20 Adventist Health Interview Questions and Answers

Adventist Health is a not-for-profit health care organization that operates in 22 states and employs more than 83,000 people. The company is headquartered in Roseville, California, and is part of the Adventist Health System. Adventist Health provides care for patients in hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, and nursing homes.

If you are interviewing for a position at Adventist Health, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in the health care industry, your ability to work with patients and families, and your knowledge of Adventist Health’s mission and values. You may also be asked questions about your ability to work in a team environment and your ability to handle stress.

Adventist Health Interview Process

The interview process at Adventist Health is thorough and detailed. The length of the hiring process varies depending on the position, but generally takes several weeks. Interview difficulty also varies depending on the position, but most positions require at least one difficult interview. Overall, the experience is positive and professional.

1. How would you describe your nursing style?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer your personality and how you would fit in with their team. Your answer should include a few examples of how you interact with patients, family members or other staff members.

Example: “I am very compassionate when I’m caring for my patients. I always make sure they know that I care about them as a person, not just as a patient. For example, last week I was working on a floor where one of our patients had recently lost her husband. She was understandably upset but didn’t want to be treated any differently than the other patients. So, I made sure to check in on her often and let her know that she could call me if she needed anything.”

2. What is your favorite part about being a nurse and why?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the nursing profession. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include an example of how you enjoy being a nurse and what makes you passionate about helping others.

Example: “My favorite part about being a nurse is getting to meet new people every day. I love learning about my patients’ lives and hearing their stories. It’s so rewarding when I am able to help someone feel better or get them through a tough time. I also really enjoy working with other nurses because we are all there to support each other.”

3. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential employee’s career goals. It can also help you determine if they are likely to stay with the organization for an extended period of time. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you want to accomplish in your life and work. Consider how Adventist Health could help you achieve those goals.

Example: “I see myself working as a registered nurse at Adventist Health in five years. I hope to have achieved my RN certification by then. I would love to continue working here because I enjoy the team atmosphere and patient care that Adventist Health provides.”

4. What are some of the challenges that you currently face as a nurse? What strategies have you used to overcome them?

This question can help the interviewer gain insight into your problem-solving skills and how you overcome challenges. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention a challenge that you overcame in the past and what steps you took to solve the issue.

Example: “One of my biggest challenges as a nurse is helping patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plan. I find that many patients are nervous about their health and may not fully understand everything that I tell them. To overcome this challenge, I make sure to explain things thoroughly and use analogies or visuals when possible. I also encourage patients to ask questions so they feel more comfortable with their care.”

5. Why should we hire you over other candidates for this position?

This question is a great opportunity to show your knowledge of the position and how you can be an asset to Adventist Health. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your relevant skills and experience that make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I am passionate about working in healthcare because I want to help others live healthier lives. In my previous roles as a nurse and medical assistant, I have developed excellent communication and problem-solving skills. These skills allow me to work well with patients and other members of the healthcare team.”

6. Describe a time when you had to work with a difficult patient or family member, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenging situations. Use examples from your experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to work with others.

Example: “In my previous role as a nurse, I had a patient who was very upset about her diagnosis of cancer. She became quite aggressive toward me when I tried to explain that we were doing everything we could for her treatment plan. Instead of arguing back, I listened to what she had to say and explained our process again in more detail. This helped calm her down and allowed us to have an open conversation about her concerns.”

7. Have you ever had a conflict with a fellow employee, how did you resolve it?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you had a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved the issue.

Example: “I once worked with a colleague who was very critical of my work. I tried to ignore her comments at first but eventually decided to talk to her about it. She apologized for being so harsh and we talked about ways she could give me feedback without being so negative. We also discussed ways I could improve my performance.”

8. Do you consider yourself more of a leader or a follower?

This question is designed to determine your leadership style and how you would fit into the Adventist Health culture. As a not-for-profit organization, Adventist Health places a high value on teamwork and collaboration. Your answer should show that you are willing to take on a leadership role when necessary but also enjoy working as part of a team.

Example: “I consider myself more of a leader than a follower. I believe that leaders must be able to listen to their followers in order to understand what they need from them. However, I am always ready to step up and take charge if needed.”

9. Are you comfortable working with children?

Adventist Health is a pediatric care facility, so they want to make sure you’re comfortable working with children. If you have experience working with kids in the past, share that information with your interviewer. If you don’t have any experience, let them know that you are willing to learn and develop those skills.

Example: “I worked as a camp counselor for three summers when I was in college. It was my favorite job because I got to spend all day playing games and sports with kids. I also volunteered at an elementary school once a week where I read books to kindergarteners.”

10. How would you respond if a patient was unhappy with their care?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and respond to challenging situations. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you helped resolve an issue with a patient or family member.

