20 University of Kansas Medical Center Interview Questions and Answers

The University of Kansas Medical Center is known for its dedication to educating exceptional health care professionals. If you’re hoping to land a job at this renowned institution, 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 University of Kansas Medical Center interview questions, along with advice on how to answer them. With our help, you’ll be ready to ace your interview and land the job you’ve always wanted.

University of Kansas Medical Center Interview Process

The interview process at University of Kansas Medical Center can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone interview and one in-person interview. The interviews are generally conducted by a panel of interviewers, and may include a skills test. The overall process can take up to two months.

1. Why are you interested in working at the University of Kansas Medical Center?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and the University of Kansas Medical Center. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of the job or organization that you are excited about.

Example: “I am interested in working at the University of Kansas Medical Center because I have always admired the quality of care they provide. The hospital has a reputation for being one of the best hospitals in the state, and I would love to be part of such a successful team. In my last role as a nurse, I was able to see how much patients appreciate the staff here, and I want to be a part of that experience.”

2. What would you do if a patient was refusing to take their medication?

This question can help interviewers assess your ability to handle challenging situations. In your answer, try to demonstrate that you would use your problem-solving skills and empathy to find a solution that works for the patient.

Example: “If I encountered this situation, I would first ask why they are refusing their medication. If it’s because of side effects, I would explain how taking the medication regularly can reduce these symptoms. If they’re not willing to take the medication at all, I would refer them to another doctor who could discuss other treatment options with them.”

3. Describe your experience conducting clinical research studies.

The University of Kansas Medical Center requires students to complete a clinical research project as part of their degree program. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience with this type of work and how it may benefit your ability to succeed in this role.

Example: “I’ve participated in several clinical studies during my undergraduate education, including one that examined the effects of stress on sleep quality. I found this experience to be very beneficial because it helped me develop valuable skills like time management and communication. It also gave me an opportunity to learn from professionals who are experts in their field.”

4. Give me an example of a time when you had to make an important decision regarding a clinical study and how did you approach it.

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your decision-making skills and how they can apply them in the workplace. When answering, try to provide an example that highlights your critical thinking skills and ability to make decisions under pressure.

Example: “In my last position as a research assistant, I was tasked with organizing a clinical study for a new medication. The study required me to organize all of the information into a database so researchers could analyze it later. However, when entering data, I noticed some inconsistencies between the patient’s medical history and their current condition. After discussing it with my supervisor, we decided to exclude those patients from the study.”

5. How do you think healthcare will change over the next five years?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your knowledge of the healthcare industry and how it’s changing. This is an opportunity for you to show that you’re aware of current trends in medicine and can adapt to new technologies or procedures.

Example: “I think we’ll see more remote patient monitoring, which will allow patients to receive care from their homes rather than having to visit a hospital. I also expect there to be more telemedicine options available, such as video conferencing with doctors so people don’t have to travel long distances to get medical attention.”

6. Do you have any experience working with patients who require special assistance or care?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with patients who have unique needs. This can help them understand how you might fit in at the university and medical center, as it shows that you are comfortable caring for a diverse group of people. In your answer, try to explain what kind of special assistance or care you provided to these patients.

Example: “I worked as an emergency room nurse for five years before moving to my current position. During that time, I cared for many patients who required special assistance or care. One patient I remember was a young boy who had broken his arm while playing outside. He was very scared when he came into the ER, but I talked to him and helped calm him down. I also made sure to keep his parents informed throughout the entire process.”

7. Have you ever worked on a team that struggled to meet deadlines, what did you do about it?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation and how you helped the team overcome challenges or meet deadlines.

Example: “In my last position as an ER nurse, we had a few instances where our department was short-staffed. This caused us to have to work longer hours than usual, which made meeting patient care standards difficult. I worked with my colleagues to develop a plan that allowed us to still provide excellent care while also ensuring we met all of our other responsibilities.”

8. Tell me about a conflict you experienced during a group project. How did you handle it?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you resolve conflicts. When answering, try to focus on the steps you took to solve the conflict and highlight your communication and problem-solving skills.

Example: “In my last internship, I was part of a team that had to create an educational presentation for our patients. We were all working on different parts of the presentation when one of my teammates forgot to include some important information in their slides. I spoke with them privately and explained why it was important to include the missing information. They understood and quickly added the information to their slides.”

9. Provide an example of a time when you were able to learn from another person’s mistake.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your ability to take feedback and apply it to future situations. In your answer, try to explain how you used the information you learned from the mistake to improve your own work or performance.

Example: “In my first year of nursing school, I was working on a group project with two other students. One day, one of them didn’t show up for class, so we had to do our presentation without her. At the end of the semester, she failed the course because she hadn’t turned in any of her assignments. She told me later that she forgot to save her work often enough, which led to losing all of her progress when her computer crashed. After that experience, I started saving my work every few minutes.”

10. Tell us about a difficult situation you faced at work. How did you overcome it?

This question can help interviewers learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you react to challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation where you overcame adversity or faced a challenge and used your skills to overcome the issue.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, we had a patient who came in with severe abdominal pain. After examining him, we determined that he needed surgery immediately. Unfortunately, our hospital didn’t have any available surgeons at the time. We called other hospitals within a 50-mile radius, but none of them could accommodate us either. In the end, we were able to find a surgeon who agreed to come in on his day off to perform the operation.”

