20 WVU Medicine Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an interview, you want to be prepared to answer any question the interviewer might throw at you. However, you also want to be prepared to answer questions specific to the company you’re interviewing with.

West Virginia University Health System is a non-profit organization that offers a full range of healthcare services. As such, they might ask you questions about your experience with healthcare, your thoughts on the non-profit model, or your opinion on the current state of the healthcare industry.

To help you prepare for your interview with WVU Medicine, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions you might be asked, along with advice on how to answer them.

WVU Medicine Interview Process

The interview process at WVU Medicine can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two interviews, one with HR and one with the department manager. For some positions, you may also be required to do a peer interview and/or a shadowing experience. The interview process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

1. Why do you want to work at WVU Medicine?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific aspect of WVU Medicine that you are excited about or what drew you to apply in the first place.

Example: “I am passionate about working with patients who have complex medical needs. I believe that WVU Medicine offers some of the best care in the country for these types of patients. In my research, I also found that WVU Medicine has a strong commitment to providing excellent patient care while also conducting important research. I would love to work at an institution like this where I can make a difference in people’s lives.”

2. How would your past experiences contribute to the role of a registered nurse?

This question is an opportunity to showcase your skills and abilities as a nurse. It’s important to show how you can apply your past experiences to the role of registered nurse at WVU Medicine.

Example: “Throughout my career, I’ve learned that it takes more than just technical skills to be successful in this field. In my last position, I worked with a patient who was experiencing severe anxiety due to their illness. I used my communication skills to help them feel comfortable and calm during our sessions together. This experience has taught me that empathy and compassion are essential for providing quality care.”

3. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be prepared with an answer. When answering this question, you should focus on your strengths while also being honest about any weaknesses that you have.

Example: “I am extremely organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay on top of my work. I’m also very empathetic when working with patients, which makes them feel more comfortable during their appointments or procedures. My only weakness would be that sometimes I can get overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do. However, I’ve learned how to manage my time better so that I can complete all of my tasks.”

4. Tell me about a situation where you had to deal with an angry or frustrated patient. How did you handle it?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle conflict and stressful situations. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.

Example: “I once had a patient who was upset because they were waiting for their appointment. I explained that we have a strict policy of not allowing patients to be late or leave early from appointments. This helped the patient feel more at ease, but it also allowed me to explain our policies in greater detail. The patient understood why we needed them to wait and appreciated the transparency.”

5. How do you prioritize your tasks?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you approach your work and determine which tasks are most important to complete. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific strategy or process that you use to prioritize your tasks.

Example: “I find that the best way to prioritize my tasks is by using a project management system like Basecamp. This allows me to create separate projects for each task I need to complete and assign due dates to each one. Then, I can move tasks into different categories based on their priority level. For example, I might move high-priority tasks to a ‘to do’ list and low-priority tasks to a ‘later’ list.”

6. Describe a time when you were working as part of a team and there was conflict, how did you approach the problem?

Working as part of a team is an important skill to have in healthcare. Employers want to know that you can work well with others and resolve conflict when it arises.

Example: “I once worked on a medical research project where I was the lead researcher, but my supervisor also had input into our findings. We disagreed about how we should present some of our data, which led to tension between us. I met with my supervisor one-on-one to discuss the issue and find a solution. We came up with a compromise that allowed both of us to be happy with the final product.”

7. Do you have any experience using Epic EMR software?

This question is a great way to determine if you have the necessary skills and experience for this role. If you do, share your previous experience with it. If not, explain that you are willing to learn how to use it.

Example: “I’ve used Epic EMR software before in my current position as an ER nurse. I find it easy to navigate through and understand its features. It’s also very helpful when working with patients who have complex medical conditions because of all the information it can store.”

8. Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a patient.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and passion for the medical field. When answering this question, it can be helpful to share an experience that helped you develop as a healthcare professional.

Example: “When I was working in my previous hospital, there was a patient who had been admitted with a broken leg. The patient’s family members were unable to visit him because they lived out of state. I noticed he seemed lonely, so I asked if he would like me to read him a book or sing him a song. He said yes, so I brought him some books and sang him songs every day until his family arrived.”

9. Are you comfortable handling confidential information?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to handle confidential information and maintain patient privacy. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you handled sensitive information with care or how you would approach handling confidential information in the future.

Example: “I am very comfortable handling confidential information because I have worked in healthcare for several years now. In my last position, I was responsible for maintaining patients’ medical records, which included their personal information. I always made sure that I kept these documents locked away in a secure location so they were not accessible by anyone who did not need access.”

10. What is your patient care philosophy?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer your commitment to providing quality care. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include a specific example of how you put your philosophy into practice.

Example: “My patient care philosophy is that every person deserves compassionate and respectful treatment from their healthcare provider. I believe that by treating patients with kindness and respect, we can help them feel more comfortable in our facilities and build trust with us as their providers. In my previous role, I had a patient who was very nervous about her upcoming surgery. She told me she felt better after talking to me because I made her laugh and seemed genuinely interested in her well-being.”