Example: “I once had a patient who was unhappy with their care because they felt like I didn’t spend enough time with them during their appointment. After speaking with the patient about their concerns, we decided that they would come back for another appointment so that I could give them more one-on-one attention. They were very happy with this solution and even told me that they appreciated my honesty.”

11. Tell me about your experience dealing with patients who need assistance with daily living activities.

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work with patients who may need help with daily tasks. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation or two where you helped a patient and how that experience was for them.

Example: “I have worked in the healthcare field for over ten years now, so I’ve had plenty of opportunities to work with patients who needed assistance with their daily lives. In my last position, I assisted a patient who needed help getting out of bed and into her wheelchair. She was nervous about needing this extra help but also wanted to get back to doing as much as she could on her own. We talked through what we would do each day and set goals together. After a few weeks, she was able to go from her bed to her wheelchair without any assistance.”

12. What do you believe makes a good nurse?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the nursing profession and how you can apply it in a hospital setting. When answering this question, consider what qualities you have that make you a good nurse.

Example: “I believe a good nurse is someone who cares about their patients and wants them to feel comfortable. I am always willing to listen to my patients and help them understand their diagnosis or treatment plan. I also think it’s important for nurses to be knowledgeable about their field so they can provide accurate information to their patients.”

13. What motivates you to go to work every day?

This question can help an interviewer get to know you as a person and understand what motivates you. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but it can also be helpful to give examples of things that motivate you.

Example: “I love helping people, so I go to work every day because I want to make a difference in someone’s life. I enjoy the challenge of working with patients who have unique needs or complex medical histories. I find that I learn something new from each patient I treat.”

14. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when interacting with patients?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to connect with patients. It’s important to remember that you’re not just a healthcare professional, but also someone who can provide comfort and support to patients and their families.

Example: “I think the most important thing when interacting with patients is to make sure they feel comfortable and supported. I always try to be friendly and compassionate, and I’m always willing to listen to them and answer any questions or concerns they may have. I believe it’s important to treat every patient as if they were my own family member.”

15. What is your approach to prioritizing tasks?

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach your work and the steps you take to complete it. When answering, consider describing a time when you had to prioritize tasks at work or school and discuss what helped you decide which ones were most important.

Example: “I find that I am most productive when I have a set schedule for my day. This helps me stay focused on the task at hand and ensures that I don’t get distracted by other things. In my last position, I was responsible for managing multiple social media accounts for our hospital. To ensure I didn’t miss any deadlines, I created a calendar with specific times each week where I would post content. This allowed me to focus on creating quality content while also meeting company standards.”

16. In your opinion, what is the best way to deal with an upset patient?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenging situations. Use examples from your experience to explain the steps you take when dealing with an upset patient, including how you communicate effectively and resolve issues.

Example: “I believe that it’s important to listen to patients’ concerns and address them as quickly as possible. I always make sure to speak directly to my patients so they know I’m listening to their complaints or questions. If a patient is upset about something, I try to find out what specifically caused their distress and then work to solve the problem for them.”

17. Give me an example of a time when you had to make a decision without consulting your manager, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you made an important decision that helped the company or organization succeed.

Example: “When I was working as a nurse at Adventist Health, there were times where my patients needed care outside of normal business hours. In these situations, I would have to make decisions about their care without consulting my manager. One night in particular, I had a patient who was experiencing severe pain. After speaking with them, I determined they could wait until morning for treatment. However, if their condition worsened, I would need to call my manager immediately.”

18. Can you tell me about a time where you made a mistake at work? How did you fix it?

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to challenges. It’s important to show that you can take responsibility for your mistakes and learn from them.

Example: “I once made an error in my patient’s medication dosage, which caused the patient to have some side effects. I immediately notified my supervisor of the mistake and they helped me fix it by adjusting the patient’s dosage. Since then, I’ve learned to double-check all of my work before administering medications.”

19. What has been your greatest accomplishment as a nurse so far?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are proud of your accomplishments and have the ability to take pride in yourself. It also shows them what you value as an employee, which can be important for some employers. When answering this question, it’s best to choose something that relates to nursing or health care.

Example: “My greatest accomplishment as a nurse so far was when I helped my patient overcome their fear of needles by talking with them about how they felt and helping them understand why we need to give certain medications. They were able to calm down and relax enough to get through their treatment without crying.”

20. If hired, how would you ensure that you were providing quality care to each patient?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the Adventist Health mission and how you would apply it in your work. Your answer should include a few examples of how you have applied quality care to patients in the past.

Example: “I believe that providing quality care means listening to each patient’s needs, being empathetic and compassionate and ensuring that I am always learning new ways to improve my skills as a nurse. In my previous role, I had a patient who was experiencing pain after surgery. After speaking with them about their concerns, I learned that they were having trouble sleeping due to the discomfort. I asked if there was anything else we could do for them and they said they just wanted some extra pillows. So, I went out and bought several different types of pillows and arranged them on their bed so they could find the most comfortable position.”