Q: Why do you want to leave your current employer?

A: They should state how they are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility, experience and a change of environment. They should not be negative in their reasons for leaving. It is rarely appropriate to cite salary as their primary motivator.

Q: If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

(My fun Question, I ask in every interview. This will help you understand many areas about them and get them to open up. This is also a great question to ask first).
A: Look for them to answer with an animal and reasons on why they would be this specific animal. By what they select, you should be able to tell their drive and motivation. What they are really like. This is an interview question most do not have a chance to prepare for, so they really have to open up and give an honest answer.

Do not get stuck without these simple and imperative questions you need to ask in an interview. Remember, you are trying to find a candidate best suited for the specified job. You always want to find the best-qualified healthcare professional for your client. I have always been big on teamwork in the job place and you as a company or leader are only going to be as good as your weakest link. Use these tips and questions and normally you will get someone best suited for the position. Build a strong team! Good luck!

Healthcase business analyst interview questions and answers.


Basic Questions to Cover Healthcare Understanding
  1. What is Healthcare?
  2. What is Insurance? How does it differ with Healthcare?
  3. Do I need Healthcare Insurance to get treated by a Doctor?
  4. If I have insurance, who pays the doctor for performing services on me, the member?
  5. Define Business Requirements? Does a Business Analyst need to know all about a specific Business Area?
  6. What is difference between group and individual insurance? If you are working with Walmart, and you have insurance, which form is it?
  7. What is a Premium? Who pays the Premium to whom and why?
  8. Why is there an IT department in a Healthcare Company?
  9. What is the difference between by PPO and POS? Why is HMO so easily affordable? How come the premiums are low?
  10. What is a Provider? What are the two types of Providers? What Provider Networks do Healthcare Companies Leverage?
  11. What is an Underwriter? What is the role of an Underwriter if a healthcare insurance company just got a contract with 1000 employees of BEST BUY?
  12. Define HIPAA? What does HIPAA regulate and prevent?
  13. Please provide a one liner introduction for the following Business Areas – Enrollment, Claims, Benefits Admin, Provider Systems Admin, Finance, Billing, and Dictionary Maintenance?
  14. Compute Member Payment and Healthcare Insurance Payment for:

Deductible: $1000
Co-Pay: $25
Co-Insurance: 20%

1st Visit: Doctors Bill: $800
2nd Visit: Doctors Bill: $600

  1. What is a Claim? What different entities can submit a Claim? What are the two types of Claim Intake Processes?
  2. Please provide one liner about professional, facility, medicare and Medicaid claims?
  3. Please provide basic understanding of a Claim Flow? What happens in a company like BCBS when a Claim arrives through EDI?
  4. What is adjudication? What is Auto Adjudication? What is a High dollar Claim?
  5. What are the two types of forms used by providers for paper based claims?
  6. What is the job of a Clearing house? Who mandates EDI rules to be followed?
  7. Briefly describe EDI 837, 835, 276 and 277
  8. What is COB? What is primary and secondary insurer?
  9. What is the ICD 9 – 10 Conversion? What is the basic understanding of these changes? Research about GEM – General Equivalence Mapping.
  10. What is Medicare Fraud? Give an example of how a provider can commit fraud.
  11. Research about HIPAA 5010 regulations. What does it specify Healthcare Companies do?
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Healthcare Industry introduction in usa


Managed Health Care is provided by HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations). Historically, Health Insurance in the United States was through Indemnity Plans. The HMO concept has evolved over the last 15 years as a way to provide less expensive health coverage. The concept has gained in popularity mainly from employers who provide health insurance to their employees in the 1990s. The industry has grown quickly and at present about 25% of all health insurance members are in some sort of Managed Health Care program.

Traditionally insurance has been one of the largest users of Information Technology.  This Industry is highly regulated and captures high volume of data. To process this high volume of data collected and maintain them for stipulated time, a high computing power becomes imminent.  Though the primary information system is the OLTP system that runs the daily business, there are also support systems like the Data Warehousing System that helps in decision support, the Imaging system that scans all incoming documents for storage and retrieval. Also, since these companies are service oriented, response times become a crucial factor both to reduce cost and improve performance
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Friday, November 2, 2012

How to prepare for your first mental health interview







You’re through to the second round and you have the opportunity to wow your potential employers. But how can you ensure you get it right in your mental health interview?



