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Exercise Physiologist

SSM Health · Waupun, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a patient who was afraid to exercise after a heart event. How did you help?

What they are checking: Whether they can ease fear and build confidence, which keeps patients coming back.

How do you stay alert while watching several patients exercise at once?

What they are checking: Whether they keep constant watch, as the role requires, so problems are caught fast.

What would you do

A patient on telemetry develops new ectopy during exercise. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize abnormal rhythms, stop exercise and alert the nurse or physician.

A patient's blood pressure is high when they arrive for a session. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they know when to hold or modify exercise and who to notify.

This is a PRN role. How would you keep up with each patient's progress when you're not there every day?

What they are checking: Whether they read notes and communicate with staff so care stays consistent.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd write an exercise prescription for a patient entering cardiac rehab after a stent.

What they are checking: Whether they use test data, heart rate, RPE and medications like beta blockers to set safe intensity.

How does a beta blocker change the way you set and monitor exercise intensity?

What they are checking: Whether they know heart rate targets may be blunted and use other measures like RPE instead.

How do you adjust exercise for a pulmonary rehab patient with COPD whose oxygen drops?

What they are checking: Whether they monitor oxygen saturation, use breathing techniques and adjust intensity safely.

What do you test before and after a rehab program, and how do you use the results?

What they are checking: Whether they measure strength, endurance and balance and use them to show progress and update the plan.

How would you teach a group class on heart-healthy habits to people from the community?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain health topics clearly to a group, which the role includes.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling. WI-Waupun Memorial Hospital Worker Type: Regular Job Summary: Provides direct patient care to cardiac and pulmonary rehab patients including various types of monitoring, education and therapeutic exercise programs. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Develops exercise prescription and oversees exercise progression in patients (often with cardiovascular or pulmonary disease) within a rehabilitation setting • Provides exercise prescription for patients utilizing test data, patient status and current medication regimen; updates prescription according to the patient's response • Provides patient testing before and after rehabilitation including strength, body composition, flexibility, balance and endurance • Assesses hemodynamic response and patient tolerance to activity progression and utilizes information to provide appropriate exercise prescription • Performs appropriate documentation of monitored ambulation, education and discharge planning per departmental policies, guidelines and practices as pertinent for setting. • Provides exercise information for patients, peers and the community which may include public speaking and education classes • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, Exercise Science or a health related field EXPERIENCE • Completion of internship in a Cardiopulmonary Rehab program PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Constant standing. • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. • Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more). • Frequent walking, reaching, gripping and keyboard use/data entry. • Occasional bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, sitting, squatting, twisting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Occasional lifting/moving patients. • Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships and to identify and distinguish colors. • Occasional driving. • Rare crawling. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 3002000045 CARDIAC REHAB Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32 Benefits: SSM Health values our exceptional employees by offering a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs. • Paid Parental Leave : we offer eligible team members one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE). • Flexible Payment Options: our voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday. • Upfront Tuition Coverage : we provide upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members. Explore All Benefits SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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