20 Baptist Health (Florida) Interview Questions and Answers

Baptist Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in Northeast Florida. With six hospitals and a network of primary care physicians, Baptist Health serves more than half a million patients each year.

If you’re applying for a job at Baptist Health, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of Baptist Health interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Baptist Health (Florida) Interview Process

The interview process at Baptist Health (Florida) can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, such as Registered Nurse or Certified Nursing Assistant, you may be interviewed by a panel of managers. For other positions, such as Patient Access Representative II, you may only have to interview with one manager. Overall, the interview process is thorough and can take several weeks to complete.

1. What is your experience working with patients?

Baptist Health is a large hospital system that provides care to patients of all ages. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working with different types of patients and how you handle challenging situations. Use examples from your previous work experience to highlight your interpersonal skills, communication abilities and problem-solving skills.

Example: “I worked in a pediatric practice for five years where I cared for children of all ages. Some of my favorite experiences were when I got to meet new families and watch their kids grow up. One family I still keep in touch with was the Smiths. They had two boys who both grew up healthy and are now in college. It’s always nice to see how far our patients come.”

2. In a fast-paced environment, how do you prioritize tasks when there are multiple people asking for help at once?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle a busy workday and whether your skills are compatible with Baptist Health’s current environment. Use examples from previous experiences to show that you’re able to prioritize tasks effectively, even when there are multiple requests for assistance at once.

Example: “In my last role as an ER nurse, I often had multiple patients who needed care simultaneously. In these situations, I would assess each patient’s needs and determine which one required immediate attention. Then, I would provide care to those patients before moving on to others. This helped me ensure that all of my patients received the care they needed in a timely manner.”

3. How would you deal with an agitated patient or their family members?

This question can help interviewers assess your communication skills and ability to remain calm under pressure. Use examples from past experiences where you were able to diffuse a situation or resolve conflict with patients or their family members.

Example: “I once had a patient who was in the hospital for several days due to an illness. The patient’s family members would visit often, but they would get upset when I couldn’t give them all of the information about his condition right away. I learned that it was best to explain what I knew at that moment and then tell them I would find out more information and let them know as soon as possible. This helped the family feel like they were getting answers without having to wait too long.”

4. Are you comfortable working in a team environment?

Baptist Health is a large organization that offers many opportunities for collaboration. The hiring manager may ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills and how you might fit into the Baptist Health team. To answer, think of a time when you worked well with others on a project or task. Explain what made it successful and highlight any leadership qualities you displayed.

Example: “I have always enjoyed working in teams because I find it motivating to see other people succeed. In my last position as an ER nurse, I was part of a team that cared for patients who were experiencing cardiac arrest. We all had different roles, but we communicated well and helped each other out when needed. As a result, we saved several lives that day.”

5. What do you think makes a good nurse/CNA?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the nursing profession and how you can be an asset to Baptist Health. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight qualities that are unique to yourself. You should also try to relate these qualities back to the role of a nurse or CNA at Baptist Health.

Example: “I think what makes a good nurse or CNA is someone who has compassion for their patients. I have always been naturally empathetic toward others, so being able to help people in need is something that brings me joy. Another quality that makes a good nurse or CNA is someone who is organized and detail-oriented. I am very good at managing my time and making sure all of my work is done correctly.”

6. Tell me about a time that you had to make a difficult decision without consulting your manager.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions independently and how you use your critical thinking skills. Use examples from your past experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, ability to work independently and leadership qualities.

Example: “In my previous role as a nurse, I had to decide whether or not to administer medication to a patient who was in pain but also had an allergy to that particular medication. After speaking with the patient about their medical history and discussing it with my team members, we decided together that administering the medication would be the best course of action for the patient’s health. We monitored the patient closely after administering the medication and were able to avoid any complications.”

7. Have you ever worked in a hospital before?

Baptist Health is a hospital, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with other medical professionals. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable in this type of environment and have experience interacting with others who work in the healthcare industry. If you haven’t worked in a hospital before, consider volunteering or shadowing someone at your local hospital to gain some insight into what the job entails.

Example: “I’ve never worked in a hospital before, but I did volunteer at my local hospital for two years. During that time, I learned how to interact with patients and their families while also learning about different illnesses and treatments. This helped me decide that I wanted to pursue nursing as a career.”

8. Do you have any experience working with children and the responsibilities that go along with that?

Baptist Health is a pediatric hospital, so they want to make sure you have experience working with children. They also want to know that you understand the unique challenges of working with kids and their families.

Example: “I worked as a camp counselor for two summers in college. I was responsible for leading activities and games during the day and making sure all the kids were safe at night. It was challenging because there were over 100 kids, but it was rewarding when I saw how much fun the kids had and how much they learned from me.”

9. Describe a time where you made a mistake, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you respond to challenges and learn from your mistakes. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on the steps you took to fix the mistake and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, I had a patient who came in with severe stomach pains. After examining him, I determined that he needed immediate surgery because his appendix had burst. However, when I went to prep for the surgery, I realized I forgot to order the anesthesia. I immediately called my supervisor and explained the situation. She told me to perform the surgery without the anesthesia, which I did. The surgery was successful, but I learned that I need to always double-check all of my work before performing procedures.”

