Healthcare Interview Preparation Guide

The delivery of modern health care depends on groups of trained professionals and paraprofessionals coming together as interdisciplinary teams.

Primary care refers to the work of health professionals who act as a first point of consultation for all patients within the health care system. Such a professional would usually be a primary care physician, such as a general practitioner or family physician, a licensed independent practitioner such as a physiotherapist, or a non-physician primary care provider (mid-level provider) such as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in human beings. Health care is delivered by practitioners in allied health, dentistry, midwifery (obstetrics), medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, psychology and other health professions. It refers to the work done in providing primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, as well as in public health.

Community rehabilitation services can assist with mobility and independence after loss of limbs or loss of function. This can include prosthesis, orthotics or wheelchairs.

A health system, also sometimes referred to as health care system or healthcare system is the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the health needs of target populations.

The health care industry incorporates several sectors that are dedicated to providing health care services and products.

The key to answering this successfully is to incorporate your own career goals into the facility's purpose and mission. An appropriate answer might sound like this--I am impressed by Dr. Smith's work in the cardiology field; I have a strong interest in pediatric cardiology and wish to use my experience to mentor others by accepting a leadership position.

Since working in healthcare can be stressful, it's important to prove to the interviewer that you can handle stressful situations. The best way to answer this question is to give examples from a previous job where you handled a stressful situation well. In addition, you might want to mention ways you cope with stress in your everyday life. For instance, maybe you practice yoga, meditate, or lift weights.

There's bound to be a lot of competition for the healthcare positions you're applying for, so take some time to think about specific assets you have that can set you apart from other applicants. Share any awards or achievements, your future goals, and how you would be a positive addition to the facility. The main idea here is to point out your best qualities and job-related experiences in such a way that you'll stand out from the crowd.

Discussing money is always a bit tough. Be sure to do some research before you walk into the interview, and have some idea of the kind of salaries people with your level of education and experience typically make. Also, consider quoting a salary range instead of a set amount. That way, you will present yourself as having some flexibility and a willingness to negotiate. A sample answer may look like this--As a LPN for 5 years, I feel my salary should be in the $40,000-50,000 range.