20 Encompass Health Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an interview for a position at Encompass Health, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in the healthcare industry, your patient care philosophy, and your experience with the rehabilitation process. You may also be asked questions about your ability to work independently and as part of a team, as well as your availability to work weekends and holidays.

Encompass Health Interview Process

The interview process at Encompass Health can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most interviews will involve a phone screen with HR followed by an in-person interview with the hiring manager and/or other members of the team. For some positions, you may also be asked to shadow someone in the role before being offered the job. Overall, the interview process is fairly quick and efficient, and the interviewer(s) will be interested in learning more about your experience and skillset.

1. Describe a difficult situation you faced and how you handled it.

This question can help an interviewer learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you react to challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation that was challenging but also one in which you were able to find a solution or resolution.

Example: “When I first started working as a nurse at my current hospital, there was a patient who had been admitted for rehabilitation after suffering a stroke. The patient’s family members would often visit the patient during their stay, and they would sometimes get upset with the care he was receiving. I spoke with them multiple times about our protocols and explained why we followed certain procedures. Eventually, they understood and stopped visiting so frequently.”

2. What do you think are the most important qualities for a successful nurse?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and see if your values align with those of Encompass Health. When answering, it can be helpful to mention qualities that are important to you personally and how they might apply to being a successful nurse at Encompass Health.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for a successful nurse is empathy. I believe that nurses should always put their patients first and do whatever they can to make them feel comfortable and safe. Another quality I think is important is communication. As a nurse, I would want my patients to feel like they could come to me with any questions or concerns they have.”

3. Why did you choose to pursue a career in physical therapy?

This question can help an interviewer learn more about your background and motivations. It can also give them insight into whether you’re a good fit for the position they’re interviewing you for. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific that inspired you to pursue physical therapy as a career.

Example: “I chose to pursue a career in physical therapy because I wanted to help people recover from injuries or illnesses and get back to living their lives. I’ve always enjoyed helping others, so when I was looking at colleges, I found out that there were several physical therapy programs nearby. After researching some of these schools, I decided to apply.”

4. Do you have experience working with patients who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your experience working with patients who may have behavioral issues or require special attention. If you don’t have any experience, you can talk about how you would handle such situations if they arise in this role.

Example: “I’ve worked with many elderly patients throughout my career and understand that some of them may not be able to communicate effectively due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. I always make sure to speak slowly and clearly when talking to these patients so they can understand me as much as possible. I also try to use visual aids like pictures or gestures to help them remember what I’m saying.”

5. How would you handle an angry patient?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. When answering, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take to calm an upset patient and keep them safe.

Example: “I have had experience with angry patients in my previous role as a nurse. I always try to remain calm when dealing with an upset patient. If they are yelling or raising their voice, I will ask them to lower their voice so that we can communicate effectively. I also make sure to explain everything I am doing to calm them down. This helps me avoid misunderstandings and shows the patient that I care about their well-being.”

6. Are you comfortable transporting patients from one location to another?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to work with patients who may need assistance getting from one place to another. It’s important that you show you’re willing and able to help transport patients when needed, as this can be an essential part of working in this role.

Example: “I have experience transporting patients from one location to another, such as from their hospital room to physical therapy or occupational therapy sessions. I’ve also helped move patients from their rooms to the cafeteria or other common areas within the facility.”

7. If hired, what would be your approach to handling a new patient that has been placed under your care?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you handled a similar situation in the past.

Example: “When I first meet a new patient, I like to get to know them as much as possible. I ask about their interests, what they do for fun and any other information that might help me understand who they are as a person. This helps me create a personalized treatment plan that meets their needs and makes them feel comfortable during their rehabilitation.”

8. Tell me about your experience working with patients of all ages.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with patients of all ages, including children. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a specific situation in which you worked with a child or other patient who was particularly challenging.

Example: “I have extensive experience working with patients of all ages. In my last position as an occupational therapist, I worked with patients ranging from newborns to the elderly. One of my favorite parts of that job was getting to know each patient and their families. It’s always rewarding when I see a family member return for a visit after their loved one has made significant progress.”

9. What do you think is the main role of a registered nurse?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the nursing profession and how you can contribute to an organization. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you think the role of a registered nurse is. You should also try to include some examples of how you have fulfilled that role in previous roles.

Example: “I believe the main role of a registered nurse is to provide excellent patient care. I always make sure to listen to my patients and their families so I can understand their concerns and needs. Then, I work with other healthcare professionals to create a treatment plan that will help our patients recover from their injuries or illnesses.”

10. Provide an example of a time when you were able to help someone achieve their occupational therapy goals.

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you helped someone overcome challenges or achieve their goals.

Example: “In my last position as an occupational therapist, I worked with a patient who had suffered a stroke. This patient was unable to use his right arm and leg, which made performing basic tasks like getting dressed very difficult for him. After working with the patient for several weeks, he was able to perform many daily activities on his own. He even started driving again.”