The simple answer is to prepare. You can’t revise everything you learnt during your course, but there are certain questions that are bound to crop up.


Such as questions based on….
1. Legality


The Mental Health Act underpins everything you do as a mental health nurse so you need to show that you know it. Consider which sections you are most likely to come across if you got the job and how they will affect your practice.


Revise the key elements of the most important sections:
Who can use this section?
Who can they use it on?
How long does it last for?
How is the section removed/How does the patient (or nearest relative) appeal?
What paperwork needs to be completed?


The Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Care Programme Approach are also possible subjects for questions so make sure you’re comfortable with how each affect you and your patients.
2. Diagnosis


Again, it’s important to think about which diagnoses you’re most likely to come across on the unit interviewing you. Then you can learn the most important information about each one:
What treatment is generally used?
What typical symptoms would a person with this diagnosis exhibit?
What problems might you encounter working with this patient?
3. Medication


We all know nursing is more than just looking at a drugs card and dishing out the meds prescribed. Nurses need to know what they giving, why and what the potential side effects are, and your employer will want to know you’re familiar with them. Dust off your BNF and have a read through the drugs you know you’re likely to see on the ward.
What class of drug is this?
How is it administered?
What illnesses is it used to treat?
What are typical side effects?
What are the contra-indications?


Some of your questions will be scenario based. Such as:
“What would you do if you found a patient smoking in their bed area?”
“If a healthcare assistant disagreed with a decision you made, how would you handle the situation?”


It’s not possible to revise for these but the main thing to remember is to put yourself in that situation. Employers are looking for common sense here, they test your knowledge in the more specific questions.


Occasionally, these questions will be worded in a way that you need to give an example of when you have done something. There’s only so many possible things they can ask, so if you have time think of an example of when you have:
Given exceptional patient care
Had to give a patient sensitive information
Used your initiative
Delegated safely
De-escalated a situation
Kept calm in a crisis (The interview itself doesn’t count!)


The interview stage is your first chance to show how good a nurse you can be so, take your time when preparing and good luck.

Healthcare Jobs Top Ten Interview Questions


Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimising your weakness and emphasising your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful."

Why Should We Hire You?

Summarise your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out CVs just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."

What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."

Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me." If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't? What makes you unique?

This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarise concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour."

What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

Interview Questions for Mental-Health Nursing


Psychiatric-mental health nurses deal with challenging behavior and the work demands a special kind of commitment. Nurses use a tremendous amount of mental energy and often must rely upon their powers of observation.
Dr. Ruth Stiehl, RN, PhD and vice president of clinical quality at PPR Healthcare in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., says nurses interviewing for positions in psychiatric-mental health should be ready for questions that cover a variety of interpersonal issues. “Nurses will be dealing with patients and families in crisis,” she says “It can be unpredictable, as well as extremely stressful.”
Stiehl suggests job candidates also should be prepared to answer these questions:
What kinds of patients have you worked with?
If you have mental health experience, here’s your chance to shine. If not, you’ll have to demonstrate a transferable skill set, e.g. how you’ve treated patients in critical situations, and a willingness to learn.
How do you approach dealing with families under stress?
Interviewers want to hire RNs who can work with patients and their families to assess mental-health needs, both immediate and long-term and then plan, implement and evaluate care. Patience, compassion and calm nerves of steel, combined with the ability to educate without condescension, are necessary traits.

Questions you should ask during the interview

What kind of orientation do you have?
Nurses in this field learn on the job. To be able to respond to a patient in crisis, you have to first have the hands-on experience of the event and then develop the skills and intuition to be creative in your approach. Learning in this environment takes time. If you don’t already have the tools, then the longer your orientation the better off you’ll be.
What kind of patients do you have?
Is the facility specific to bi-polar disorders, depression or addiction? Nurses also need to know if they will be treating violent patients. If ‘yes,’ your next question should be: What kind of security do you have?
What are your rules about medication, restraints, time out and seclusion?
Psychiatric patients require complex care. One psychotic won’t behave like another psychotic. Knowledge of how the facility works with patients on a daily basis and in crisis and how much leeway a nurse has in making decisions for those in her care is essential to the job.