11. The hours can be long, are you prepared for something like that?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are prepared for the long hours that can come with working in a hospital. This is an important question because it shows how committed you are to your career and how well you will fit into their team. When answering, make sure to emphasize your dedication to your work and how you plan on handling the long hours.

Example: “I am prepared for the long hours of being a nurse. I know that sometimes there are emergencies that require extra attention. However, I also understand that my job is to provide excellent care to patients at all times. I have always been dedicated to my work and would never leave a patient’s side unless absolutely necessary.”

12. Has there been a time where you disagreed with a physician? How did you handle it?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle conflict and whether or not you’re able to work well with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you disagreed with a physician but were able to resolve the issue in a positive way.

Example: “I once had a disagreement with my primary care physician about what I should do for a cold. He told me to take some over-the-counter medicine, while I thought that I needed something stronger. After speaking with him further, he agreed that I could take a prescription medication instead of the over-the-counter one. It was important to me to speak up so that I could get the best treatment possible.”

13. We place a large emphasis on teamwork here. Tell me about a time when you worked well as part of a team.

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you are a team player. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about a time when you helped achieve a goal as part of a group.

Example: “In my last position, I worked with a large team of nurses and doctors. We all had different roles but we also collaborated on patient care. For example, if one nurse was busy with another patient, I would help out by taking over their duties so they could assist the doctor. This teamwork allowed us to provide excellent care for our patients.”

14. It is really important that our nurses have good communication skills. Can you tell me about a time when you met a challenge through effective communication?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the ability to communicate effectively with patients and other medical professionals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you used communication skills to help resolve a situation or challenge.

Example: “In my last position as a nurse, I had a patient who was experiencing some anxiety about their upcoming surgery. The patient asked me if they could speak with the surgeon before their procedure. I spoke with the surgeon and explained the patient’s concerns. The surgeon agreed to meet with the patient and explain what to expect during their surgery.”

15. Describe a stressful situation you’ve encountered at work and how you handled it.

Interviewers ask this question to learn more about your ability to handle stressful situations. They want to know that you can stay calm and focused when things get hectic at work. In your answer, describe a specific situation where you had to manage stress and how you did it.

Example: “I once worked in an emergency room with several other doctors. One night, we all got very busy at the same time. I was treating one patient while another doctor was performing surgery on a third patient. We were all trying to communicate with each other through walkie-talkies. It was quite chaotic, but I stayed calm by focusing on my current task and communicating clearly.”

16. What is your opinion on HIPAA laws?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of an individual’s medical records. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are familiar with HIPAA laws and how they apply to your work as a nurse. In your answer, try to show that you understand what HIPAA laws are and why they’re important.

Example: “I am very aware of HIPAA laws because I have had to follow them in my previous positions. As a nurse, it’s important for me to protect the privacy of my patients’ information. If someone asks me about their loved one’s condition or treatment plan, I always refer them to the patient’s doctor.”

17. Are you comfortable working with children?

The University of Kansas Medical Center is a teaching hospital, and they want to ensure that their employees are comfortable working with children. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any experience you have working with children or how you would approach the situation if you haven’t worked with them before.

Example: “I love working with children because I find them to be so curious about the world around them. In my previous position as a pediatric nurse, I was responsible for administering vaccinations to children. I always made sure to explain what I was doing and why to the child and their parents beforehand. I also tried to make the process fun by bringing toys and games into the exam room.”

18. Have you ever implemented any new processes or protocols into your previous workplace?

Interviewers may ask this question to gauge your ability to implement change and improve processes. In your answer, try to describe a time when you implemented new policies or procedures that positively affected the workplace.

Example: “In my previous role as an ER nurse, I noticed we were spending too much time documenting patient information in our electronic medical records. This was causing us to spend less time with patients and slowing down our workflow. So, I met with other nurses and doctors to discuss how we could reduce documentation time without compromising patient care. We decided to use voice recognition software for some of our documentation so we could focus more on patient care.”

19. Nursing requires precise attention to detail, how often do you double check your work?

Interviewers ask this question to determine how well you can follow directions and procedures. They want to know that you are a self-motivated individual who is able to work independently, but also as part of a team.

Example: “I am very detail oriented when it comes to my work, so I always double check my work before submitting it for approval. In fact, I have been known to triple check my work if I feel like something may be missing or incorrect. This has helped me avoid mistakes in the past, which has led to praise from my supervisors.”

20. Nurses need to be problem solvers. Can you give an example of a time when you found a creative solution to a problem?

Nurses are often the first to notice when something is wrong with a patient. They need to be able to communicate their concerns and find solutions quickly. This question helps interviewers understand how you approach challenges in your work.

Example: “In my last position, I noticed that one of our patients was having trouble eating because they were missing some teeth. The patient didn’t want to wear an uncomfortable denture, so we discussed other options. I suggested that we could make a partial plate for them out of plastic. It would allow them to eat comfortably while also protecting their remaining teeth. The patient agreed, and it solved the problem.”