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

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 worked a night shift and something unexpected happened.

What they are checking: Whether they can stay calm and act well when there are fewer staff around.

Tell me about a time you supported a teammate who was struggling.

What they are checking: Whether they act as a team player, which matters on night shifts.

How do you stay alert and accurate through a full night shift?

What they are checking: Whether they have habits that keep them safe and focused overnight.

What would you do

A patient on night shift wants to get up to the bathroom alone, but they're a fall risk. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they keep patients safe at night when falls are most common.

How do you help a patient sleep while still doing their checks?

What they are checking: Whether they cluster care thoughtfully on a night shift.

A post-surgical patient says their pain is getting worse. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they report pain promptly to the RN instead of waiting until the next round.

How do you help an oncology patient who is scared or can't sleep?

What they are checking: Whether they offer comfort and emotional support at night.

About the work

On a night shift on a medical-surgical-oncology unit, what changes would make you wake the nurse up to a patient right away?

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

How do you take vital signs and record intake and output accurately on nights?

What they are checking: Whether they are careful with basic tasks, which the posting lists as core duties.

Oncology patients may be at risk for infection. How do you protect them?

What they are checking: Whether they understand infection prevention for patients with weak immune systems.

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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. 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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