15 Personal Support Worker (PSW) Interview Questions and Answers

"From a young age, I always wanted to help people. When my father developed an illness, I had to learn how to care for and help him through it. I felt fulfiled every time I made him feel better or assisted in some way. As I grew up, I understood that helping others was my passion. That experience has shaped me into a compassionate personal support worker."

"My approach to providing personal support focuses on my patient's satisfaction. Therefore, I strive to make a difference by providing the quality services they need. Also, I request feedback so I can improve on my approach to providing personal support. While I sometimes get feedback from guardians or medical professionals, I believe my patients are the best people to tell me what to improve."

"I have two years' experience as a personal support worker in Ontario. In my previous roles, I helped patients in nursing homes and hospitals get the quality care services they needed. I learned that humour is a personal support worker's greatest asset and time management skills are important."

"As a personal support worker, I don't reveal a resident or patient's condition to anyone, unless they give me their consent. Some details are personal, and it's my job to ensure they remain that way. I know I can only build healthy relationships with patients when they trust me, so I never disclose their personal or sensitive information."

"A vulnerable adult is anyone over 18 that suffers from a physical or mental illness and has reduced mental capacity or mobility. I would listen to such patients' complaints and provide them with the care and support they need. If I noticed signs of physical or emotional abuse, I would refer them to or directly contact medical professionals. I would also inform the patient of my decision to make referrals."

"I would stay calm, make sure they're safe, and wait out their outburst by leaving the room. When the patient is calm, I would enter and listen to why they are angry. Then, I would try to understand their grievances and ask them open-ended questions. If the patient became aggressive again, I would call for help from my supervisor or an available medical professional."

"In my previous role, I lost a patient who was critically ill. I had difficulty sleeping and other emotional issues. During this period, I learned that although my job is to care for others, grief is bound to happen and I also have to deal with my emotions. I understand that keeping those emotions to myself could affect my work and make me less effective in my role. Therefore, I would talk about my feelings with friends and a support group without disclosing the patient's condition and any sensitive or personal details."

"I know that patients with Alzheimer's disease or dementia can have good and bad days. I would be understanding with the patient and vigilant of their condition. Also, I would ensure that they have the care they need at all times. I would make sure they take their medications and use them according to the prescription. I would also try to reduce distractions to avoid unnecessary confusion."

"I would contact emergency medical care as soon as I notice a patient is experiencing a heart attack. I would also look out for symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, and chest pain. If the patient was still conscious, I would first give them aspirin and then a prescribed nitroglycerin pill unless they have a known allergy. If the patient was unconscious, I would perform CPR until the emergency medical care arrived."

"I believe personal support workers must build trust and make sure patients know that we listen to them while respecting the decisions they make. I would tell a patient that I respect their privacy and give them a time when I would return to check on them again. I would also inform my supervisor of their decision and come up with a way to move forward that works for both me and the patient."

"I am a team player who enjoys working with others. In my previous role, I worked with nurses, doctors, and nurse aides in a hospital. We often collabourated on the best ways to care for and support patients. There were also times when I helped a colleague who was running late to work or covered their shift when they were unavailable."

"If I was busy caring for a patient, and the other patients' needs weren't urgent, I would finish the task before responding to other patients. However, I would reassure the other patients that I would be with them shortly. Then, I would explain why I couldn't answer the other patients immediately. As a personal support worker, I know it isn't respectful to switch between clients unless it's an emergency. If there was another available staff member, I would ask them to help the other patients until I was free."

"I would speak calmly to the patient and try to understand what made their mood change so suddenly. If the cause of their anger is something I can fix, I would provide them with a solution. However, if their anger is unusual, I would notify my supervisor or nurse of the patient's condition."

"I would first seek to understand why they want the snack that's bad for their health. Then, I would explain the consequence of the snack on their health. I would also offer another alternative they could eat instead. If the patient remains consistent with their request, I would contact my supervisor or other medical personnel around."

"I would have a calm, private conversationwith them and ask them how we can move forward without allowing our dispute to affect our patients' care and support. Next, I would suggest some solutions to our issues and try to work with the other caregiver to come to a resolution. If the other caregiver doesn't want to resolve the conflict, I would reach out to our supervisor to help us manage the situation."