"As a new graduate from a great nursing program, I've spent the last four years intensely learning the importance of patient safety in all work that I will perform during my career and will always be at the top of my mind as a registered nurse at the Mount Sinai Hospital. If I saw a colleague not being safe in the care of a patient, I would first step in and say something to my colleague to ensure that it was addressed immediately in the best interest of the patient. From there, my next actions would be determined by what exactly the safety measure was. If it was something simple like forgetting to scrub in, that would not need to be reported. But if it were something more serious, I would follow the safety protocols for reporting at this hospital."

"In our line of work, the safety of everyone in a medical facility comes down to simple and easy actions consistently. When I see my coworkers not taking precautions seriously, I talk with them immediately and in a positive frame, reminding them of the importance of safe work habits. If I notice a coworker skip handwashing, for example, I would talk to them privately and explain the importance of hand hygiene in keeping all patients and staff safe. If it came to continued blatant disregard, I would take the issue to my supervisor as quickly as possible."

As an RN, maintaining a safe environment for patients takes many different forms. This ranges from the simple act of washing your hands before and after caring for a patient to intentionally mistreating a patient. To directly answer the question, you need to make it clear that you will address the safety issue immediately with your colleague and that you would do this in the name of safety for the current patient and all future patients your colleague would care for. Then, depending on the severity of the safety breach, talk about how you would report the incident as designated by the procedures of the Mount Sinai Hospital. Don't hesitate to give an example of a time you caught a safety issue and took the necessary steps to make it right.