20 UnityPoint Health Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And if you’re hoping to land a job at UnityPoint Health, you’ll want to know what kinds of questions to expect.

In this article, we’ll give you an inside look at some of the most common UnityPoint Health interview questions. We’ll also provide sample answers to help you prepare for your own interview.

So whether you’re a nurse, a doctor, or a member of the administrative staff, read on to learn more about what you can expect during your UnityPoint Health interview.

UnityPoint Health Interview Process

The interview process at UnityPoint Health is generally pretty straightforward. You can expect to have a phone conversation with HR and then an in-person interview with potential co-workers. The company does ask for references and will conduct a background check. For some positions, you may also be asked to complete simulation stations. Overall, the process is not too difficult but it can take a few weeks to complete.

1. What do you think is the biggest challenge in healthcare?

This question is an opportunity to show your passion for the healthcare industry and how you can help solve problems. When answering this question, consider what challenges UnityPoint Health has faced in the past and discuss how you would approach them differently.

Example: “The biggest challenge I see in healthcare is that it’s not always easy to get patients to follow their treatment plans. If a patient doesn’t take their medication as prescribed or attend all of their appointments, it can be difficult to know if they’re following their plan properly. In my last role, we implemented a system where patients could check in on their own health using an app. This helped us understand when patients were having issues with their care so we could address them before they became serious.”

2. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult patient, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and challenging situations. Use examples from your experience to show that you have the ability to remain calm under pressure, communicate effectively with others and solve problems.

Example: “In my previous role as a nurse, I had a patient who was very upset about his diagnosis of cancer. He became quite aggressive toward me when I tried to explain his treatment options. Instead of getting defensive, I remained calm and listened to what he had to say. Then, I explained our hospital’s treatment plan in more detail and answered all of his questions. By taking the time to listen to him, I helped him feel more comfortable and confident in our care.”

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. When answering this question, think about what you’re most proud of as well as areas where you could improve.

Example: “I’m very organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay on top of my work. I also have excellent communication skills, so I can explain complex ideas to others easily. However, sometimes I get so focused on the task at hand that I forget to take breaks. I’ve learned to set reminders for myself throughout the day to ensure I’m taking care of myself.”

4. Describe a time where you had to make a decision that was not popular, what did you decide and why?

This question is designed to test your leadership skills and ability to make tough decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of a time you made a decision that was unpopular but ultimately helped the company or organization achieve its goals.

Example: “When I worked as an assistant manager at my local grocery store, we were having issues with our inventory system. The software we used wasn’t working properly, which caused us to lose track of some items in stock. This resulted in several customers leaving without their groceries because they couldn’t find what they wanted on the shelves.

I decided to temporarily close the store for two hours so we could fix the issue with the inventory system. While this was not popular among the employees, it allowed us to get back on track and ensure all customers had a positive shopping experience.”

5. Do you have any medical certifications?

If you have certifications in a specific field, it’s important to mention them during your interview. This shows that you are qualified for the position and can perform the job duties with ease. If you don’t have any medical certifications, you should explain why not and what experience you do have.

Example: “I am certified as an emergency medical technician through the American Red Cross. I also hold a CPR certification from the American Heart Association.”

6. How would you describe your leadership style?

UnityPoint Health is looking for a leader who can inspire and motivate their team to achieve goals. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you are confident in your leadership abilities and have the skills necessary to lead others.

Example: “I believe my leadership style is collaborative. I like to involve everyone on my team when making decisions or setting goals. This helps me ensure that everyone has an equal voice and understands what we’re working toward. Collaboration also allows us to learn from each other and develop new ideas as a group. I find that by encouraging collaboration, I am able to create a more productive and creative work environment.”

7. What made you want to become a nurse?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are passionate about your career. It also helps them see if you have a genuine interest in helping others, which is an important quality for nurses. When answering this question, try to think of what inspired you to become a nurse. If you were inspired by someone else’s story or experience, be sure to mention that person by name.

Example: “Ever since I was young, I wanted to be a nurse because I saw how much my grandmother loved her job as a pediatrician. She would always tell me stories about all the kids she got to meet and how happy it made her to make their lives better. I knew from then on that I wanted to do something similar.”

8. Tell us about a time when you observed a fellow team member doing something unsafe, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and your ability to speak up. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but try to focus on what you did right rather than what the other person did wrong.

Example: “I once observed a nurse who was working with a patient that had a history of falling asleep while sitting upright. The nurse was trying to get the patient out of bed without using her walker, which I knew she wasn’t supposed to do. I immediately went over to assist her by holding the walker for her so she could safely transfer the patient back into bed.”

9. What kind of experience do you have working with patients directly?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with patients and their families. If you do, they may ask you more questions about your experiences to see how well you performed in those situations.

Example: “I worked as a nurse for five years before moving into my current role as an IT specialist. During that time, I had many opportunities to work directly with patients and their families. One of my favorite parts of being a nurse was getting to know each patient and their family members. It made it easier to provide care when I knew what kind of person they were.”

10. In your opinion, what does it mean to provide excellent customer service?

Customer service is an important part of the healthcare industry, and employers may ask this question to see if you have experience providing excellent customer service. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give examples of how you provide excellent customer service in your current or past role.