11. I notice that you haven’t worked in this field in a while, what made you choose to pursue it now?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and why you’re interested in working at their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain what led you to pursue healthcare now as opposed to when you first started out.

Example: “I actually studied nursing in college but never pursued the career because I wanted to focus on my family. However, after raising my children, I decided that I would like to work in healthcare again. I am excited to have the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to help others.”

12. Do you feel like you can communicate effectively with patients from all backgrounds?

WVU Medicine is a diverse organization that serves patients from all backgrounds. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working with people of different cultures, races and ages. Show them that you can communicate effectively with others by giving an example of how you helped someone overcome a language barrier or assisted a patient who was unable to read the instructions on their medication bottle.

Example: “I feel like I can communicate effectively with patients from all backgrounds because I am always willing to learn new languages and use alternative methods of communication such as sign language or picture cards. For instance, when I worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in New York City, I had a patient who spoke only Mandarin Chinese. I asked my colleague for help translating so I could understand what the patient needed.”

13. In what ways will your past work experiences help you be successful in this role?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have relevant skills and experience for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to list your most recent job title and a few of your responsibilities.

Example: “In my current role as a nurse practitioner at St. Mary’s Hospital, I am responsible for diagnosing patients and prescribing treatment plans. In addition to treating patients, I also supervise nurses and medical assistants on their rounds. This has given me valuable leadership experience that will help me succeed in this role.”

14. Have you ever been involved in any research projects?

This question is a great way to show your interest in the medical field and how you can contribute to the organization. If you have experience with research, share what projects you worked on and what skills you gained from them.

Example: “I was fortunate enough to be involved in two different research projects while I was studying for my bachelor’s degree. The first project was an analysis of the effects of certain medications on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. My team and I conducted interviews with patients who were taking these medications and their caregivers to find out more about their experiences. We also analyzed data from other studies to see if there were any patterns or trends that could help us understand the effects of these drugs better.

The second project I participated in was a study of the effectiveness of new treatments for depression. This was a much larger project than the one I did during my undergraduate years. I was part of a team that interviewed hundreds of people who had been diagnosed with depression to learn more about their symptoms and how they felt after using the treatment we studied.”

15. What does quality patient care mean to you?

This question is an opportunity to show your understanding of the importance of quality patient care and how you can contribute to it. When answering, consider what qualities make for a positive healthcare experience and describe how you would apply those traits in your role as a nurse.

Example: “I believe that quality patient care means providing patients with compassionate care from start to finish. It’s important to me that I am able to listen to my patients’ concerns and provide them with information they need to feel comfortable. In addition, I want to ensure that their medical needs are met and that they leave feeling better than when they arrived.”

16. Provide an example of a time when you had to make an important decision without consulting your manager.

This question can help interviewers understand how you make decisions and whether or not you have the ability to think critically. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you made a decision that was beneficial for your organization.

Example: “When I worked as a nurse practitioner at my previous job, I had to decide which patients needed immediate care and which ones could wait until later in the day. This is because we only have so many resources available to us, and I wanted to ensure that all patients received the best care possible. In this situation, I decided to prioritize patients who were experiencing severe symptoms over those with milder symptoms.”

17. What made you interested in working here?

This question is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the position and organization. When preparing for this interview, make sure you read through the job description so that you can reference specific skills or qualifications they are looking for in their ideal candidate.

Example: “I am interested in working here because I have always been passionate about helping others. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was younger, and my family had to travel to get her treatment. She would tell me how wonderful the nurses were at WVU Medicine, and I knew then that I wanted to work in healthcare. I feel like I could really make a difference in someone’s life by being a part of this team.”

18. When would you use one type of communication over another, such as email vs phone call?

This question can help the interviewer understand your communication style and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer should show that you are aware of different methods of communication and when they’re most effective.

Example: “I would use email over phone calls for routine matters, such as scheduling appointments or asking questions about policies. However, I would prefer to make a phone call if it’s urgent or there is something else important to discuss. For example, if I had an emergency situation with a patient, I would want to speak directly to my supervisor so we could come up with a plan together.”

19. What administrative programs are you familiar with?

This question is a great way to see if you have the necessary skills and experience for this role. If you are not familiar with any of these programs, it’s important to let the interviewer know that you’re willing to learn them.

Example: “I am very familiar with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I also use Google Drive on a daily basis, which allows me to collaborate with my team members and share documents. I’ve used Dropbox in the past as well.”

20. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone working in healthcare administration?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a professional and assess your qualifications for the role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention qualities that align with those listed in the job description.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for someone working in healthcare administration is empathy. I believe that having an empathetic nature helps us understand our patients’ needs and concerns and provides them with better care. Another quality I think is essential is communication skills. In my experience, effective communication has helped me resolve issues quickly and efficiently.”