20 Geisinger Interview Questions and Answers

As one of the largest healthcare providers in Pennsylvania, Geisinger is always looking for talented and dedicated employees. If you’re interested in working for this renowned company, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough interview questions.

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of some of the most common Geisinger interview questions. We’ll also provide some sample answers to help you prepare for your own interview.

Geisinger Interview Process

The interview process at Geisinger can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most interviews will involve a phone screen followed by one or more in-person interviews. For some positions, you may also be asked to shadow a current employee or complete a 4-hour interview. Overall, the interview process is relatively quick and straightforward.

1. Why do you want to work at Geisinger?

This question is a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and Geisinger as an organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to refer to specific aspects of the job description that you are excited about or how your skills and experience align with the role.

Example: “I am passionate about working in healthcare because I believe everyone deserves access to quality care regardless of their ability to pay. Geisinger’s mission statement resonates with me because it emphasizes providing excellent care while also being innovative and forward-thinking. As someone who has worked in healthcare for five years, I have seen firsthand how important it is to find new ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.”

2. What are your long term career goals?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are motivated and have a plan for your career. It also gives them insight into how long you might stay with their organization if hired. When answering this question, be sure to include details about what motivates you in your work and what steps you’ve taken to achieve your goals.

Example: “I am passionate about working with children who have special needs. I would like to continue my education and become a pediatrician so I can help these kids get the care they need. I am currently enrolled in classes at the local university where I am studying child development. I hope to graduate within two years.”

3. How would you handle a difficult patient?

This question is a great way to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with challenging patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you handled a difficult patient in the past.

Example: “I once had a patient who was very upset about their diagnosis. They were angry that they would have to take medication for the rest of their life. I listened to them calmly and explained why we made our treatment decisions. Then, I offered to help them find resources where they could learn more about their condition and treatment options. This helped calm them down and gave them hope for the future.”

4. Do you have any experience in clinical research? If so, please describe what kind of projects you were involved in.

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the field and how you can apply it to this position. If you have experience in clinical research, explain what kind of projects you worked on and what skills you developed from them.

Example: “I was fortunate enough to work as a research assistant for my university’s psychology department. I assisted with several different studies that focused on human behavior and cognition. One study we conducted looked at the effects of stress on memory retention. We found that when people are stressed out, they tend to remember less information than if they were calm. This helped me develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”

5. Describe a time when you had to deal with an irate or unhappy patient, how did you handle it?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your communication skills and how you handle conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you handled the situation successfully.

Example: “I once had a patient who was upset because I could not give them an immediate diagnosis for their symptoms. The patient wanted me to diagnose them with something so they could get treatment, but I explained that we needed more information before making a diagnosis. After explaining our process, the patient understood and agreed to wait until we had all the necessary information to make a proper diagnosis.”

6. Are you comfortable working with patients that need assistance with walking and personal care?

Geisinger is a healthcare organization that provides care to patients with complex medical conditions. The interviewer wants to make sure you are comfortable working in this environment and can handle the challenges of providing patient care.

Example: “I have worked with patients who need assistance with walking and personal care before, and I am very comfortable doing so. In my previous role as a nurse, I had a patient who needed help getting out of bed and into their wheelchair. I was able to assist them by helping them get dressed and ready for the day.”

7. Tell me about a time where you went above and beyond for a patient.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and compassion for the patients you work with. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about what you did for the patient and how they reacted or benefited from your actions.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, I had a patient who came in after being involved in a car accident. The patient was very anxious because of their injuries, but also because they were pregnant. I made sure that we took care of all of their medical needs first before addressing any questions they had about their baby. After we stabilized them, I spoke with them again and assured them that everything would be okay. They calmed down and went into labor later that night.”

8. When was the last time you took initiative in the workplace and what did you do?

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you are willing to take initiative and make decisions. It also shows them how you can be an asset to their organization.

Example: “At my last job, I noticed that our department was not meeting its sales goals. So, I met with the team to discuss what we could do to increase sales. We decided on several strategies, including increasing our social media presence and creating more targeted ads. After implementing these changes, our department increased sales by 10%.”

9. What does compassionate care mean to you?

This question is a great way to show your understanding of Geisinger’s core values. When answering, it can be helpful to reference the organization’s mission statement and explain how you would apply that value in your role.

Example: “Compassionate care means providing patients with the best possible medical treatment while also ensuring they feel cared for as human beings. I believe this starts with building strong relationships with patients and their families. It’s important to listen to what they have to say and provide them with information about their condition in a clear and concise manner. This helps build trust between the patient and healthcare team, which ultimately leads to better outcomes.”

10. If hired, how will this position help further your career goals?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are motivated and eager to learn. It also gives them insight into your career goals, which can help them determine if you’re a good fit for their organization. When answering this question, be sure to highlight how your skills and experience align with the job description and discuss what you hope to gain from working at Geisinger.

