17 Health Care Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

A health care assistant provides support to nurses and other health care professionals in a hospital, clinic, or other medical setting. They may work with patients, help with administrative tasks, or provide support to nurses in the delivery of patient care.

If you’re looking for a health care assistant job, you’ll likely need to go through an interview process. One way to prepare for this important meeting is to learn how to answer health care assistant interview questions before talking with an interviewer.

Employers look for health care assistants who are trustworthy, reliable, well organized, and able to solve problems. You’ll also need physical strength and stamina, as well as knowledge of the best ways to clean different facilities and types of equipment. A health care assistant interview is your chance to show that you’ve polished these skills to a shine. To help you get ready, we’ve listed health care assistant questions and answers that will help you figure out what you want to say during an interview.

Are you certified as a healthcare assistant?

Employers may ask this question to see if you have the necessary certification for the role. If you are certified, they may want to know which certifying body issued your certificate and what level of certification you hold. If you aren’t certified, they may want to know whether you plan to pursue certification in the future.

Example: “I am not currently certified as a healthcare assistant, but I do plan to take my exam next month. I chose to wait until after I graduated from my program because I wanted to be sure that I had all the skills needed to pass the test. I’m confident that I will pass with flying colors.”

What are some of the most important skills for a healthcare assistant to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills and how they relate to working as a healthcare assistant.

Example: “The most important skill for a healthcare assistant is communication. This job requires us to communicate with patients, doctors, nurses and other assistants. I am also very good at multitasking, which is another essential skill for this position. In my last role, I often had many tasks to complete at once, so I became accustomed to handling several responsibilities at once.”

How would you handle a situation where you disagreed with a doctor or another medical professional?

As a health care assistant, you may be asked to perform tasks that are different from your normal responsibilities. In some cases, these tasks may conflict with the way you normally do things. Employers ask this question to make sure you can work well with others and adapt to new situations. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you can collaborate with others and respect their opinions.

Example: “I would first try to understand why they wanted me to do something differently. If I still disagreed after hearing their reasoning, I would politely explain my position. I would also offer an alternative solution if I thought there was another way we could achieve our goals.”

What is your process for handling confidential information about patients?

As a health care assistant, you may have access to confidential information about patients. Employers ask this question to make sure that you understand the importance of keeping patient information private and how to do so. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure that you keep all patient information confidential.

Example: “I am aware that I must keep all patient information confidential at all times. When working with confidential information, I always work in private areas when possible. If I need to handle confidential information while helping other patients or coworkers, I will always make sure that no one else can see it. I also never write down any confidential information unless absolutely necessary. Instead, I memorize as much information as I can.”

Provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond to provide exceptional care to a patient.

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you are a team player and willing to go the extra mile for patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you went above and beyond for a patient or helped another health care assistant provide exceptional care to a patient.

Example: “When I was working as a receptionist at a medical office, one of my coworkers had a very busy day with many appointments. She was running behind on her paperwork, so I offered to stay late to help her finish all of her tasks. This allowed her to focus more on her patients during their appointments and provided them with exceptional care.”

If a patient was hostile toward you, how would you handle the situation?

This question can help interviewers assess your interpersonal skills and how you react to challenging situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you helped diffuse a tense situation with a patient or family member.

Example: “In my previous role as a health care assistant, I had the opportunity to work with many different patients who were experiencing a wide range of emotions. One day, I was assisting a doctor with an examination when a patient became hostile toward me. The doctor asked me to leave the room so she could speak with the patient alone. After leaving the room, I waited outside for about 15 minutes until the doctor called me back in. She told me that the patient calmed down after speaking with her and apologized for her behavior.”

What would you do if you were assigned to care for a patient you didn’t like?

This question is designed to test your interpersonal skills and ability to work with a variety of people. Your answer should show that you can put aside personal feelings for the sake of providing quality care.

Example: “I would try my best to provide excellent service, even if I didn’t like the patient. However, if I felt that my dislike was affecting my performance, I would speak to my supervisor about it. If they agreed that my feelings were interfering with my job, they might assign me to another patient or allow me to take a break until I could get over my feelings.”

How well do you handle stress and pressure?

Working as a health care assistant can be stressful at times. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to handle stress and pressure in your job. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and give an example of a time when you were able to do so successfully.

Example: “I am good at managing stress. I find that taking deep breaths helps me calm down when I feel overwhelmed or stressed out. When I was working as a receptionist, there were many days where I had multiple phone calls and visitors all at once. During these busy periods, I would take a few moments to breathe deeply and remind myself that everything would get better soon. This helped me stay focused on my work and provided excellent customer service.”

