Landing a job at UnityPoint Health one of the most reputable healthcare systems in the Midwest is a goal for many talented medical professionals. With over 30,000 team members across 9 states, UnityPoint Health has become nationally recognized for its commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.
However, with its growth and success comes a highly competitive interview process aimed at identifying the most qualified candidates to join its mission-driven team.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore some of the most commonly asked UnityPoint Health interview questions along with tips to help you demonstrate your skills and experience so you can land the job
Overview of the UnityPoint Health Interview Process
The interview process at UnityPoint Health typically consists of the following stages:
- Initial online application and screening
- Phone interview with a recruiter
- In-person or video interview with the hiring manager
- Panel interview with potential colleagues
- Job shadowing or skills assessment
UnityPoint Health interviews tend to be fairly straightforward with a focus on cultural fit and alignment with the organization’s FOCUS values which stand for Fostering unity, Showing ownership, Championing excellence, Unleashing potential, and Seizing opportunities.
You can expect a blend of behavioral, situational, and technical questions aimed at evaluating your technical abilities, critical thinking, collaboration skills, communication style, and commitment to exceptional patient care.
Thoroughly preparing responses and examples for the common questions below can help you present yourself as the ideal candidate for the role.
Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Here are some of the most frequently asked interview questions at UnityPoint Health to help you craft strong responses:
1. How do you provide patient-centered care?
At UnityPoint Health, patient-centered care is a top priority and a key part of the organization’s culture. This open-ended question allows you to demonstrate your patient advocacy skills.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Share an example of when you focused care around a patient’s specific needs and preferences.
- Highlight communication techniques like active listening that make patients feel heard and understood.
- Discuss how you involve patients and families in care decisions.
- Convey your passion for understanding the patient’s full context and delivering compassionate care.
Example: “Patient-centered care has always been fundamental to my nursing practice. One example that stands out was a teenager with juvenile arthritis. Through empathetic listening, I understood how her social life and self-image were affected. I involved her in setting goals like attending homecoming, then tailored the care plan to meet those goals with physical therapy, social work counselling, and medication to reduce joint inflammation. This collaborative, patient-focused approach improved her quality of life dramatically.”
2. How do you handle a difficult patient?
Healthcare workers inevitably encounter challenging patient personalities and situations. This question tests your patience, composure, and conflict resolution abilities.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Share an example of turning a difficult patient interaction around.
- Discuss using empathy statements and active listening to identify underlying issues.
- Explain how you maintain professionalism and enforce boundaries if needed.
- Emphasize patience and teamwork to find solutions.
Example: “When handling a difficult patient, I start by listening closely to understand their perspective and empathize with their situation. I express that while I appreciate their frustration, my role is to provide the best possible care. If emotions escalate, I politely state that we can continue the conversation when things have settled. My calm demeanor and focus on their health goals usually re-engages the patient. In extreme cases, I involve my team or a social worker to find alternatives that keep things positive.”
3. How do you stay updated on the latest medical research and best practices?
Lifelong learning is crucial in healthcare. This question reveals your commitment to continuously improve through seeking knowledge.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Discuss reading medical/nursing publications and journals.
- Describe attending conferences or in-services that cover latest research and skills.
- Share examples of implementing new best practices.
- Convey enthusiasm for learning and growth.
Example: “I make learning the latest medical research and best practices an ongoing priority. I subscribe to several key publications like JAMA Network and the American Journal of Nursing to stay on top of new studies and guidelines. I also take every opportunity to attend nursing conferences regionally and virtually when possible. For example, after a recent seminar on infection control, I led an initiative updating our department protocols which led to a measurable decrease in readmissions. I genuinely enjoy expanding my knowledge and translating it into better patient outcomes.”
4. How do you use electronic medical records (EMR) software?
EMR skills are vital in modern healthcare settings. This question tests your ability to use EMR systems to coordinate patient care.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Share your experience with specific EMR platforms like Epic or Cerner.
- Discuss how you enter/access patient data, medication orders, lab results, etc.
- Give an example of using EMR data to improve care or catch errors.
- Highlight any training/certifications that expanded your EMR skills.
Example: “I have 3 years experience efficiently documenting patient care in Epic EMR. This includes charting history and exam details, submitting orders for medications, tests and procedures, and reviewing results. Epic has helped me improve care coordination – for one cardiac patient, I noticed a missed echocardiogram order that could have prevented readmission. I’ve also completed Epic certification modules to expand my skills in areas like billing and analytics. I’m eager to maximize EMR use to enhance patient outcomes at UnityPoint.”
5. How do you manage the emotions and stress of caring for patients?
Healthcare roles can be demanding emotionally. This question evaluates your resilience and healthy coping abilities.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Share how you manage your own stress levels and maintain positivity.
- Discuss the importance of work-life balance, boundaries, and self-care.
- Explain how you seek peer/manager support during challenging times.
- Convey your commitment to personal wellness to be your best for patients.
Example: “To manage the emotions and stress of patient care, I focus heavily on self-care techniques like exercise, meditation, and getting quality sleep. I also have an active social life outside work that keeps me refreshed. At work, I lean on my supportive team during tough situations – just venting and getting encouragement helps immensely. I’ve learned to leave work at work and not internalize it. Maintaining my own health enables me to be fully present and compassionate with patients when they need me most.”
6. Tell me about a time you dealt with conflict on a healthcare team.
This behavioral question reveals your conflict management abilities and teamwork skills.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Set up the situation briefly – two colleagues, a disagreement over patient treatment, etc.
- Explain how you actively listened to understand each perspective.
- Discuss how you found common ground, offered mediating suggestions, or involved a manager before things escalated.
- Share the professional resolution and how the team cooperated moving forward.
Example: “Recently, our ICU team disagreed over discharge plans for a complex cardiac patient. The attending physician wanted to extend the hospital stay while the social worker felt discharge with home health could help the patient mentally. I listened closely to both sides – they both had compelling points about the patient’s medical and psychosocial needs. I suggested a collaborative meeting where we found a compromise, discharging with temporary rehab facility support. This allowed us to address both aspects of the patient’s health. Although tense at first, the team worked professionally to reach an optimal solution.”
7. What qualities do you think are most important in a healthcare team member?
This question gauges your understanding of key traits for succeeding on a collaborative medical team.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Discuss “soft skills” like communication, accountability, positivity, and empathy.
- Explain how these qualities improve cohesion and patient care when all team members demonstrate them.
- Use examples of when you exemplified these traits in your own practice.
Example: “The most important healthcare team member qualities in my experience are effective communication, accountability, and empathy. Outstanding communication fosters collaboration and ensures nothing falls through the cracks, which is vital for patient safety. Accountability – owning your responsibilities – is key to efficient teamwork in which everyone can rely on each other. Empathy towards patients as well as colleagues creates an open, trusting environment. My goal is to embody these qualities to be the best possible team member and set others up for success as well.”
8. How do you ensure accuracy in documentation and record-keeping?
Precision in record-keeping is paramount in healthcare – this question evaluates your attention to detail.
Tips for a strong answer:
- Discuss being meticulous and cross-checking entries for errors.
- Share process tools like charting checklists that enhance accuracy.
- Provide an example of when documentation thoroughness prevented a serious mistake.
- Convey that accuracy is inherent to your
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FAQ
How do I prepare for a health interview?
