Critical Care Technician Interview Questions: A Comprehensive Guide

Patient Care Technicians, or PCTs, are very important to the care of patients. They work closely with nurses, doctors, and other medical staff. Overall, a PCT’s ability to draw blood and do other important procedures on patients is a big part of what makes a medical facility successful.

Because of this, it’s not surprising that hospitals and other places are always looking for skilled and qualified people to hire.

To get an interview for a PCT job is an accomplishment in and of itself, but you’ll want to bring your best when you’re in front of the hiring manager. After all, he or she will want to make sure you have the drive, passion, and credentials to care for patients properly.

So, it’s important to be fully ready for any related questions that might be asked of you during the interview.

The samples in this article can help you prepare for your interview because hiring managers often ask the same questions and look for the same answers.

16 Common Patient Care Technician Interview Questions and Answers

With those tips in mind, here are 16 common PCT interview questions and recommended sample answers. Keep in mind that you should try to personalize them as much as possible when you’re answering questions.

• What can you tell me about yourself? Employers want to know more about you as a person. You should talk about your experience and qualifications that are relevant to the job. When you answer, keep your answer short and focused on your work experience. Here’s an example answer: I’m a dedicated and caring patient care technician who has worked for eight years giving patients excellent care. I’ve worked with a wide range of patients and their families in the past, and I was able to help them through their healthcare journey with compassion, professionalism, and respect.
• What are the limits of a PCT? Employer’s Intent: This question is usually asked of PCTs with less experience, but it’s still an important one. The employer wants to know if you know what your full responsibilities are, so just give the right answer. Even though we’re very good at noticing even the smallest changes in our patients, I know that doesn’t mean we can tell if they are sick. I also know that I can’t give medicines that aren’t taken by mouth, especially if there isn’t a nurse around.
• How can you make sure you notice even small changes in a patient’s condition? The employer wants to see how well you pay attention to details and care for your patients. If you can, talk about a time when you felt a change in a patient’s condition that wasn’t obvious. I believe it’s all about knowing things and paying close attention to the little things. If I know enough about the patient’s medical history and know what might happen, I can better guess what might happen. For instance, I once took care of a person who had a history of passing out when they had their blood drawn. The first drawing went well, but I noticed that he was getting a little pale. I didn’t wait; I put him down right away and got him some apple juice. He told me that he almost passed out, which made me feel better because my guess was right.
• What are the most important skills for a PCT to have? The employer wants to know what skills you think are the most important for your job and why. It’s important to not only list the skills but also explain why they’re important. That being said, I think the most important skills for a PCT to have are patience, good communication, and attention to detail. PCTs need to be able to handle patients who are being difficult or having trouble with their diagnosis with patience and the communication skills to help them. Communicating with other staff members is also important. Besides that, it’s also important to know a lot about medicine and pay close attention to details if you want to notice changes in a patient’s condition.
• Tell me about a tough situation you had to deal with at work as a PCT. Where did you go from there? The employer wants to know how you solve problems and how well you can deal with tough people or situations. Try to talk about a time when you overcame a problem and how you solved it. I once took care of a young boy who had been through a lot of terrible physical and mental trauma. He was quiet at times, but he would also lash out at other people a lot. He refused to take his medicine from the nurse one time and tried to hit her. Without delay, I took him away from her and then talked to him. I got him to say sorry and take the medicine by using my communication and persuasion skills. It was hard to be in this situation, but working with him was very rewarding.
• What makes you want to work as a PCT? The employer wants to know what drives you and why you chose to become a PCT. When you answer, you should try to give a specific example or story. Maybe it was someone or something that made you want to work in this field. Example Answer: My brother has always been a big part of my drive and passion to become a PCT. His immune system wasn’t strong enough when he was a child, so he often got pneumonia and other illnesses. It made me happy to see him laugh or smile at the hospital, even when he was upset. Because of this, I’m very committed to helping kids with medical problems get better with thoughtful and fun help from their PCT.
• As a PCT, do you think it’s important to teach your patients? The employer wants to make sure you know how important knowledge and education are to a patient’s care. Imagine having to tell a patient or their family about their medical condition. How would you go about it? Example Answer: Of course. I know for sure that taught patients and families are better able to deal with changes and the present situation Not only that, but the right education can also help families and patients take important care of themselves.
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you do right away, and how did you handle it? The employer wants to see how well you can solve problems. You don’t have to lie and say you’re perfect. If you’ve done something wrong, don’t be afraid to own it and show how you’ve learned from it to get better next time. One time, I was supposed to record a patient’s vital signs every four hours because they were anxious, but I forgot to do so in the charting system. A nurse came up to me in a panic near the end of my shift because the patient’s blood pressure was 180/120. I thought I had reported this earlier, but it hasn’t been on the computer in over six hours, so I couldn’t get in touch with the nurse. Luckily, the medicine was given quickly, and I quickly typed everything into the computer. Even though I was upset with myself, it taught me something. Now I carry a notepad with me that marks the times I usually enter data.
• How do you handle some of the less pleasant parts of being a PCT? Employer’s Goal: To see how passionate you are about the job and how willing you are to do unpleasant things. Make sure to talk about how your desire for the job outweighs any problems that might come with it. Example Answer: It’s all about focusing on what’s important. I love working with people from all walks of life and helping them. If anything, I’m grateful that they trust me with some of their weakest and hardest times. But even when things are hard, I remember the bigger picture and everything works out fine.
• How do you talk to patients of different ages and personalities in a good way? Employer’s Goal: To find out about your experience working with patients and your communication skills. Talk about how you deal with different patients and help them and their families. One of the most important parts of my job is keeping an eye on different patients to see if their conditions change and giving them and their families emotional support. Because of this, I value my patience, kindness, and listening skills, which help me talk to a lot of different kinds of people well. I pay attention to what they say and try to see things from their point of view.
• What part does a PCT play in the healthcare system? The employer wants to see how much you know about the job and the healthcare system in general. Try to state your understanding without rambling too much. Answer Example: PCTs are a big part of what makes the healthcare system work. Taking vital signs, doing electrocardiography (ECG), and drawing blood are all things we do to help patients. We’re also with them through their whole treatment. I believe that PCTs are very important to patients’ health, compliance, and happiness as a whole.
• How do you usually talk to patients? Employer’s Goal: To see how much you know about the job. Talk about the times you worked with patients and how you would take care of them. One example answer: I always try to be a voice of help and support, as well as a good caregiver. I was in charge of keeping patient rooms clean and checking on patients every few hours at my last job. I would regularly check their vital signs, look for any changes in their health, and give them emotional support.
• How do you keep yourself motivated when your job is especially hard or stressful? Employer’s Goal: To see if you’re ready for a job that might be stressful. Talk about times when you had to deal with stress and how that helped you get ready to become a PCT. This line of work is very stressful for me, but I think that my desire to help patients and my knowledge of how to deal with stress are two big parts of my success. For instance, I used to get nervous around patients who weren’t friendly. To deal with it, I decided to learn better ways to talk to them and practice until I was better at it. The more practice I did, the calmer I became. Eventually, I learned how to talk to difficult patients much better and have fun while doing it.
• Could you tell me about your education? The employer wants to look at your qualifications and experience. Give details about your education and make sure they are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Answer: I got my CPCT/A from Ferns Medical Institute a little more than four years ago, after 30 weeks of intensive training. In my previous PCT jobs, this certification helped me a lot, and I’ve learned even more along the way.
• What would you do if a patient refused to cooperate or cooperated with your care? Employer’s Goal: To see how well you understand this line of work. Tell them what you know and how you would handle the situation in a smart way. Example Answer: First, I would try to calmly explain to them all the pros and cons of the things I need to do. I know it’s important for patients to fully understand what’s going on with them. I would do this with the help of my patience, kindness, and good communication skills. After all, the patient is more likely to understand and follow my instructions if I can explain them in a calm and kind way.
• What is your biggest accomplishment as a PCT? The employer wants to know what’s important to you and why you want to work as a PCT. Answer honestly, and always put your patients first. Answer: The work I did with an older man at my last job is my biggest accomplishment. He regularly refused his medications and didn’t talk to anyone. But once I was put in charge of him, I was patient and paid attention to what he had to say. He started to trust me and open up to me after a few months. He believed in me so much that he let the nurse give him medicine while I was there. The relationship I built with him has always made me proud. I’m sure it has made him live a longer and happier life.