Example: “I am excited about the opportunity to work in healthcare administration because I believe it will give me valuable experience managing people and resources. My goal is to eventually become a hospital administrator, so I would love to use my time here as a stepping stone toward achieving that goal.”

11. Can you tell us about a time you had to manage multiple co-workers on a project?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your ability to collaborate. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific project or task that required multiple people’s input and the steps you took to ensure everyone was involved in the process.

Example: “At my previous job, I worked on a team of five other employees who were all tasked with creating an annual report for our company. We met once a week to discuss progress and any challenges we faced. This helped us stay organized and ensured we had everything we needed to complete the project by its deadline.”

12. Please provide an example of a situation where you were able to go above and beyond for a patient.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and compassion for the patients you work with. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about how you helped the patient in addition to what you did.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, I had a patient who came into the hospital after being involved in a car accident. The patient suffered from severe injuries that required surgery, but they were also pregnant. In order to help her, I worked closely with the OB-GYN team to ensure she received the best care possible. After giving birth, she recovered well and went home within two weeks of entering the hospital.”

13. Have you ever worked remotely before?

Geisinger is a healthcare organization that has locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. If you are interviewing for an opportunity with Geisinger, it’s likely that you will be working remotely at least some of the time. The interviewer wants to make sure you have experience working from home or another remote location.

Example: “I’ve worked remotely before, but I prefer to work in an office setting. However, if my manager asked me to work remotely, I would do so without hesitation. I understand how important it is to maintain communication between employees who work remotely.”

14. What is your biggest strength/weakness?

This question is a classic interview question that allows you to highlight your strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the skills you have developed over time or those that are most important for the role you’re interviewing for.

Example: “My biggest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always looking for ways to collaborate with others on projects and find solutions to problems. My weakness is that sometimes I get so focused on finding solutions that I forget to ask questions. This has led me to make mistakes in the past, but I have learned from these experiences and now try to take more time to ask questions before making decisions.”

15. How would you respond if a patient asked you for pain medication after surgery?

This question is a test of your ability to handle difficult situations with patients. It also tests your knowledge of the hospital’s policies and procedures regarding pain medication.

Example: “I would first explain that I am not allowed to prescribe or administer any kind of pain medication, including over-the-counter medications like Tylenol. If they are in severe pain, I would refer them to the emergency room for treatment. However, if they insist on getting pain medication from me, I would call security and have them removed from my care.”

16. Tell me about a time where you disagreed with a physician’s treatment plan, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your ability to think critically and apply critical thinking skills. It also shows that you can work with others, which is an important skill for any role in healthcare.

Example: “When I was working as a nurse practitioner at the local hospital, one of my patients had been diagnosed with cancer. The patient’s physician recommended chemotherapy treatment, but the patient did not want to undergo it because they were afraid of the side effects. I explained to them that there are many different types of chemotherapy treatments available today, and some have fewer side effects than others. We discussed all of their options thoroughly before deciding on a course of action.”

17. What made you choose nursing as a career?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s motivation for entering the nursing field. It can also help you understand what they value in their work and how it impacts them personally.

Example: “I chose nursing as a career because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I have always been passionate about helping others, and when I was younger, my mother had cancer. She was treated at Geisinger Medical Center, so I knew that this was where I wanted to be. I love being able to provide care to patients who are going through challenging times. I feel like I am making a real difference in their lives.”

18. What types of medical conditions are you familiar with?

Geisinger is a healthcare organization that provides medical care to patients in Pennsylvania. Your answer should demonstrate your knowledge of the types of conditions you would treat as part of this role.

Example: “I have worked with many different types of patients throughout my career, including those who suffer from chronic illnesses and injuries. I am familiar with how to manage pain and other symptoms associated with these conditions. In addition, I understand the importance of providing holistic treatment plans for my patients by integrating alternative therapies into their overall care plan.”

19. As a nurse, what can you contribute to the team?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to work as part of a team. Geisinger’s core values include collaboration, respect and integrity. You can demonstrate these values by giving examples of how you have worked with others in the past.

Example: “I am passionate about my career as a nurse because I love helping people. In my previous role, I was able to help patients overcome their illnesses and injuries. I also enjoy working with other nurses and doctors to find solutions to challenging situations. For example, when one of our patients had a low blood pressure reading, we all discussed possible causes and came up with a plan to treat it. The patient ended up being fine after some adjustments were made to her medication.”

20. How would you handle a difficult co-worker?

This question can help interviewers assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you handled a difficult co-worker in the past and what actions helped improve the situation.

Example: “In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I had a coworker who was often late for meetings and sometimes forgot important documents that we needed for projects. At first, I tried to approach her about these issues and offer suggestions on how she could improve. However, she didn’t seem receptive to my feedback, so I decided to speak with our supervisor instead. They were able to have a more productive conversation with her and she eventually improved her performance.”