15 Common Healthcare Job Interview Questions


Perhaps no job is as rewarding as working in the healthcare field. You get an opportunity to help heal the sick while also earning a paycheck. There is no job within healthcare that isn’t vital for the success of the company/organization. Even the snack cart pushers play an important role, which makes the job both rewarding and appreciated.
Because healthcare is such an in demand field, there is a lot of competition. If you want to beat out that competition, you need to learn how to answer some of the most common healthcare interview questions. Below are fifteen different interview questions that are common in the healthcare field.
Sample Health Care Interview Questions
  • Why did you choose to work in the [medical field] profession?
  • Is the expanding role of nurses a benefit or a danger to the medical profession?
  • In what ways do you take the Hippocratic oath to heart?
  • There is a patient that is verbally abusive. What do you do?
  • What skills have you learned that you feel will help you work in the healthcare field?
  • How confident are you in your interpersonal skills?
  • Are you comfortable around people with serious illnesses?
  • Are you comfortable with the idea that you might see death?
  • How are you at dealing with diverse populations?
  • Is there any population that you refuse to work with?
  • Often times we will need you to be on call at all hours of the day. Can you handle that?
  • What made you decide to go into healthcare instead of the corporate world?
  • How well do you handle pressure?
  • You are told by a supervisor to do something illegal. What do you do?
  • What impact do you hope to make in the field?
  • How do you feel your education has prepared you to work in the healthcare field?
Specific Healthcare Jobs
Part of your preparation must involve looking for specific questions related to the career. Doctors are going to have different interview questions than nurses, that will have different questions than medical billings specialists. Your education and experience can be used to prepare additional questions that will help you get the role.
Take Away Interview Tips
  • Be prepared for healthcare specific interview questions.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

NHS interview questions: Healthcare Interview Questions and Answers



The National Health Service offers many areas of professional jobs and expertise starting from emergency response crew members, doctors, dental care, midwifery, nursing and medical assistance to a variety of other healthcare services such as – medical science and management.
Apart from the doctors and the surgeons, the NHS, the medical fraternity also has the Nursing and Healthcare professionals, who basically look after the patient and their needs, while nursing them back to good health.
This article provides the frequently asked interview questions for NHS positions and provides suggested answers for the same.

NHS interview tips: Healthcare interview tips



The NHS fraternity is one of the most important fraternities in the world, and is an important cog in the wheel of the medical profession. Therefore, an interview for the NHS is quite a detailed one and may cover the following types of interview questions:
• Qualifications, skills and questions about professional experience
• Behavioral based questions - situational interview questions
• Competency based questions and questions about career choice.
You can also refer to the category: medical interview questions for more information.

NHS interview: Healthcare interview questions and answers


Below are common interview questions:
1. What are your educational qualifications? How many years of experience do you have in healthcare fields?
Most of the professions today rely heavily on the educational qualifications that a person has. The more the complexity of the job, the more the importance of the educational qualifications exists.
In critical positions of NHS jobs, it is extremely important that the person should have the relevant educational qualifications as well as the required skills and experience.
Therefore, when asked this question, you should answer thoroughly and make sure that you give an accurate answer.
2. What would your core competencies be, when it comes to NHS Jobs?
There are several aspects to a job, some more important than the other. Therefore, sometimes, when there are several options for a job, one may be asked the question about the core competencies that one possesses for the job. The answer to this question becomes crucial when there are several people who have been finalized for a job, but there can be only one of very few hiring for the said position.
3. Have you ever been through an emergency situation? What position did you handle during the emergency situation?
Each job profile has their panic situations, and only the ones who can handle these situations actually stand out as professionals. Therefore, it is necessary for the initial interview to find out whether the person has experienced any such situation.
While answering such a question, remember that the situation should not be over hyped by you, and that you should include in your answer the lesson learned from a given situation.
4. Do you consider yourself to be social? Can you tell us of a time when you used your social skills to help the patients?
A nurse has to be pleasant and lively as well as trained and experienced to look after the patients. A grumpy nurse is every hospital’s nightmare, and would not find many options for gainful employment.
Since being pleasant and patient are key responsibilities of a nurse, there will be enough incidents where you have used your social skills to handle a medical situation.
Make sure that you give a truthful and accurate description of the times, so that your interview will also have you come across as a person who has all the required requisites for being good medical personnel.
5. Could you tell us of a time when you used your leadership skills to handle a situation?
While leadership is thrust upon and pursued by some people, some people are natural leaders, who just need to say something to be heard out. These individuals come out and are recognized only during a time of urgency or grave problems.
Therefore, make sure that if you have any such experience; share it with the interviewer.
6. What is the best aspect that you like about your job?
A NHS jobs are quite different from other jobs. These are the jobs where a human being is actually the part of the jobs.
Therefore, if asked such a question, the safest answer would be to ‘interact with people and nurse them to good health’.
These are some of the questions asked during a NHS interview.

