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Senior Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist

Sanford Health · Park Falls, WI · $22.50–$36.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Aug 18, 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

As a senior specialist, how would you help train or support newer staff?

What they are checking: Leadership and mentoring expected from a senior-level role.

Tell me about a patient who made big progress in your program. What made the difference?

What they are checking: Understanding of what drives patient success in rehab.

What would you do

A patient's blood pressure drops and they feel dizzy during a session. What do you do?

What they are checking: Recognizing exercise warning signs and stopping safely, since cardiac patients can become unstable.

A patient stops coming to cardiac rehab after two weeks. How would you re-engage them?

What they are checking: Motivating patients, since rehab only works if they complete the program.

About the work

Walk me through how you write an exercise prescription for a patient after a heart attack using ACSM guidelines.

What they are checking: Knowledge of safe intensity, frequency and progression for cardiac patients.

How do you administer and interpret a submaximal exercise test?

What they are checking: Skill with the assessment the posting names, which guides safe exercise levels.

What ECG changes during exercise would make you stop a session?

What they are checking: Telemetry knowledge to spot dangerous rhythms or ischemia during supervised exercise.

How do you adjust exercise for a patient with heart failure, diabetes or arthritis?

What they are checking: Tailoring programs for patients with multiple health conditions.

How do you teach patients about risk factors like smoking, diet and stress?

What they are checking: Risk factor education, which the posting lists as a core part of the job.

How do you use NSCA guidelines differently than ACSM in your practice?

What they are checking: Familiarity with both guideline sets the posting names, especially for strength training.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Sanford Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Sanford Health.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. 

 Work Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America)

 Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

 Compensation: Salary Range: $22.50 - $36.00



 Union Position: No

 Department Details Join Our Team and Grow The Good! Hours: Monday - Friday | 7:30am - 4::00pm Why you will love this role: • Patient Focused Care • Supportive work environment • Employee Well-being Program • Wage based on experience • Career advancement opportunities • Comprehensive benefits package Apply now and be part of something special! Together, let's Grow The Good in our community. Summary Provides physical conditioning, reconditioning, risk factor reduction, and education through exercise prescription, supervised exercise and educational programs in Cardiac Rehabilitation Services. Job Description Possesses a thorough understanding of the physiological basis of activity and ability to prescribe and instruct exercise according to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines. Ability to administer and interpret submaximal cardiovascular assessment. Possesses an understanding of coronary heart disease and its risk factors. Competent in and capable of teaching Olympic lifts, plyometric exercises, strength training, speed development, and agility exercises when applying them in a periodization framework. Demonstrates effectiveness in maintaining a well-organized operation to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of the work and information flow; monitors procedures and implements corrective actions as required. When students are providing patient care, treatment, and/or services as a part of their training, any/all employees may be asked to supervise the students. Demonstrates good planning skills by ensuring the appropriate scheduling of resources, including staff, equipment, and supplies. Defines and delegates work responsibilities with clear, consistent expectations and outcomes. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in cardiac rehabilitation, physical education, exercise science, corporate fitness, human biology or related field of study is required. Master’s degree preferred as well as experience working with cardiac rehab patients is preferred, as well as experience in assisting and designing specific experience programs for individuals. Understands physiological basis of activity and ability to prescribe and instruct exercise. Knowledge of American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACPR) guidelines is preferred. Thorough understanding of the physiological basis of activity and ability to prescribe and instruct exercise according to ACSM and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines. Experience in any of the following areas is a plus: administering and interpreting cardiovascular assessments, interpreting single channel electrocardiogram (EKG), ability to take blood pressure; working with coronary heart disease, risk factors, cardiac medications, and cardiovascular procedures. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required. Certified or complete certification through American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) or Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP) within two years of hire is required. Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.

Apply at Sanford Health