20 Rush University Medical Center Interview Questions and Answers

If you’re interviewing for a position at Rush University Medical Center, you can expect questions specific to the hospital and its services. Here are some examples of Rush University Medical Center interview questions you might be asked, along with tips on how to answer them.

Rush University Medical Center Interview Process

The interview process at Rush University Medical Center can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one in-person interview. For some positions, like Registered Nurse and Physical Therapist, you may also be asked to shadow someone in the department. The interview process is generally fast and efficient, although some candidates have reported waiting up to a month to hear back about their application status.

1. What is your experience working with patients in a clinical environment?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with patients and how you interact with them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific instance where you helped a patient or family feel more comfortable in the clinical environment.

Example: “I have worked as a pediatric nurse for five years now, and I love working with children and their families. In my previous position, I had one family who was very nervous about coming into the hospital because of some past experiences they had. I talked with them before their appointment and made sure they knew we were there to help them. During their appointment, I took extra time to answer all of their questions and make sure they felt comfortable.”

2. Do you have any certifications that would be beneficial for this position?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are committed to your career and have a desire to learn more about your field. If you do have certifications, be sure to list them along with what they mean and how they helped you in your previous positions.

Example: “I am certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Pediatrics. This certification has allowed me to work independently on patient care while also providing guidance to other nurses and medical professionals. It’s also given me the opportunity to teach nursing students at my current hospital.”

3. Describe how you manage the needs of multiple patients at once.

This question can help interviewers understand how you prioritize tasks and manage your time. Use examples from previous work experiences to explain how you balance multiple responsibilities at once.

Example: “In my last role, I had a patient who was in the hospital for several days while they recovered from surgery. During that time, I would check on them every hour or so to make sure they were comfortable and their needs were being met. In addition to checking on patients regularly, I also made sure to communicate with other medical professionals about each patient’s progress.”

4. How would you deal with patient who has been discharged but doesn’t want to leave?

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with patients who may be unhappy about their discharge. It’s important to show that you can empathize with the patient, but also explain why they need to leave the hospital.

Example: “I would first ask them if there was anything I could do for them before they left. If they still refuse to leave, I would call a nurse or doctor over to help me talk to the patient. I would try my best to reassure them that it’s in their best interest to leave the hospital so we can continue providing care to other patients.”

5. Why do you want to work at Rush University Medical Center?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your interest in working at Rush University Medical Center. Use this opportunity to share what attracted you to apply for this position and how you think you would fit into the organization.

Example: “I applied for this position because I was impressed with Rush University Medical Center’s reputation as a leader in pediatric care. I have always wanted to work in a hospital that provides excellent medical services, so I am excited to be applying for this role. I also want to work here because of its commitment to research and education. I believe my skills and experience make me an ideal candidate for this job.”

6. Tell me about a time where you had difficulty providing care because of language barriers.

Language barriers can be a challenge for healthcare providers, especially when working with patients who speak different languages. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your ability to overcome challenges and provide excellent care despite the language barrier.

Example: “I once worked at a hospital where many of our patients spoke Spanish as their primary language. I learned basic phrases in Spanish so that I could communicate with them more effectively. However, there were times when my patient would become frustrated because they couldn’t understand what I was saying or vice versa. In these situations, I would find someone else on staff who spoke Spanish fluently and ask them to translate for me.”

7. Are you familiar with CPR and first aid?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with the basic life support skills that are important for healthcare professionals. If you don’t have any prior experience, you can talk about how eager you are to learn these skills and get trained in them.

Example: “I am CPR certified, but I haven’t had a chance to practice first aid yet. However, I would love to learn more about it and become proficient at it as soon as possible. I understand that Rush University Medical Center offers training courses for its employees, so I will be sure to take advantage of those opportunities.”

8. If hired, what qualities will you bring to the team?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and how you can contribute to Rush University Medical Center. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight qualities that are relevant to the role and showcase your skills and abilities.

Example: “I am a highly motivated individual who always strives to do my best work. I have excellent communication skills and enjoy working with others. My ability to collaborate and communicate effectively will help me support my team members and provide quality care to patients.”

9. Please describe an experience when you were required to provide nursing care to culturally diverse groups.

When working in a hospital that serves diverse populations, it’s important to be able to provide culturally competent care. This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer how you can adapt to different cultures and communicate effectively with patients who speak other languages.

Example: “In my previous role as a pediatric nurse, I worked with many families from various cultural backgrounds. One of my favorite experiences was when I cared for a family whose mother spoke Spanish and her baby only spoke Portuguese. I learned some basic Portuguese phrases so I could communicate with the child and help them feel more comfortable during their stay.”

10. What are some methods you use to remain calm while under stress?

When working in a hospital, you may experience stress from time to time. Employers ask this question to make sure you have strategies for handling stressful situations and remain calm while on the job. In your answer, share two or three ways that help you stay calm when under pressure.

Example: “I find deep breathing exercises to be very helpful when I’m feeling stressed. When I feel overwhelmed at work, I take a few minutes to close my eyes and focus on my breath. This helps me relax and refocus so I can complete my tasks with ease. Another method I use is positive self-talk. If I start to get anxious about something, I remind myself that everything will be okay. Reminding myself of these things has helped me reduce stress levels during my previous jobs.”