 



Tough Interview Questions - Healthcare Informatics Online


How to Knock Hardball Questions Out of the Park
Tim Tolan
When the tough and uncomfortable questions come up during a job interview, healthcare CIOs need to be ready to answer them with absolute conviction. Most candidates are accustomed to answering “softball” questions during the course of a job interview, and most can do so without batting an eyelash. Such questions help validate a candidate's success metrics (i.e. great leadership attributes, qualities, career progress, etc.), and they are usually easy questions to answer. Most of us are proud of our accomplishments and it's important to get them out there, as previous success can often give us a preview of upcoming attractions.
Here's the challenge: like a baseball player, you must be able to respond flawlessly to each question-regardless of how difficult they may be. And you must do so with speed, accuracy, and without hesitation. What I find really interesting is why some candidates never prepare for the fast balls, curve balls, or the occasional slider.
A REALLY GOOD INTERVIEWER WILL ASK YOU THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND IN MANY CASES, THE WAY YOU RESPOND CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOUR FUTURE CANDIDACY-JUST BE SURE YOU PAUSE BRIEFLY TO GATHER AND FORMULATE YOUR THOUGHTS.
Here are a few questions that you should be ready for the next time you are up at bat:
  • Why are you here today?
  • Tell me about a time you had to make a tough decision and the outcome was not good. Why did you make that decision, and if you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
  • Describe a time you had to compromise your ethics.
  • What is your biggest weakness as a leader?
  • What is your greatest career accomplishment?
  • What is it like to work for you and what would your people say about your leadership?
  • If you could improve in one area of leadership, what would that be?
  • Please describe a recent situation when your work was criticized.
  • What do you think of your current boss?
  • How would you describe your personality?
  • How long will you stay with our organization?
  • What would your boss say is your greatest strength and weakness?
  • Why are you the best candidate for this role?
A really good interviewer will ask you the tough questions, and in many cases, the way you respond can have a significant impact on your future candidacy-just be sure you pause briefly to gather and formulate your thoughts. Spouting off a quick answer just to prove you're quick on your feet rarely scores a home run. The interview is looking for depth and honesty in your answer, and yes, it may expose the human side of a mistake you've made, but that's ok! We all slip-up now and then, and it's important to be able to articulate and explain the lessons you have learned, and how previous experiences helped you later in your career.
Of course, in order to respond properly to a question in an interview, you have to answer! Failing to answer or glossing over a question posed by an interviewer is a huge mistake. Attempting to demonstrate that you've never made a bad decision by ignoring a question is very risky and will most likely result in another bad decision on your part.
Organizations are looking for excellent leaders, and leaders become great through experience. Overcoming and learning from previous failures make us better at what we do. Being human and admitting mistakes and what we learn from them can have a positive outcome during an interview. It demonstrates personal growth and experience.
So the next time you get a chance to swing the bat, be prepared for every question that's thrown your way, positive or negative. Pause for a moment to think about your response and then answer each question honestly and with conviction.

Are You Prepared for These Top Healthcare Interview Questions?