11. Have you ever had a conflict with a fellow team member? How did you handle it?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle interpersonal conflicts and challenges. It can also show them that you’re willing to take responsibility for your actions when things don’t go as planned.

Example: “I once had a conflict with a fellow team member who was in charge of organizing our weekly meetings. I noticed that the last few meetings we held were disorganized, so I asked my colleague if they could organize the next meeting. They became defensive and said they would do it but needed more time. The next week, the meeting was still disorganized, so I approached them again. This time, they told me they didn’t have time to organize the meeting because they were too busy. I apologized for asking them to do something without giving them enough notice.”

12. We want our nurses to be compassionate and empathetic toward our patients. Do you think you would take this kind of approach if hired?

This question is a great way to see if the candidate has the right personality for this role. It’s important that they can show empathy and compassion toward patients, as it will help them provide better care. When answering this question, make sure you emphasize your ability to be empathetic and compassionate.

Example: “I think I would take this approach because I am naturally empathetic and compassionate. I have always been someone who wants to help others, so being able to do that in my career is something I’ve always wanted. I know how hard it is to recover from an injury or illness, so I want to do everything I can to make their experience as positive as possible.”

13. When was the last time you made a mistake on the job? How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your problem-solving skills and how you learn from your mistakes. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific mistake you made in the past and what steps you took to improve or fix the situation.

Example: “In my last position as an ER nurse, I was working with a patient who had been experiencing chest pains for several days. The patient told me that they were feeling much better than when they first arrived at the hospital, but I still ordered a CT scan just to be sure. Unfortunately, the CT scan showed that the patient’s condition had worsened since their arrival. I immediately notified my supervisor so we could take further action.”

14. Can you tell us more about why you chose to get into nursing?

This question is a great way to learn more about your interviewer and their background. It can also give you an opportunity to share your passion for the nursing profession.

Example: “I chose to pursue a career in nursing because I wanted to help people who were struggling. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in high school, so I knew that I wanted to be able to provide care to patients like her. I love being able to make a difference in someone’s life by helping them recover from illness or injury.”

15. In order to provide proper care to our patients, we need our occupational therapists to work well as part of a team. Do you consider yourself to be a team player?

Teamwork is an important skill for occupational therapists to have. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a time when you worked well with others on a project or helped your team achieve a goal.

Example: “I consider myself to be a strong team player. In my previous role as an occupational therapist at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Birmingham, I was part of the Occupational Therapy Team Leader group. We met once a week to discuss how we could improve our department and provide better care to patients. This experience taught me that teamwork is essential in providing quality care.”

16. Do you have any emergency room experience?

If you have experience working in an emergency room, the interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your skills and how they can apply to their organization. If you don’t have any experience, you can talk about what you would do if faced with a medical emergency.

Example: “I worked as a nurse for five years at a small hospital that had no emergency department. However, I did work alongside paramedics who brought patients into our facility. I learned from them how to assess patients quickly and provide immediate care until they could be transferred to the ER.”

17. We’re looking for someone who can go above and beyond for our patients. Give us an example of a time when you went above and beyond for someone else.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you’re willing to go above and beyond for others. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate how much you care about the patients you serve.

Example: “When I was working as a nurse in a hospital, one of my patients had a family member who couldn’t be there with them during their stay. They were worried about missing work and asked me if they could call in sick so they could visit their loved one. I told them it would be fine, but I’d rather they not miss work because we needed all hands on deck. So, I called in for them and stayed late after my shift ended so they could visit.”

18. Describe your knowledge of the healthcare industry.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have an interest in the healthcare industry and are willing to learn more about it. When answering this question, try to include information about how you learned about the industry and what you’ve learned so far.

Example: “I am very interested in the healthcare industry because I want to work in a field where I can help people. My knowledge of the industry comes from my family, who all work as doctors or nurses. They have shared with me many stories about their experiences working in the healthcare industry and have taught me some basic medical terminology.”

19. Would you feel comfortable working with patients who have recently suffered from a heart attack?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to work with patients who may be experiencing pain or discomfort. It’s important that you show compassion and empathy in your answer, as this can help demonstrate your desire to help others.

Example: “I have worked with patients who have recently suffered from a heart attack before, and I feel comfortable doing so again. In my previous role, I had one patient who was recovering from a heart attack. He was very nervous about his recovery process, but I helped him understand what he needed to do to get better. After our conversation, he felt more confident about his treatment plan.”

20. You’ll be responsible for writing discharge summaries. Do you have experience doing this?

The interviewer will want to know that you have experience writing discharge summaries and can do so accurately. You should explain your previous experience with this task, if applicable.

Example: “I’ve written many discharge summaries in my career as a nurse. I find it helpful to include the patient’s goals at the beginning of the summary so they remember what we discussed during their stay. I also like to include any information about medications or treatments that may be needed after leaving the hospital.”