Top 20 Home Health Aide Interview Questions
As a home health aide, an individual has to attend to the medical and personal care needs of a patient. The aide is also responsible for carrying out basic household jobs to help the patient.
A health aide job involves a combination of duties. It is important to choose a person that is not only medically skilled but is also equipped with excellent people skills. An aide may be hired by the care-seeking patient directly or by an agency.
Here are some top questions that can help select the right candidate for the role:
What home health aide certifications do you hold?
A home health aide usually requires a high school diploma certificate or an equivalent qualification. Home health aides with a working experience in licensed healthcare institutions must have completed formal training. Licensed healthcare organizations also require prospective aides to succeed in a standardized test.
Certifications give an insight into the training a candidate has had as a home health aide. It also conveys the candidate’s knowledge regarding the legal requirements for such positions.
Additional certifications show that the candidate is up-to-date in the field, which is important for a healthcare position such as home health aide. Additional certifications convey the candidate’s interest in the field.
What is your working experience? What areas do you specialize in?
Some aides may specialize in caring for the aged, or people with specific medical conditions such as dementia or mental ailments. It helps assign the candidate to the right patient.
How would you handle a difficult patient?
Throws light on the candidate’s ability to handle stress while caring for the patient.
What would you do with interfering family members?
Gives you an insight into the candidate’s interpersonal skills. It also shows the candidate’s prioritizing skills. An efficient aide always works with the patient’s best interests in mind.
What would you do if the patient develops sudden new symptoms?
An aide needs to monitor patient’s vital signs and other symptoms as instructed by his or her supervising authority. This question can help reveal how disciplined an aide is in monitoring patient’s symptoms on a daily basis. It also shows the candidate’s ability to handle stress and take the right action.
What is your reason for choosing to work as a home health aide?
Gives you an insight into the driving factor of the individual.
How would you make it easier for a patient to move from the bed to a wheelchair?
Shows the candidate’s attention to little details and sensitivity to patient’s needs. It also shows how creative or resourceful he or she can be.
Describe your typical day at work.
The duties of an aide are physically and mentally taxing. Sometimes, aides have to deal with duties that are considered unpleasant such as attending to the personal hygiene needs of a patient. An aide must also have a sympathetic ear to spend quality time with the patient.
This question shows how sympathetic, caring, skilled and firm, a candidate can be while caring for the patient.
How frequently would you interact with your supervisors and patient’s family members to communicate patient’s progress?
Tells you about the candidate’s adherence to company policy.
How would you expect the patient or the family members to behave?
Shows how insightful the candidate is. An aide cannot expect anything from anyone except from himself or herself.
How have you worked for the patient’s well-being in your previous roles?
Shows if the candidate has performed his or her duties well. It shows if the candidate is capable of performing some specific duties that are vital for an aide. Such duties include educating patients on a healthy lifestyle, and giving them physical and emotional support.
How would you address a patient’s need for privacy and dignity?
Shows how sensitive, sympathetic and tactful the candidate can be with patients. It also shows the candidate’s knowledge of legalities concerning a patient’s privacy.
What is the key aspect that you think would make your job a success?
Shows candidate’s insight. The most important aspect is the trust between the aide and the patient that makes this job a success.
How would you deal with a patient that does not want you around?
A firm hand, a sympathetic ear, and professional maturity are important in an aide to handle such situations.
What would you do if your shift ends and your replacement has not arrived?
Shows the candidate’s integrity.
What is the most rewarding aspect of the job?
Shows the candidate’s passion for the job and the reason behind the passion.
Family members neglect the patient. How would you react?
Shows integrity and adherence to company policies.
What is your working experience with aged people?
Shows desirable qualities and experience that the candidate possesses for such role.
Talk about your travel experiences with patients, if any on your previous jobs.
Shows how efficient and resourceful the candidate can be with the patient on out-of-home trips.
Be Protected the Best Way
If you are a home healthcare business, qualified aides are a key asset. Another important asset is an insurance solution that offers risk protection. Going for a home health care agency insurance can offer you such protection.
There are 2 types of insurance that you can investigate in for your business.
- The General Liability insurance covers costs of damages that are claimed by third parties to have been caused by your business.
- The Professional Liability Insurance helps you cover the loss caused by negligent service, delayed care, unqualified personnel, and other claims of professional errors.