Example: “I believe that providing excellent customer service means being attentive to a patient’s needs and making sure they feel comfortable with their care. I always make sure to greet patients by name when they arrive at my desk and answer any questions they might have about their appointment or treatment plan. If someone has a concern, I try to address it as quickly as possible so they don’t have to wait long for answers.”

11. Why do you want to work for UnityPoint Health?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of interest in working for their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of UnityPoint Health that you admire or find interesting.

Example: “I want to work for UnityPoint Health because I am impressed by how much care and attention they put into each patient’s experience. I have heard many stories about how UnityPoint Health has helped patients overcome serious illnesses and injuries, which is something I would love to be a part of.”

12. Are you comfortable answering phone calls?

UnityPoint Health is a large healthcare system that provides care to patients in many locations. The interviewer wants to know if you are comfortable with the idea of making phone calls to schedule appointments and answer questions about their services.

Example: “I am very comfortable answering phones, as I have done so for my current employer for the past two years. In this role, I answered phones during peak hours and helped customers navigate our website when they needed help finding information. I also made sure to transfer all incoming calls to the appropriate department or person.”

13. Provide an example of a time when you worked with a diverse group of people.

UnityPoint Health is a large health system that serves patients from many different backgrounds. The interviewer wants to know how you can work with people who have different opinions and ideas than you do. Use your answer to show the interviewer that you are willing to collaborate with others and learn from them.

Example: “In my last role, I worked in a team of five developers. We all had different skill sets and experiences, but we were able to work together to create new software for our company. One time, one of my teammates suggested an idea for a new feature on the software. I thought it was a good idea, so I asked another teammate if they could help me develop it. They agreed, and we created a great new feature for our software.”

14. If you were short staffed and had noticed several mistakes being made by your coworkers, what would you do?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work as part of a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you would first try to understand the situation before taking any action.

Example: “If I were working in a healthcare setting where there was a shortage of staff, I would first make sure that everyone knew about the staffing issue so they could plan accordingly. If I noticed mistakes being made by my coworkers, I would ask them if they needed help with anything or if they wanted me to take over their tasks for a while. I would also offer to stay late if necessary.”

15. Have you ever been asked to perform tasks outside of your scope of practice?

This question can help interviewers understand how you respond to challenges and adapt to new situations. Describe a time when you had to take on additional responsibilities or learn new skills in order to complete your job successfully.

Example: “When I first started working as an ER nurse, I was assigned to work with a veteran nurse who specialized in pediatric care. During my first shift, the pediatric nurse left for lunch without telling anyone. The patients we were caring for at the time required urgent attention, so I asked the other nurses if they knew where our pediatric specialist was. One of them told me she was in the cafeteria eating her lunch. I informed the charge nurse that I would be taking over the pediatric patient’s care until our specialist returned from lunch.”

16. Explain a time when you went above and beyond for a coworker or a patient.

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your teamwork and collaboration skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight how you helped someone else succeed or overcome a challenge.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant in my previous role, one of my coworkers had a family emergency that required her to take some time off work. She asked me if I could cover for her while she was out, which would have been fine, but she also wanted me to shadow her when she returned so she could train me on any new processes she implemented during her absence. I agreed to both requests and learned a lot from watching her work.”

17. If hired, what steps would you take to ensure that we maintain our high standards of confidentiality?

UnityPoint Health is a healthcare organization that provides care to patients and families. As such, it’s important for the company to maintain high standards of confidentiality. When an interviewer asks this question, they want to ensure you understand the importance of maintaining patient privacy and trust. In your answer, explain how you would protect confidential information from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Example: “I am committed to upholding UnityPoint Health’s standards of confidentiality. I will always use strong passwords on my devices and keep them in secure locations when not in use. I will also avoid sharing sensitive information over public Wi-Fi networks. If I ever have questions about whether something can be shared with others, I will check with my supervisor before proceeding.”

18. What is your philosophy on teamwork?

UnityPoint Health is a team-oriented organization. Teamwork and collaboration are important to the success of the organization, so interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills. When you answer this question, try to emphasize how much you value teamwork and collaboration in your work environment.

Example: “I believe that teamwork is one of the most effective ways to achieve goals. I am always looking for opportunities to collaborate with my colleagues on projects or ideas. In fact, I find it helpful to get input from others when I’m working on something new or challenging. This helps me think through problems more thoroughly and come up with better solutions.”

19. What are some qualities that you think are important to be successful as a nurse?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a passion for nursing and can apply your skills to help others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention qualities that are important in any healthcare professional, such as compassion, empathy and communication skills.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for a nurse is compassion. I believe that nurses should care about their patients and want to see them get better. Another quality that I think is essential is empathy. Empathy allows me to understand what my patients are going through and how they feel. It also helps me communicate with them effectively so that they know I am there to support them.”

20. Which shift are you available for?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your availability and schedule. If you are currently working, be sure to mention that you can work any shift. If you are not currently employed, it’s important to mention which shifts you would prefer to work.

Example: “I am available to work any of the three shifts. I have worked both day and night shifts in my previous position, so I feel comfortable with either one. However, I do prefer the evening shift because I find it easier to get up early than stay up late.”