Cna Interview Guide: Questions & Answers
Congratulations. As soon as youve passed your CNA certification exam, youre ready to begin finding CNA positions in your area. To ensure you land the job you desire most, get ready for the job interview process and prepare to answer the most common questions and dressing for success. Whether you decide on a CNA position in a hospital or skilled nursing center, follow these tips to make a good impression and get the job.
Use your time management skills and schedule at least two hours for each interview. A busy hiring manager may keep you waiting as they attend to sudden problems that occur on the nursing floor, so be prepared. Typically, the director of nursing or your soon-to-be supervisor will interview you for the job in his or her office.
Answering Questions at the Interview
The hiring manager may ask you questions that help her decide on your character, safety with patients and willingness to care for others. Its best to answer with honest, brief statements that display your good communication skills. To avoid rambling or getting off topic, keep in mind that your answers should be related to your CNA duties and responsibilities. Common questions that may be asked include:
- Tell Me about Yourself
- Express your willingness to be a team player, your good people skills and how you wish to make the lives of your patients more comfortable and pleasant. Inform the interviewer of any positive traits that you believe make you a successful CNA.
Q1: What Will You Do If Your Supervisor Asks You To Do Something You Are Uncomfortable With
Insight: People from different backgrounds have different triggers and who knows, maybe someday in your new job your supervisor might just step on your toes by asking you to do something you think is absurd. Acknowledge that it is possible and further on mention that much as you are competent and may have opinions, you also respect authority.
A17: It is possible that this can happen. I would openly express my reservations with my supervisor in a respectful manner. I would explain to them the reason for my discomfort. That does not mean I would not do whatever I was asked to do as I respect authority and fully understand how the chain of command works.
What Youll Need To Take With You For Your Interview
After youâve submitted a job application, gather everything youâll need to take with you for your interview:
- Folder for your papers. Just a plain school folder with pockets is fine.
- 3â5 copies of your resume. Give a copy to any interviewers who havenât seen it yet.
- CNA certification information for your state
- CPR card, if you have it or if it is required by your state
- List of references, if it wasnât part of the application
- Letters of recommendation, if you have any
- Paper and pen with which to take notes or write questions
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Questions About Your Supervisors And Co
What They Want to Know: Did you get along with your manager? Have you worked with difficult colleagues? How you interact with supervisors and co-workers will provide the interviewer with insight into your interpersonal and communication skills.
I think I get along well with both my manager and my colleagues, because I approach everyone with respect. When issues arise, I try to ask for clarification and find points of agreement we can use to resolve differences of opinion.
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What Would You Do If You Are Done With All Your Tasks But Have A Few Minutes To Spare Before Completing Your Shift
Demonstrate that you are self-motivated and know how to stay busy. The following is an example of a good answer: Ill review the files of the patients so as to refresh their treatment plans in my mind. This will also help me explain the things to the nurse aide who is going to resume the duty for the next shift.
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Why Do You Want To Work Here
Hopefully, youve done your homework on the facility. If not, before you even go into the interview, do a bit of research on the organizations website. What is their mission statement? If they have a blog or social media, what are the current happenings within the organization?
If you know current employees, reach out and ask a few general questions. What do they enjoy about their work culture? How can you benefit the mission of the organization?
What Is Your Personal Connection To Health Care
This question helps your interviewer to know what draws you into this field. Demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the job by conveying your Sense of service and the desire to help others.
Sample Answer
My mother died of cancer, and I took care of her until when she passed on. From that time, I have desired to do no other job but caring for the sick.
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Where Do You See Yourself Five Years Down The Line
The interviewer will try to determine how serious you are about working for their organization, but you should not answer by saying something like at your position/designation. Your aim is to show them how motivated you are, so show them how enthusiastic you are about your prospective duties, and explain why you think that their company is the perfect place to hone your skills.
What Motivates You To Be A Nurse
The interviewer wants to know about the emotional connect and incentive here.
Sample Answer Being a CNA has its fair share of perks and challenges. Firstly, I will have the opportunity to work with and assist doctors and professional medical experts. Secondly, I get to help people get better. And thirdly the monetary benefit is no doubt a motivator and instigating factor.
