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Patient Care Tech Same Day Surgery Full Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Huntley, 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

The posting says you'd help manage the unit's workflow. Tell me about a time you kept things moving when the day got backed up.

What they are checking: Organization and multitasking in a setting where delays ripple through the whole surgery schedule.

Tell me about a time you had to stay calm in a stressful situation at work.

What they are checking: Ability to function under stress, which the posting names as a requirement.

What would you do

In same day surgery, patients come in, have their procedure and go home within hours. What do you think makes the tech role here different from an inpatient floor?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the fast pace, tight schedules and prep and recovery flow of outpatient surgery.

A patient comes in for surgery and tells you they ate breakfast this morning. What do you do?

What they are checking: Knowing that NPO problems must go straight to the RN because they can cancel or endanger a procedure.

A diabetic patient is waiting for surgery and their blood glucose reading is 58. What do you do?

What they are checking: Recognizing a low blood sugar as urgent and reporting it to the RN right away.

A family member keeps coming to the desk asking when their spouse will be out of surgery. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Kind, honest communication with families while staying within what a tech can share.

About the work

Walk me through how you take a set of vital signs and what numbers would make you tell the nurse right away.

What they are checking: Accurate vitals and knowing which abnormal readings need immediate reporting before or after surgery.

How do you help a patient get up for the first time after anesthesia?

What they are checking: Awareness of dizziness and fall risk after sedation and whether they get help instead of rushing.

How do you record intake and output, and why does it matter after surgery?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that recording intake and output, including voiding after surgery, can decide when a patient goes home.

How do you turn over a room quickly without cutting corners on cleaning?

What they are checking: Infection control and pace together, since rooms in same day surgery turn over many times a day.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

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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