10. Can you tell me about a time when you had to work on a project with someone who was not pulling their weight, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict in the workplace. It’s important that your answer shows that you can be assertive and confident when it comes to handling difficult situations with coworkers.

Example: “I once worked on a project with a coworker who was not pulling their weight, which made our team fall behind on our deadline. I approached my manager about the situation and they helped me find another coworker to help us complete the project. This allowed me to focus on my part of the project while someone else focused on theirs.”

11. Give us an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. It also helps the interviewer determine if you have any experience working in a healthcare setting, as it’s common for medical professionals to interact with patients who may not like them or their diagnosis.

Example: “In my last position, I worked closely with a patient who was very vocal about his dislike of me. He would often complain that I wasn’t doing enough to help him recover from his illness and even went so far as to threaten to find another doctor. However, I remained calm and professional during every interaction we had. Eventually, he began to see that I was genuinely trying to help him and apologized for his behavior.”

12. What is your greatest strength & weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be prepared with an answer that shows your strengths while also being honest about any weaknesses you may have. When answering this question, consider what the hiring manager might value most in their employees and choose two or three of those traits to highlight.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well under pressure. I am always able to stay calm when things get busy at work, which helps me remain focused on providing excellent care for patients. My weakness is that sometimes I can be too hard on myself if something goes wrong. I know that mistakes are inevitable, but I try to learn from them so they don’t happen again.”

13. Why do you want to work at Baptist Health South Florida?

Baptist Health South Florida is a large healthcare organization that offers many different types of jobs. The interviewer wants to know why you specifically want to work for their hospital and what makes it unique from other hospitals in the area. Use your answer to highlight some specific aspects of Baptist Health South Florida that interest you, such as its mission or community outreach programs.

Example: “I applied for this position because I was impressed by Baptist Health South Florida’s reputation for providing excellent care while also being an active member of the local community. When I did my research on the hospital, I learned about the pediatric wing that you opened last year. This really inspired me, as I would love to be part of a team that focuses so much on children’s health.”

14. What’s your biggest pet peeve at work?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential coworkers and how they interact with one another. It’s also an opportunity for you to show that you’re self-aware and can take constructive criticism. When answering this question, try to think of something that you would never do yourself but have witnessed others doing.

Example: “My biggest pet peeve at work is when people are constantly on their phones during meetings or while talking to someone. I understand that it’s important to stay connected, but there are times when we need to put our phones away so we can focus on the task at hand. If I ever saw anyone in my department doing this, I’d politely ask them to put their phone away.”

15. What motivates you to come to work each day?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and understand what motivates you. Your answer should reflect your personal values, but it also gives the employer insight into how you might motivate others in your workplace.

Example: “I love helping people, so I come to work each day because I want to make a difference in someone’s life. I feel like my job is more than just a paycheck for me, and I’m always looking for ways that I can improve patient care or support my coworkers. I think Baptist Health would be a great place to continue growing professionally.”

16. Do you consider yourself a leader?

Baptist Health is a large organization that offers many opportunities for leadership. The hiring manager may ask this question to learn more about your management style and how you would fit into the company culture. In your answer, try to explain what makes you a good leader and highlight any past experiences where you’ve led others.

Example: “I do consider myself a leader because I believe in empowering my team members to achieve their goals. When working with others, I always make sure to listen to everyone’s ideas and opinions before making decisions. This helps me understand different perspectives and find solutions that work for everyone. I also think it’s important to be an example of the behavior you want from your team. If I’m positive and encouraging, my team will likely follow suit.”

17. What kind of impact do you hope to make as a member of our team?

Baptist Health is looking for employees who are passionate about their work and want to make a positive impact on the lives of others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about how you hope your role will help patients or clients feel better or achieve their goals.

Example: “I am passionate about helping people live healthier lifestyles. I believe that if we can teach our patients how to take care of themselves, they’ll have more energy and feel happier in their daily lives. As a nurse at Baptist Health, I would love to see my patients lose weight, lower their blood pressure and reduce their stress levels.”

18. How well do you work under pressure?

Baptist Health is a large organization that provides many services to the community. The interviewer wants to know how you will handle working in such a fast-paced environment and whether you can meet deadlines when they are tight. Use examples from your previous work experience to show that you can perform well under pressure.

Example: “I have worked for Baptist Health before, so I am familiar with the pace of this hospital. In my last position as an ER nurse, we had a lot of patients coming through the doors at once. We also had several emergencies where we needed to treat patients quickly. I was able to keep calm and focus on treating each patient while my team members helped me get everything ready.”

19. What do you find most challenging about nursing?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a nurse and understand what your priorities are. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but it can also be helpful to mention something that you’ve overcome or plan to improve.

Example: “The most challenging part of nursing is when patients don’t receive the care they need because of budget cuts. I have worked with many nurses who were overworked and underpaid, which made it difficult for them to provide quality care. In my last position, I helped organize a union so we could negotiate better wages and benefits. This was very rewarding, and now our hospital has more funding to hire new nurses.”

20. If you could change one thing about this industry, what would it be?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your passion for this industry and how you might contribute to it. Your answer should show that you are passionate about healthcare, but also highlight what you would change if you could.

Example: “I would like to see more transparency in the healthcare system. I think patients deserve to know exactly what they’re paying for when they go into the doctor’s office or hospital. If we were able to make all of our prices public knowledge, then people could shop around for the best price on their procedures.”