As the U.S. job market continues to improve, healthcare is among the industries experiencing the largest surge in employment. Availablehealthcare job openings are expected to continue to increase through 2012 and beyond. If you've been considering a career in healthcare, you will likely find many available positions, even if you currently have little real world healthcare experience. In fact, according to one survey of health care employers, 37 percent have open positions available for which they have not yet found suitable candidates.
In order to fill their staffing needs, it is predicted that more healthcare employers will hire inexperienced medical program graduates. It is also predicted that a greater emphasis may be placed on character over skill. This has already been seen in a shift in focus of healthcare interview questions. Many healthcare hiring managers and recruiters are asking more character-discerning questions of candidates during each interview. This enables them to get a feel for a potential employee's character qualities and values as well as predict behavior in tough situations.
Whether you're just beginning your healthcare job search or have already been around the interview block a few times, you can expect to encounter at least some of the character-based questions in the following list. As with any other interview questions, advanced preparation of your answers will enable you to respond with ease.
- Sometimes an absence is unavoidable. However, what do you feel qualifies as an excessive number of absences in a year?
- How do you deal with situations that could cause you to be late for work?
- If your shift ends at 5:30 and your replacement has not arrived by 5:45, what do you do?
- If your shift ends at 5:30 and you've finished all your work by 5:00, what do you do with the remaining time?
- Tell me about the last time someone critiqued your work. How did you respond?
- Have you ever disagreed with a supervisor's decision? Tell me how you handled the situation.
- Give me an example of a time when you did more than what was expected.
- When you have a lot to do, but not enough time on your shift to do it, how do you handle the situation?
- If I were to ask your previous employer about your character and job performance, what would he/she say?
- What do you think dependability means to an employer? How about honesty? Sensitivity? Compassion?
- What keeps you motivated?
- What character traits do you possess that will make you an excellent physician assistant, nurse practitioner or other doctor's office employee?
Think about your answers to these possible healthcare interview questions. Write them down. Practice them on your family. While you don't want your responses to sound too rehearsed, some preparation is usually better than answering on the fly. Answer correctly and you may even end your healthcare job search with a job offer.

Interview questions on assignment healthcare staffing - nurse




Handling an interview with confidence takes planning and lots of practice. Prepare yourself for success with On Assignment's guide to commonly asked interview questions. We take you step by step through each question and give tips on how to craft a winning response. Learn from the experts at On Assignment how to master the art of the interview and land the job you want. 


HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Keep your answer mostly work and career related. This is your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, attributes and achievements that make you a valuable employee.
WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AND HOW DID YOU ACHIEVE IT?
Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, pay raises or other commendations. Focus more on achievement than reward.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?
Everybody has weaknesses, but keep your answer work related. Try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE JOBS?
Avoid criticizing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move." It’s acceptable to discuss major problems within a company, or to share the fact that the company is being bought out or shut down. If this is the case, a safe answer is that you feel you can no longer make a contribution because of extensive changes at the company.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE / DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR LAST POSITION?
This helps interviewers decide if you’re a good match for the position. Avoid admitting that you didn’t like working overtime or you had a conflict with your manager. Instead, put a positive spin on your answer by saying you enjoy challenges and growth opportunities.
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION?
Focus on a few requirements of the job and how you can meet these requirements through your particular skills and experience. Highlight your interpersonal skills, management experience, a technical skill or a personal success story.
DESCRIBE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT STRENGTHS.
Identify five strengths you feel are most in line with the position for which you’re interviewing and give a brief example of how you successfully applied that particular strength to a work situation.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL WORK ENVIRONMENT?
Try and tailor your answer to the job. For example, if the job requires you to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player, but also enjoy working independently.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM?
Your answer should be along the following lines: "I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve any areas which my manager/supervisor highlights.”
HOW DO YOU HANDLE PRESSURE AND STRESS?
Everyone feels stress; the only difference is in the degree. A good answer may include exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy.
EXPLAIN HOW YOU OVERCAME A MAJOR OBSTACLE.
The interviewer is likely looking for an example of your problem-solving skills and the pride you show in solving it. Emphasize the skills you used to deal with it, such as organizational and interpersonal skills, perseverance or diplomacy.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE (OR TEN YEARS) FROM NOW?
Don’t mention goals you know are most likely not attainable. Instead, focus on career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position.
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THIS JOB?
Highlight your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that match the job description well. Avoid just repeating your resume.
WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?
Point out your positive attributes related to this job. Take this opportunity to reveal your organizational skills, positive attitude and confidence – traits that make you an ideal candidate for the position. Restate some of the key aspects of the job and describe how your qualification and their requirements match.