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Patient Care Tech-Medical-Surgical-Oncology Full-Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · DeKalb, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 5, 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 time you cared for a patient who was very sick or near the end of life.

What they are checking: Whether they can provide compassionate care in hard moments, which happens often on oncology units.

Tell me about a time you reported something you saw that turned out to be important.

What they are checking: Whether they speak up about abnormal findings, which the posting lists as a core duty.

How do you stay organized and keep your energy through a full day shift?

What they are checking: Whether they have habits that keep them steady in a fast-paced, physically demanding job.

What would you do

You have eight patients and two need help to the bathroom at the same time. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize safely and ask for help, rather than rushing and risking a fall.

A family member is frustrated that their mother hasn't been helped yet. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can calm families, take action and communicate with the RN instead of getting defensive.

What does good teamwork with your RN look like on a med-surg unit?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate updates and accept delegation clearly, which keeps the unit running.

About the work

On a medical-surgical-oncology unit, what changes in a patient would make you go get the nurse right away?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize warning signs like fever, bleeding, confusion or low blood pressure common in surgical and cancer patients.

Oncology patients may have weak immune systems. How does that change how you care for them?

What they are checking: Whether they understand infection prevention and neutropenic precautions for patients receiving cancer treatment.

Walk me through how you get a post-surgical patient up to walk for the first time.

What they are checking: Whether they check with the RN, watch for dizziness and pain, and use safe mobility practices.

How do you keep accurate intake and output on a busy day shift?

What they are checking: Whether they record carefully, since nurses and doctors use these numbers to make treatment decisions.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Patient Care Tech-Medical-Surgical-Oncology Full-Time Days The Patient Care Tech reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Under the supervision of an RN performs basic patient care activities. Responsibilities: • Performs basic nursing care activities as delegated and supervised by an RN, including monitoring vital signs, taking blood glucose measurements, and recording intake and output. • Assists patients with tending to personal care and activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming and eating. • Reports abnormal findings or changes in physical, mental and emotional conditions to nursing staff. • Assists with keeping patient rooms clean and orderly. • Demonstrates flexibility, organization, and multi-tasking. Able to function under stressful situations. • Utilizes critical thinking skills to successfully demonstrate the ability to prioritize and complete unit work quickly as the needs of the unit, patients and staff change. • Serves as liaison between patient care units and all other patient related departments. • Answers telephone, intercom and call lights in a polite manner using appropriate telephone etiquette and communicates information to the appropriate staff/family/patient. • Manages the overall unit workflow in concert with the charge RN and/or assistant manager, on an as needed basis. • Performs pre-census and validates daily admission, discharge and census lists, on an as needed basis. Required: • High School Diploma or equivalent • Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, or nursing school students with one semester of clinical completed • American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Preferred: • Phlebotomy experience • Graduate of an accredited Nursing Assistant program or Graduate of Phlebotomy course Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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