The Top 15 Ochsner Health Interview Questions and How to Ace Them

Getting hired at Ochsner Health, one of the largest non-profit healthcare systems in the United States, is no easy feat With over 90 facilities across Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf South region, Ochsner Health has extremely high standards when it comes to recruiting top talent.

If you have an interview lined up, you can expect to face some very tough questions designed to assess your skills, experience, temperament and culture fit. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the 15 most common Ochsner Health interview questions, along with tips on how to craft winning responses.

Why Do You Want to Work at Ochsner Health?

This question is asked to gauge your interest in and knowledge about the organization, The interviewer wants to know what attracts you specifically to Ochsner Health and the role versus just needing a job

How to Answer

• Show that you care about the organization’s goal to improve lives and provide high-quality healthcare. Mention being inspired by their values of compassion, collaboration, and innovation.

• Talk about any time you’ve worked with Ochsner Health as a patient or member of the community and what impressed you about their facilities and services.

• Share that you’re drawn to their commitment to research, academics and leadership development. Highlight any training or mentorship opportunities that motivate you.

• Avoid generic answers like “it seems like a great place to work”- be specific on what appeals to you about this role and Ochsner Health.

Example

I’m truly excited about the opportunity to work at Ochsner Health because I deeply resonate with your mission of enhancing lives through quality healthcare and research. As a New Orleans resident, I’ve personally witnessed Ochsner’s commitment to our community, from your swift and organized response during disasters like Hurricane Katrina, to the leading-edge treatments offered at your facilities. Your values of compassion, collaboration and innovation align well with my personal ethos and I’m confident I can contribute meaningfully through this role.

Why Do You Want to Be a Nurse/Doctor/Healthcare Administrator?

This question evaluates your motivations for joining a career in healthcare. The interviewer wants to gauge your genuine interest and dedication to the field versus simply viewing it as “just another job”.

How to Answer

• Share when and how your passion for this profession developed. Discuss personal experiences, mentors or healthcare role models who inspired your career choice.

• Demonstrate your understanding of the vital societal role of healthcare professionals. Highlight how you can apply your skills and strengths in this field.

• Convey your commitment to lifelong learning, continuing education and professional development to excel in the industry.

• Avoid framing your choice solely in terms of job stability, salary or prestige associated with the role.

Example

I’ve aspired to be a nurse since I was young and volunteered at health camps where I discovered my innate empathy and passion for caring for others. Throughout my educational journey, I’ve been driven by the idea of using my interpersonal skills and attention to detail to make a positive difference in patients’ lives. As a nurse, I believe I can leverage my compassion along with clinical expertise to build relationships with patients, alleviate their suffering, and guide them towards wellness. I’m deeply committed to continuous learning and professional development so I can provide the highest quality nursing care throughout my career.

How Do You Handle Stressful Situations?

Healthcare roles inevitably involve dealing with high-pressure, stressful situations that test your composure. This question evaluates your stress management abilities and your capacity to think clearly under difficult circumstances.

How to Answer

• Share a real example of a stressful situation you faced and how you responded productively. For instance, maybe you had to calmly prioritize critical tasks during an emergency.

• Discuss stress management techniques you use like taking short breaks, deep breathing, or compartmentalization. Emphasize that you seek support from colleagues when needed.

• Reassure that you don’t allow stress to affect your patient care or professionalism. Convey how you regain composure quickly and refocus on solutions.

• Avoid framing stress as wholly negative. Present it as a normal part of the work that you believe can be managed productively.

Example

In healthcare, high-stress situations are inevitable, whether it’s handling emergencies or meeting tight deadlines. When faced with such scenarios, I leverage techniques like taking deep breaths or temporarily compartmentalizing tasks to regain focus. For instance, recently in the ER we suddenly had multiple critically injured patients arrive at once. While feeling overwhelmed initially, I took a minute, organized my thoughts, and jumped into triage mode, coordinating with my team to provide urgent care. We debriefed later and I gained valuable insights on how to remain calm and effectively prioritize during chaos. I believe maintaining composure is vital so you can make clear decisions under pressure and lead by example.

