Top Patient Care Technician Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Patient Care Technician interview by going through these most asked Patient Care Technician interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

Patient Care Technician Questions

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  • Question: What would you do if you saw someone violating the hospital policies?

    • Question Overview: This question is designed to show the patient care technician's level of commitment to the organization's policies and procedures. It also shows their willingness to follow the rules and their ability to handle stressful situations.

    Sample Answer: I would report it to my supervisor because I want to make sure that the hospital is a safe place for patients and employees.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of what they would do
    • - Explanation of why they would do it
    • - Ability to handle stressful situations

  • Question: Why do you want to work in the ICU?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it will help you determine if the patient care technician is a good fit for your ICU. It will also help you determine if they are knowledgeable about the ICU. The ideal candidate will have a strong desire to work in the ICU and will be able to explain why they want to work in that area.

    Sample Answer: I want to work in the ICU because I enjoy working with patients who are critically ill. I am able to help them get better and return home.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of why they want to work in the ICU
    • - Knowledge of what the ICU does
    • - Ability to explain why they are a good fit for the position

  • Question: When was the last time you took a vacation?

    • Question Overview: This question will help you determine if the patient care technician has a good work ethic and if they are able to balance their work and personal life. The ideal patient care technician will have a healthy balance between the two.

    Sample Answer: I took a week off in August. I would like to take a week off in the summer.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Length of time since their last vacation
    • - Length of time they would like to take for vacation

  • Question: What is customer service to you?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it will help you determine if the patient care technician has the same view of customer service as your organization. The ideal candidate will have the same definition of customer service as your organization.

    Sample Answer: Customer service is being able to provide excellent care for patients and their families.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of what customer service means to them
    • - Explanation of how they provide customer service

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with difficult patients.

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to deal with difficult situations. It also shows their ability to handle stress and their level of patience. The ideal patient care technician will be able to handle difficult situations without losing their temper or getting frustrated.

    Sample Answer: I had a patient who was very upset and refused to let me help her. I asked for help from another nurse and we were able to calm her down and get her to cooperate.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the situation
    • - Description of how they handled it
    • - Ability to remain calm

  • Question: Why do you want to work with us?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's interest in your organization. The answer will also show you if they are familiar with your organization and its reputation.

    Sample Answer: I am interested in working for your organization because I have heard that you are a great place to work and that you have a strong focus on patient care.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of why they want to work for your organization
    • - Explanation of why they are interested in the position

  • Question: What is one situation where you could have put a patient in harm's way had you not corrected the mistake?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to recognize mistakes and their willingness to correct them. It also shows their ability to learn from their mistakes and to avoid repeating them.

    Sample Answer: I accidentally gave a patient a medication that was not prescribed for them. I realized my mistake and got the correct medication before the patient took it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the mistake
    • - Description of how they corrected the mistake
    • - Description of how they learned from the mistake

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to make an important decision quickly.

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to make quick decisions and their ability to think on their feet. It also shows you how well they can handle stressful situations.

    Sample Answer: I had to make a decision quickly when I was asked to help a patient who was in respiratory distress. I was able to assess the situation and call for help from a respiratory therapist.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the situation
    • - Explanation of their decision-making process
    • - Description of the outcome

  • Question: What would you do if a patient is very rude to you?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to deal with difficult patients. It also demonstrates their level of patience and their commitment to doing their job to the best of their ability. The ideal patient care technician will be able to handle difficult patients without losing their temper or becoming rude in return.

    Sample Answer: I would explain why I need to do it and what could happen to the patient's well-being if they do not do the refused activity.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Explanation of what they would do
    • - Description of how they would handle the situation
    • - Ability to remain calm

  • Question: What do you think is your weakness?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it will help you determine if the patient care technician is aware of their limitations and is willing to work on them. The ideal patient care technician will be able to identify a weakness and explain how they are working to improve it.

    Sample Answer: I sometimes get frustrated when I am unable to help a patient. I am working on my patience by taking deep breaths and counting to ten.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of their weakness
    • - Explanation of how they are working to improve it

  • Question: Tell me of a time you felt an administrator made an unpopular decision and how did you respond to it?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to handle difficult situations. It also reveals their willingness to work with others and their ability to accept criticism. The answer will also show you how they handle stress and pressure.