How to Prepare for a Patient Care Technician Interview

As the Candidate:

• Review your qualifications. Here are some things you should think about before the interview that make you a good candidate for the job: Get ready to answer by giving examples and telling stories from your time as a patient care technician.
• Research the job and employer. Before the interview, learn as much as you can about the company and your boss. You should know the person who is interviewing you by name. Studying the company will also help you come up with questions about the job and the company/industry that are unique to the interview.
• Dress professionally. Dressing professionally helps make a great first impression. Your interview outfit should be free from holes or stains. You should also try to make sure that what you wear fits with the company’s dress code and culture, which you learned about in your research.

As the Interviewer:

• Review job description. Reading the job description will help you figure out who the best person for the job is. This will also help you figure out what specific skills and experience are needed for the job.
• Create a list of questions. When you make questions, they should be tailored to the job of patient care technician and the role you want to fill.
• Review the candidates resume. Before the interview, you should look over the PCT candidates’ resumes to make sure you remember their skills and work history. You can also use this to help you think of questions that are right for their resume.

Patient Care Technician Interview Tips | PCT/CNA Series!

FAQ

How do I prepare for an ICU interview?

Why should we hire you as a patient care technician?

What are the questions for critical incident interview?

Why do you want to work in an ICU interview question?

What is a patient care technician interview question?

This question helps the interviewer gauge your competency in performing essential tasks and your ability to follow proper procedures to ensure patient safety and comfort. Example: “As a patient care technician, performing a blood draw involves following a series of steps to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient.

What does a critical care technologist do?

Critical care technologists make sure equipment used in the care of critically ill patients is safe and effective. They play an essential role in the safe transport of patients, assist in medical procedures and collect important data to help patient care. Are you interested in joining our team?

What should I expect in a critical care nursing interview?

A critically ill patient may be sedated, have several I.V. pumps and require regular doses of varied medications. In a critical care nursing interview, discuss your ability to maintain detailed records, perform multiple assessments and handle medications and procedures efficiently and accurately.

How long does it take to become a critical care technician?

Post-secondary training isn’t required for PCTs, although it is preferred. Some employers have specific critical care technician requirements, but many offer on-the-job training. Formal training is offered at community colleges, technical schools and some high schools. Programs last around eight months, and culminate in a diploma or certificate.