How Do You Remain Organized While Handling Multiple Tasks and Priorities?

Healthcare professionals often juggle various responsibilities and tasks simultaneously. This question tests your time management and organizational skills in a multifaceted role. The interviewer wants to know that you can effectively balance priorities without dropping the ball.

How to Answer

• Provide a specific example that demonstrates your time management abilities even when handling competing tasks.

• Share tools and techniques you use to stay organized such as to-do lists, calendar reminders, or project management systems.

• Emphasize your ability to quickly prioritize what’s most urgent and important. Discuss how you handle interruptions without losing focus.

• Convey that you aren’t afraid to ask for support from colleagues when feeling overwhelmed or falling behind.

Example

Remaining organized as a healthcare professional requires continuously balancing multiple priorities and tasks while minimizing errors. I achieve this through proven techniques like maintaining detailed schedules and to-do lists. This allows me to plan my day and week effectively. I also utilize productivity tools like calendar reminders so I don’t miss deadlines or appointments. When faced with sudden interruptions, I quickly assess urgency levels and re-prioritize tasks accordingly. Most importantly, I know when to leverage my team and delegate certain responsibilities, rather than trying to handle everything myself. This ensures we avoid oversights. Overall, I believe with the right organizational approach and support, one can achieve optimal patient outcomes even in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.

How Do You Deal with Interpersonal Conflicts in a Team Setting?

Healthcare teams comprise diverse personalities that can inevitably lead to some interpersonal friction. This question tests your conflict management abilities and your professionalism in resolving team conflicts. The interviewer wants to see that you can diffuse tensions and strengthen relationships.

How to Answer

• Provide an example of successfully resolving conflict by listening objectively and identifying mutual solutions. Emphasize maintaining professionalism.

• Discuss proactive approaches like open communication and regular team bonding activities to prevent conflicts from arising.

• Share how you set aside ego and emotion to logically reason through problems and find common ground.

• Demonstrate understanding that some degree of disagreement is natural, but keeping the patient’s wellbeing as the highest priority helps overcome differences.

Example

Conflicts occasionally arise when working closely in high-stress healthcare teams. However, I believe maintaining open communication and professionalism is key to navigating differences effectively. For instance, I mediated a disagreement between two colleagues by listening to both perspectives non-judgmentally. I then identified that neither of them had ill-intentions; they simply lacked clarity on role boundaries which led to duplication of effort. By reframing the issue objectively and finding common goals, we were able to resolve tensions quickly. Although uncomfortable initially, conflict can present an opportunity to strengthen understanding and set clearer expectations within a team.

How do you Approach Learning and Developing New Skills?

The healthcare industry evolves rapidly, requiring professionals to be committed lifelong learners. This question assesses your appetite for continuous skills development and how you take ownership of your learning.

How to Answer

• Provide examples that demonstrate self-driven learning like pursuing advanced certifications, attending seminars or reading medical journals.

• Share how you leverage experienced team members as mentors to build your capabilities.

• Discuss your willingness to learn new systems, treatments or practices regularly and stay updated on industry trends.

• Convey your belief that there’s always more room for developing expertise, and highlighting how lifelong learning translates to better patient outcomes.

Example

The healthcare field changes constantly, requiring us to adapt and develop new skills continually. I believe being proactive about self-driven learning is key to providing quality care as practices evolve. For instance, I recently completed an intensive course on new minimally invasive surgical techniques to expand my capabilities as a surgeon. I’m also a strong advocate for workplace mentoring and enjoy learning from more experienced colleagues. I actively collaborate with them on complex cases to improve my clinical judgment. Outside work, I spend an hour reading medical journals daily. This helps me stay updated on emerging treatments and best practices. Overall, I’m committed to pushing myself out of my comfort zone and dedicating time daily to build knowledge across new areas.

How Do You Ensure Patient Privacy and Confidentiality?

Maintaining patient privacy is a fundamental ethical obligation in healthcare. This question evaluates your understanding of privacy policies an