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Patient Care Technician-Psychiatric Full Time Nights

Northwestern Medicine · Palos Heights, 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

What draws you to working on a psychiatric unit, and what experience do you have with patients in mental health crisis?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the unit they are joining and have realistic expectations about the work.

Tell me about a time someone was angry or verbally abusive toward you. How did you respond?

What they are checking: Ability to stay professional and not take hostility personally, which this unit demands.

Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team to handle a tense situation.

What they are checking: Whether they follow the team's lead in a crisis instead of acting alone.

How do you take care of yourself after a hard shift?

What they are checking: Self-awareness about burnout in mental health work, which affects how they show up for patients.

What would you do

A patient is getting louder and starts pacing near the nurses' station. What do you do?

What they are checking: Early de-escalation skills and getting help before a situation turns physical.

A patient tells you they've been thinking about hurting themselves but asks you not to tell anyone. What do you do?

What they are checking: Knowing that safety overrides secrecy and that the RN must be told right away.

Psych patients still have medical needs. How do you handle vital signs, blood glucose checks and intake and output with a patient who doesn't want to cooperate?

What they are checking: Patience and creativity in getting needed care done while respecting the patient's right to refuse.

About the work

How do you talk with a patient who is hearing voices or believes things that aren't true?

What they are checking: Calm, respectful communication that neither argues with nor feeds a patient's delusions.

On night rounds, what are you checking for on a psych unit that you might not check for on a medical floor?

What they are checking: Awareness of ligature risks, self-harm and contraband and why observation checks must be real.

How do you set boundaries with a patient who wants to be your friend or asks personal questions?

What they are checking: Understanding of therapeutic boundaries, which protect both the patient and the staff member.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

See what our staff have to say about working at Northwestern Medicine! It Takes a Team ! This position requires good solid CNA experience foundation no less than 6months and then some experience taking care of behavioral health patients. 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. This position is full-time, 72 hours per pay period, night shift, 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. with alternating weekends and holidays. 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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