20 Ochsner Health Interview Questions and Answers

Ochsner Health is a large healthcare system in Louisiana that provides coordinated clinical and hospital patient care. If you’re interviewing for a position at Ochsner, you can expect to be asked questions about your healthcare experience, your ability to work in a team, and your knowledge of the Ochsner system. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Ochsner interview questions and answers.

Ochsner Health Interview Process

The interview process at Ochsner Health can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, like Registered Nurse or Patient Access Representative, you will have a phone screen with a recruiter first, and then move on to an in-person interview if you are selected based on the phone screen. For other positions, like Medical Assistant or Unit Secretary, you may have an initial phone interview followed by an in-person interview. The interview process for some positions, like Emergency Medical Technician, can be quite lengthy, spanning several months and involving multiple interviews.

1. Tell me about a time you had to make an important decision quickly. How did you approach the situation?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you make decisions and the thought process behind them. It can also show your ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.

Example: “In my last position, I was working with a patient who had been in the hospital for several days. They were recovering from surgery but still needed assistance with many daily activities. One day, they asked me if they could go home. After speaking with their doctor, I learned that while they were making progress, they weren’t quite ready to leave the hospital. I explained this to the patient and helped them understand why it wasn’t possible at that time.”

2. Why do you want to work at Ochsner Health?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and company. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific aspect of Ochsner Health that you are excited about or how you feel this role will help you grow professionally.

Example: “I am passionate about working in healthcare because I want to make a difference in people’s lives. I believe that Ochsner Health provides excellent care across Louisiana, which makes me excited to work here. I have heard great things about the culture at Ochsner Health, and I would love to be part of a team that works together to provide exceptional patient care.”

3. What are your thoughts on improving patient care?

Ochsner is a healthcare organization that strives to provide the best care for its patients. Your answer should show your interest in helping others and improving patient care. You can talk about how you would implement new ideas or processes into Ochsner’s current system.

Example: “I believe that there are many ways we can improve patient care. One way I would do this is by implementing an online portal where patients can access their medical records, communicate with doctors and nurses and schedule appointments. This will help them stay informed about their treatment plan and reduce wait times when they visit the hospital.”

4. Provide an example of when you went above and beyond for a patient and their family.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and compassion for the job. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you helped the patient or their family feel more comfortable or relieved stress.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse at my previous hospital, I had a patient who came in with severe stomach pains. After running some tests, we discovered that he had appendicitis and needed immediate surgery. He was very nervous about the procedure, so I stayed by his side during the entire process. During recovery, I checked on him every hour until he was able to go home.”

5. Describe your experience working as a registered nurse.

This question is an opportunity to highlight your experience and skills as a registered nurse. It’s also an opportunity to discuss how you’ve grown professionally in your career so far.

Example: “I started my nursing career at a small hospital where I worked with patients of all ages. There, I learned the importance of communication between nurses and doctors, which helped me develop my critical thinking skills. After that, I moved to a larger hospital where I was able to work with more experienced nurses who taught me new techniques for patient care. Throughout my career, I’ve learned valuable lessons about teamwork and communication.”

6. Are you comfortable working in different clinical environments?

Ochsner Health is a large healthcare organization that provides care in many different clinical environments. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working in these types of settings and how well you adapt to change.

Example: “I am comfortable working in all kinds of clinical environments, from emergency rooms to hospital wards. I enjoy the challenge of adapting to new situations and learning new procedures. In my last position, I worked alongside several doctors who specialized in different areas of medicine. This was challenging at first, but I quickly learned how to work with each doctor and provide them with the information they needed.”

7. Do you consider yourself to be reliable and punctual?

Employers ask this question to make sure you can be counted on to show up for work and complete your tasks in a timely manner. Show the interviewer that you are reliable by giving an example of a time when you were punctual or reliable, such as arriving early to work or meeting deadlines.

Example: “I am very punctual and reliable. In my last position, I was responsible for managing all incoming patient calls. If I wasn’t able to answer a call right away, I always called back within five minutes. This helped me build strong relationships with patients and showed them that I cared about their needs.”

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Employers ask this question to see if you have career goals and aspirations. They want to know that you are motivated and driven, so it’s important to show them your ambitions for the future. When answering this question, try to think about what you would like to be doing in five years. Consider discussing a goal or aspiration you have for yourself, such as becoming a manager or moving into another department.

Example: “In five years, I hope to still be working at Ochsner Health System. I’d love to continue my education and become an RN with a specialty certification. In five years, I also hope to be managing one of the departments here.”

9. We strive to provide excellent customer service. Give us an example of how you have provided great customer service in the past.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you interact with patients. They want to know that you can provide excellent customer service, so they may ask you to describe a time when you did just that.

Example: “I once had a patient who was very nervous about his upcoming surgery. He asked me many questions about the procedure, but I could tell he wasn’t satisfied with my answers. So, I called in one of our surgeons to speak with him. The surgeon explained everything in detail and answered all of his questions. After speaking with the surgeon, the patient felt much better and went into surgery without any issues.”

10. When was the last time you had to deal with a difficult coworker or peer, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and whether you have any strategies for resolving it. When answering this question, try to focus on your ability to resolve conflicts with others in a positive way.

Example: “In my last position as an ER nurse, I had a coworker who was constantly late to work. This made our team’s workflow more difficult because we were short-staffed when she wasn’t there. Eventually, I approached her about the issue and asked if there was anything I could do to help her get to work on time. She told me that she had some personal issues going on at home that were causing her to be late. After talking with her, I offered to cover her shifts while she worked through her problems.”