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What Are The Next Steps In The Interview Process
Asking about the next steps in the interview process shows the interviewer that you are still interested in the job. The answer you receive will also tell you what to expect. You might be told to expect an email or a call in a determined amount of time, as well as details regarding how many more interviews you might have to attend before being considered for the job.
Discover Indeeds top resources for health care talent including career advice, sample resumes, job search quick links and more.
Q: Do You Think You Are Qualified For This Position
Insight: Do not simply give a yes/no answer and stop at that. That will be a missed opportunity. Of course, the answer is yes. You should proceed to explain why you think you are qualified for the position.
A5: Yes. I recently finished my CNA certification course and passed the state exam early last year. I am was taken in for an internship at a local childrens home for children with special needs where I got to apply the knowledge I had acquired during my course. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and I am looking forward to getting another opportunity to practice my teeth in nursing. So far I have proven I can do the job and the three referees on my resume are a testament to the same. Most of all, I give you my word. I do not think there is anyone more qualified in the whole world for this job than me.
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How Would You Deal With A Doctor Who Is Rude And Doesnt Cooperate With You
The interviewer again tries giving you a hypothetical scenario. Dont bad-mouth the organization and keep the answer as diplomatic yet firm as possible. Sample Sometimes, under pressure, the doctor or my superior might be a bit rude or off-putting. I wouldnt really report it if it is a rare or once in a blue-moon. Talking it out with the doctor and sorting out any misunderstanding will be my first priority. There might be a possibility that I might be at fault. However, if the problem persists I will have to report him to the higher authorities.
What Is Your Greatest Strength
What They Want to Know: When answering questions about your strengths, focus on the abilities you have that are key to success in the job for which you’re interviewing. Don’t be too humble. It’s important to make the hiring manager aware of your qualifications.
My greatest strength is my ability to learn new processes quickly. When placed in a new environment, I actively observe how other people do things so that I can easily pull my weight on the team. Im also open to testing new ways of doing things in order to optimize our efficiency.
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How Would You Handle A Patient Who Refuses Care
Sometimes, patients will refuse care. Their reasons vary. Try answering this question with a detailed example of a time when youve successfully cared for a patient who refused care. Did you show patience? Were you empathic to the needs of the patient? Did you take the time to learn and address any concerns that might have led them to refuse the care?
Strive to share specific ways that you handled the situation. For example, lets say you noticed that an elderly patient was aggressively acting out due to her loneliness. At the end of your shift, you decided to leave her a card with an encouraging note and pictures your children drew to brighten her mood.
What Do You Do When Entering A Patients Room
This is a good question for the interviewer to determine if you humanize your patients and see them as more than a task. This is an opportunity to show the interviewer that youre friendly, thoughtful, and capable. Dont forget to tell the interviewer youll be smiling the whole time. A friendly face can make a huge difference:
First, I knock to let the patient know Im at the door. Initially, Id introduce myself and try to find something in common with the patient so we can get to know each other. I always greet the patient and ask if they need anything, even if they arent capable of responding.
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Questions You Can Ask Yourself At A Cna Interview
After youâve been asked all sorts of questions, it will be your turn! Your interviewer will say, âDo you have any questions for me?â Your answer is always âYes.â Not only should you have questions but you also want to show interest in the job and the facility. Be prepared with several standard questions, but also write down questions that you think of during the interview. Here are some examples:
- Can you tell me about Orientation here? How long is it?
- How many people work here? What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
- What is a typical day or week like?
- Are there opportunities for education and professional development?
- Can you show me around?
Avoid asking about benefits, vacations, days off, or holiday schedules. Let the interviewer provide such information.
They should also tell you about particular policies, such as whether the facility is a smoke-free workplace.
Final tip: Whether you speak with one person, several people, or a panel, get each personâs name. Ask for their business cards. As soon as you get home, write each person a thank-you note. If possible, send it by email. Snail mail may take a few days to arrive. Thank them for their time and remind them again that you are excited about the opportunity. Include a line or two about your qualifications. Conclude by saying that you look forward to hearing from them soon. Too many people donât follow up after their interviews. When you do, youâll score points and move up to the top of the candidate list.
