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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 5, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Patient Care Technician-Medical-Surgical-Oncology Full-Time Nights

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

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

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 noticing a change in a patient that the nurse had not seen.

What they are checking: Whether they watch patients, since techs spend the most time with them.

These are twelve hour shifts with rotating weekends. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with the schedule, which is why many techs leave.

How do you work with a nurse whose way of running an assignment is different from what you are used to?

What they are checking: Adaptability, since the nurse changes every shift.

Tell me about a patient or family who was difficult.

What they are checking: Patience with someone who is not easy, described honestly.

Are you working toward nursing, and how does this role fit that?

What they are checking: Honest ambition, which many techs have and few are asked about.

What would you do

You take a set of vital signs that are clearly abnormal. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they report immediately, which is the most important thing a tech does.

How do you help a patient with bathing and personal care while keeping their dignity?

What they are checking: Whether they have thought about what this work means to the patient.

A nurse asks for something while you are in the middle of helping another patient. How do you decide?

What they are checking: Prioritization, which the posting names and which is the whole shift.

About the work

Tell me about your experience on a high acuity unit.

What they are checking: Whether they have worked at this level, which is heavier than a general medical floor.

Walk me through taking a blood glucose measurement and what you do with the result.

What they are checking: A delegated task with a clear reporting threshold.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Patient Care Technician-Medical-Surgical-Oncology Full-Time Nights 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. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): 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 at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.

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