11. Nursing is a demanding field that requires compassion and patience. Would you say these are qualities that you possess?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the right personality for this role. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but also highlight a specific example of when you displayed these qualities.

Example: “I would say that compassion and patience are two of my strongest attributes as a nurse. I’ve always been naturally empathetic toward others, which makes it easy for me to put myself in someone else’s shoes. This helps me understand what patients or their families might be feeling and how best to help them. Patience is another quality that I possess because I know that every patient has unique needs and circumstances. I try to take the time to listen to each person and provide personalized care.”

12. Describe your experience providing quality patient care.

Ochsner Health is a large healthcare organization that provides care to patients across Louisiana. Your answer should demonstrate your ability to provide quality patient care and show you understand the importance of doing so.

Example: “I have worked in several different medical settings, including urgent care centers, hospitals and private practices. In each setting, I’ve learned how important it is to provide quality patient care. For example, when working at my previous job as an emergency room nurse, I had a patient who came into the ER with severe stomach pains. After performing diagnostic tests, we determined he was experiencing appendicitis. We immediately scheduled him for surgery and removed his appendix before any further complications occurred.”

13. Ochsner has been named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes Magazine. How would you contribute to our success?

This question is an opportunity to show your interest in the company and how you can contribute to its success. You should highlight any skills or experiences that make you a good fit for Ochsner’s culture.

Example: “I am honored to be considered as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes Magazine, and I would love to help continue this tradition. As someone who has worked at several hospitals across the country, I know how important it is to have a positive work environment where employees feel valued and appreciated. I believe my communication skills and ability to build relationships with patients and their families will help me contribute to Ochsner’s success.”

14. In what ways can you help patients feel more at ease?

Ochsner is a large healthcare facility that provides care to patients of all ages. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you can help patients feel comfortable during their treatment. Use examples from previous experiences where you helped ease the stress or anxiety of a patient.

Example: “I always try to make sure I am smiling when I greet a patient, even if they are not in the best mood. This small gesture helps put them at ease and shows them that I am there to support them. When I first meet with a patient, I also like to get to know them on a personal level. I find that by learning something about their life outside of the hospital, it makes our relationship stronger.”

15. Tell me about a time where you worked under pressure.

This question is a great way to see how you handle pressure and stress. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about a time when you were able to overcome the pressure or stress and achieve success.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, we had a patient who came in with severe abdominal pain. The doctor ordered several tests, including blood work and CT scans. While waiting for the results of these tests, the patient’s condition worsened. We needed to know what was wrong with the patient so that we could treat them accordingly. I stayed calm and focused on my task at hand. After some time, the test results came back and showed that the patient had appendicitis. We treated the patient immediately and they made a full recovery.”

16. As an employee of Ochsner, you will be required to follow HIPAA guidelines. Have you ever had any issues following rules or regulations?

The interviewer will want to know that you understand the importance of following HIPAA guidelines and other rules and regulations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you had to follow a rule or regulation but were not happy about it.

Example: “I have never had any issues with following rules or regulations in my previous positions. However, I do remember one instance where I was working as an emergency room nurse and we were short-staffed. We were told by our supervisor that we could only take breaks every four hours instead of every two hours because they needed us to work more shifts. I understood why we couldn’t take breaks as often, but I was unhappy about it.”

17. Do you have experience using electronic medical records systems (EMRs)? If so, which ones?

Ochsner uses Epic, a popular EMR system. If you have experience using this or another EMR system, explain how it helped you in your previous role and what challenges you faced with the system.

Example: “I’ve used Epic for five years at my current hospital. I find that it’s easy to use and has many features that make patient care easier. However, there are times when I need to access information from other departments within the hospital, but can’t because they don’t use Epic. This is an issue because it means I can’t get all of the information I need to provide the best possible care.”

18. Healthcare organizations are constantly evolving. What steps do you think we should take to ensure that we stay current with changes?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the healthcare industry and how you can contribute to its growth. When answering this question, consider what steps you would take as a team member to ensure that Ochsner Health stays on top of current trends in the industry.

Example: “I think it’s important for healthcare organizations to stay up-to-date with changes in technology and patient care. I believe we should be constantly looking at new ways to improve our processes and procedures. For example, I recently read about a hospital that implemented a virtual reality program into their pediatric unit. The VR program helped children overcome their fear of needles by allowing them to experience different scenarios through virtual reality.”

19. This position requires standing and walking throughout the day. Are you able to perform this type of work?

Ochsner Health System is a large healthcare organization that provides care to patients across Louisiana. This position requires you to stand and walk for long periods of time, so the interviewer wants to make sure you are physically capable of performing this task. When answering this question, describe your physical capabilities and how they will help you succeed in this role.

Example: “I am able to perform standing and walking work because I have worked as a nurse for five years. During my career, I’ve learned how to manage fatigue while working long shifts. I also regularly exercise to stay fit and healthy.”

20. What do you think sets Ochsner apart from other healthcare providers?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done some research on Ochsner and are familiar with its unique qualities. You can use this question as an opportunity to highlight any of the following:

The size of the organization
Its commitment to patient care
Its reputation in the community
Example: “Ochsner is a large healthcare provider, but it still maintains a small-town feel. I think this is because of the way they treat their patients and employees. They make sure that everyone feels like family and takes time to get to know each other. The company also has a great reputation in the community for providing excellent care.”