11. We pride ourselves on teamwork here at Rush. Can you tell me about a time where you worked as part of a team?

Teamwork is an important skill to have in the healthcare industry. Rush University Medical Center wants to know that you can work well with others and are willing to do so. When answering this question, think of a time when you worked as part of a team to complete a task or goal.

Example: “In my previous role, I was working on a project with two other colleagues. We were all responsible for different aspects of the project but had to communicate often to ensure we were all meeting our deadlines. I found it helpful to hold weekly meetings where we discussed what we accomplished over the past week and what we planned to accomplish during the next week.”

12. What kind of activities or responsibilities can you not perform well under pressure?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle stress and pressure. It can also show them what your limitations are as a healthcare professional. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the most stressful situations you’ve encountered in previous jobs or personal life.

Example: “I find that I have trouble focusing when there is too much noise around me. This has happened before at work when I was caring for patients who were very loud or crying. In those situations, I would try to calm the patient down so they could relax and focus on their treatment. If I couldn’t do that, I would ask another colleague to step in and take over.”

13. What area of nursing do you specialize in?

Rush University Medical Center is a large facility that offers many different services. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience and qualifications for the position. Before your interview, make sure you read through the job description thoroughly so you can refer to specific duties of the role. In your answer, try to highlight any skills or experiences that match what the employer is looking for.

Example: “I specialize in pediatric nursing, which is why I am excited to apply for this position at Rush University Medical Center. As a nurse with five years of experience, I have worked with children of all ages and medical conditions. I believe my skills as a communicator and problem solver would be beneficial to the pediatric unit.”

14. When was the last time you disagreed with your manager’s decision? How did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and your ability to work with others. It’s important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a positive answer, so it’s best to focus on an example of when you were able to successfully communicate with your manager or supervisor about a disagreement.

Example: “When I first started working as a nurse, my manager asked me to take care of two patients at once. While I was confident in my abilities, I disagreed because I didn’t feel comfortable taking care of both patients without any assistance. Instead of ignoring the request, I spoke up and explained why I felt uncomfortable. My manager understood and reassigned one patient to another nurse.”

15. What do you like most about being a nurse?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer your passion for nursing. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific experience you’ve had as a nurse that made you enjoy your career even more.

Example: “I love being able to help patients feel better and get back to their daily lives. I especially enjoy working with children because they are so resilient and have such great attitudes despite what they’re going through. One of my favorite experiences was when I worked in the pediatric unit at my last hospital. We had a patient who was recovering from surgery but wasn’t feeling well. He told me he wanted to go home because he missed his dog. So we called his parents and arranged for them to bring the dog to the hospital so he could see him.”

16. Do you have experience with handling administrative tasks?

Administrative tasks are an important part of working in a hospital setting. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with administrative duties and how you approach them. Use examples from your previous work experience to show that you can handle these responsibilities effectively.

Example: “In my current role, I am responsible for managing the scheduling of doctors and nurses, as well as handling patient billing and accounts receivable. These tasks require me to use several different software programs, including Microsoft Office and Salesforce.com. I have also worked with other team members to create new processes for our department when we needed to find ways to improve efficiency.”

17. Give us an example of a time you had to handle a lot of information coming at you from different sources.

This question can help an interviewer understand how you manage a high volume of information and prioritize tasks. Use examples from your previous experience to show the interviewer that you have the ability to multitask and stay organized.

Example: “In my last role, I had to handle multiple projects at once while also managing several deadlines. One day, I was working on a project when my manager asked me to complete another task by the end of the day. I immediately checked my calendar for any other upcoming deadlines so I could make sure I would be able to complete both tasks in time. After checking my schedule, I realized I would need to work late that night to finish both projects.”

18. What is your experience with research projects?

Rush University Medical Center is a research-intensive medical center, and they want to know that you have experience with conducting research. When answering this question, explain your role in the project and what you learned from it.

Example: “In my last position as a pediatrician, I was part of a team that conducted a study on childhood obesity. We wanted to find out how many children were overweight or obese and if there were any factors that contributed to their weight. For this project, we had to collect data from our patients’ charts and then analyze the information. After analyzing the data, we found that most of the children who were overweight or obese also had parents who were overweight or obese.”

19. Is there anything else we should know about you?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you are a well-rounded individual. You can use this time to discuss any volunteer work, community involvement or other experiences that showcase your skills and abilities as a healthcare professional.

Example: “I am an avid runner and have participated in several 5K races for charity. I also enjoy cooking and recently started a food blog where I share my recipes with others who love to cook. My blog has gained quite a following, and I’ve been approached by a publisher about writing a cookbook.”

20. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. It can also help you determine if the position aligns with your career goals. When answering this question, think about what you want to accomplish professionally in the next five years. Consider how Rush University Medical Center could help you achieve those goals.

Example: “I see myself as an emergency room physician at Rush University Medical Center in five years. I hope to have completed my residency by then and am excited to continue working here. I would like to specialize in pediatric care, so I plan on completing a fellowship program after my residency.”