What Would The Nurses You Worked With Previously Say About You If We Asked Them
Youre doing two things with this question asking about the candidates ability to empathize and to analyze their own actions. While the answer should be a positive one, trust your gut.
If it feels like the interviewee isnt being entirely open in their answer, dig a little deeper. You want to make sure you dont hire a liability.
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Are You Interested In Pursuing Education To Become An Lpn Or Rn
Often a career as a CNA leads to the desire to pursue an advanced nursing degree. Working as a CNA gives many of us our first taste of working in the medical field. You might gain inspiration to continue that career path and get a more in-depth understanding of the medical world.
Its okay to share this desire with your interviewer. It shows your dedication to the field and a willingness to learn. If you have solid plans on taking your career and education to the next level, you want to consider how itll impact the jobs youre currently applying for and vice versa.
Employers want to know if its worth it to hire you and put in the effort to orient and train you for the job, or if youre planning on leaving after only a few months. If possible, you can include a working timeline in your answer to this type of question to give the employer an idea for your future plans and reassure them that youre a safe hire.
Types Of Questions To Ask In A Caregiver Interview
Article Contents: Other questions
Were Home Care Pulse, a leading provider of experience management & surveys, caregiver/CNA training, and online reputation management.
For an updated, expanded version of this article see 65 Caregiver Interview Questions to Help You Hire the Right Caregivers.
Studies show that interviews predict job performance however, not all interviews are created equal. Before diving into the hiring process, carefully selecting interview questions can make the difference between hiring an employee whos rehearsed versus one whos actually ready to take on the challenges of home care.
With caregiver turnover on the rise, its especially important for home care providers to hire quality employees right from the get-go. One way to ensure that you find these valuable recruits is by choosing questions that filter for excellence.
On-the-job success can often be difficult to gauge in the interview process when you cant see the caregivers work in real-time. These four key question types, when used in balance, will give you a well-rounded view of your interviewees qualifications, personality, and success rate before even taking part in your agencys home care operations.
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How Do You Introduce Yourself As A Cna
Here are some tips for a great personal introduction.
How Do You Feel About Your Last Boss
This answer may seem obvious, but you want to refrain from speaking negatively about a previous employer even if the experience was not pleasant. Focus on the positive attributes of your former boss, how effectively he or she managed their employees and the ways that he or she positively encouraged communication, unity, and professionalism among staff members. This question offers a great opportunity to put your former boss in a bright spotlight. You can dote on his or her achievements in the industry, and you can discuss how their new ideas, policies, and procedures made a difference on the job. When you cite specific examples of how your boss made a positive impact on your career, you highlight your ability to transition with change easily and pick up on positive attributes that will make you a future leader in your field.
As a CNA, you have the ability to change lives every day. If you approach your interview in a prepared and confident manner, you will surely land the job and begin a new and exciting career in the medical field. Most employers are not looking for perfect responses. They simply want to see that you understand the demands of this field, you are confident in your skill set and you demonstrate an ability to be a team player with lots of patience.
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Who Was Your Best Boss And Who Was The Worst
What They Want to Know: This question is designed to discover what type of leadership and management style works best for you. Be careful answering, and don’t be too negative. Even if you had a terrible boss, how you speak about them can leave the interviewer wondering how you will speak about other supervisors if you didn’t get along with them.
My best manager had an open-door policy where we were always welcome to speak to her privately about issues. Ive never had a bad manager. Im not as comfortable with those who prefer to micromanage my work, but when this happens I try to gain their trust so that theyll feel more confident about giving me some autonomy.
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Question #: What Should You Do When Entering A Patient’s Room For The First Time
Your answer to CNA interview questions about bedside manner lets the interviewer know that you care for patients as individuals and help them maintain their dignity.
- Walk through your actions when entering a room.
- Show empathy for the patient.
- Demonstrate your professionalism.
How You Could Answer
“It’s important to be respectful to every patient, so I always knock to let the patient know I’m there. I walk in with a smile on my face and introduce myself. I say I’m there to provide care and ask if they need anythingeven if they can’t respond. I’ll make a positive statement like, ‘Look at that sunshine coming through the window,’ to get a conversation going. When I’m sure the patient is settled, I let them know I’m leaving and will be back if they need anything.”
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