    Sample Answer: I was upset when my supervisor decided to lay off one of the other technicians. I was able to work with the other technicians and help them learn the tasks that were now being assigned to me.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Explanation of the situation
    • - Description of how they handled it
    • - Willingness to work with others
    • - Ability to accept criticism

  • Question: What is your opinion on teamwork?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it will give you an idea of how the candidate feels about working in a team environment. It will also reveal their ability to work well with others and their level of commitment to the team.

    Sample Answer: I believe that teamwork is essential for providing the best care for patients. I like working in a team because it allows me to learn from my co-workers and to provide support when they need it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of their opinion on teamwork
    • - Explanation of why they feel that way
    • - Ability to work well with others

  • Question: Why do you want to be a software engineer?

    • Question Overview: This question is designed to determine the candidate's motivation for the job. It will also help you determine if the applicant has a realistic idea of what the job entails. The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of the job and will be able to explain why they want to do it.

    Sample Answer: I want to be a software engineer because I enjoy working with computers and I like to solve problems.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of their interest in the job
    • - Explanation of why they are interested in the job
    • - Knowledge of what they want to accomplish

  • Question: Tell me about a time you had conflict with your coworker, and how did you solve it?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to work with others. It also shows their ability to handle conflict and their willingness to work with others. The ideal patient care technician will be able to work with others without creating conflict.

    Sample Answer: I had a conflict with a coworker when he did not want to help me lift a patient. I asked him to help me, and he refused. I asked him again, and he refused again. I told him that I would have to ask for help from someone else if he did not help me. He finally helped me.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the conflict
    • - Description of how they handled the conflict
    • - Description of how they solved the conflict

  • Question: What is a situation where you had to make a decision and what was the effect?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question because it shows the patient care technician's ability to make decisions and their understanding of the consequences of those decisions. It also shows their ability to think on their feet and their ability to handle pressure. The answer will give you an insight into their temperament and will help you determine if their personality is a good fit for your organization.

    Sample Answer: I had to decide whether or not to call 911 for a patient who was having a heart attack. I decided not to call 911 because I knew that the paramedics would be able to stabilize the patient and get him to the hospital faster than I could.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the situation
    • - Description of the decision they made
    • - Description of the outcome

  • Question: What are you studying in school?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows you the patient care technician's commitment to their education. The answer will also reveal their level of interest in the field and their desire to continue learning.

    Sample Answer: I am studying to become a nurse. I am interested in this field because I want to help people and I enjoy working with others.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of their course of study
    • - Level of interest in the field
    • - Description of how they plan to use their education

  • Question: How do you handle stress?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question because it shows the patient care technician's ability to deal with stressful situations. It also reveals their level of patience and their ability to work under pressure.

    Sample Answer: I take a deep breath and count to ten. I also ask for help from my co-workers if I feel overwhelmed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of how they handle stress
    • - Explanation of their coping mechanisms
    • - Ability to remain calm

  • Question: If you saw someone at your job doing something wrong, did you say something and if you did, what did they do?

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to speak up when they see something wrong. It also shows their willingness to do the right thing even if it means going against the wishes of a co-worker. The answer will also show you how well they handle conflict and criticism.

    Sample Answer: I saw a co-worker not washing their hands before entering a patient's room, so I told them that it was not safe and that they needed to wash their hands. They did not listen to me, so I went to the supervisor and told them what happened. The supervisor spoke to the co-worker and they started washing their hands before entering a patient's room.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of what they saw
    • - Description of how they handled it
    • - Explanation of the outcome

  • Question: What is something your clinical instructor said you need to improve on?

    • Question Overview: This question will help you determine if the patient care technician has the ability to recognize their own weaknesses and work to improve them. It will also show you if they are open to criticism and suggestions for improvement.

    Sample Answer: My clinical instructor said I need to improve my ability to communicate with patients. I am taking a communication course at a local college.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the weakness
    • - Explanation of how they are working to improve it

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you worked as a patient's advocate.

    • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask because it shows the patient care technician's ability to work with patients and their families. It also shows their commitment to doing their best for each patient. The ideal patient care technician will be able to give you an example of a time when they were able to help a patient or their family.

    Sample Answer: I helped a patient who was in pain by getting him a pain reliever and helping him get comfortable.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Description of the situation
    • - Description of how they helped
    • - Explanation of how they were able to help