Do you have any questions for us about the position?

Employers often ask this question to see if you have done your research on the company and position. Before your interview, make sure to read through the job description thoroughly so that you can come prepared with questions about what the role entails. When asking a question, try to frame it as an honest inquiry rather than something you are trying to challenge or debate.

Example: “I noticed in the job listing that you offer competitive benefits. I was wondering what those benefits are and how long someone typically stays at this position before moving up? I am looking for a career where I can grow and learn new skills.”

When performing tasks such as taking a patient’s vital signs, what is the most important thing to remember?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of health care assistants’ tasks and how they can affect patients. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you performed vital signs correctly and helped a patient.

Example: “The most important thing to remember when taking vital signs is to make sure you are accurate. If I take my time and perform these tasks carefully, I can ensure that I am getting the correct information for the doctor or nurse who will use it later. In my last role, I was working with a patient who had high blood pressure. After checking her vitals, I noticed she had low blood pressure. I informed the doctor so he could adjust his treatment plan accordingly.”

We want to ensure our patients receive the best care possible. How would you rate the healthcare system in this country?

Interviewers may ask this question to gauge your opinions on the current state of healthcare in the country. They want to know that you’re passionate about improving the system and are willing to work hard to make it better. In your answer, share what you think is working well and what needs improvement. Explain how you would like to see things change if you were hired.

Example: “I believe we have a great healthcare system in place, but there’s always room for improvement. I’d love to be part of a team that works together to find new ways to improve patient care. For example, I’ve heard that many hospitals are struggling with overcrowding. I think one way to solve this problem could be by implementing telehealth technology into their systems.”

Describe your process for handling a situation where you needed to teach a patient how to perform their own care.

This question can help interviewers understand how you might interact with patients and their families. It can also show them your teaching skills, which are important for helping patients learn new procedures or techniques. When answering this question, try to describe a specific situation in which you taught someone how to perform self-care.

Example: “I always encourage patients to practice the care they need at home so that they’re prepared when they leave the hospital. I usually start by explaining what they’ll be doing and why it’s important. Then, I demonstrate the process myself and offer tips on how to do it effectively. If there is something they may struggle with, like changing bandages, I make sure to give them extra time to practice.”

What makes you stand out from other healthcare assistants?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your unique skills and abilities. They want to know what makes you a valuable employee, so they can decide whether or not you’re the right fit for their organization. When answering this question, think of two or three things that make you stand out from other healthcare assistants. These could be specific skills or experiences that show how you would benefit the employer’s organization.

Example: “I have extensive experience working with patients who are in pain. I’ve worked as an emergency room nurse’s aide for five years, where I learned how to help patients manage their pain while waiting for treatment. This skill is especially important in a hospital setting because it helps me work quickly and efficiently when assisting doctors and nurses.”

Which patients have impacted your life the most?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how your experiences have shaped who you are. It also helps them understand what kind of patients you enjoy working with most. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific patient or group of patients that you enjoyed helping.

Example: “I worked with an elderly woman for several years who was always so happy and positive. She would always tell me about her day and ask about mine. I really enjoyed our time together because she made me feel like I was making a difference in her life. She passed away last year, but I still think about her often.”

What do you think is the most important thing for healthcare assistants to remember when caring for a patient?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your values and morals as they relate to working in health care. Your answer should show that you value empathy, compassion and respect for others.

Example: “I think it’s important for healthcare assistants to remember that we’re caring for real people with unique needs and personalities. I always try to treat my patients like I would want to be treated if I were in their situation. It’s also important to me to listen to what patients have to say and take their concerns seriously. If I’m able to make them feel comfortable and respected, then I know I’m doing my job well.”

How often do you perform routine checks on patients?

This question can help the interviewer determine how comfortable you are with performing routine checks on patients. Routine checks include vital signs, weight and blood pressure. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention a specific time when you performed routine checks on a patient and what your results were.

Example: “I perform routine checks on my patients at least once every shift. I find that doing so helps me stay aware of any changes in their health status. For example, last week I was working with a patient who had been experiencing some chest pain. After checking his vitals, I noticed he had an elevated heart rate. I immediately notified the doctor, who ordered him to get an EKG.”

There is a miscommunication between the doctor and the patient about a procedure. How do you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a challenging situation in the workplace. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to communicate effectively with patients and doctors.

Example: “If there is a miscommunication between the doctor and patient about a procedure, I first ask the patient what they were told by the doctor. Then, I speak with the doctor to clarify the instructions. If the doctor’s instructions are different from what the patient was expecting, I explain the new information to the patient so that they understand why the procedure will be performed differently than expected.”