35 Anesthesiologist Interview Questions & Answers
Behavioral
1. Compassion is one of our core values. How do you provide compassionate care to patients?
How to Answer
All healthcare organizations value and promote compassionate care for patients. Compassion can be shown to patients in several ways, such as going the extra mile to ensure they are comfortable, building trusting relationships with them and their families, or showing genuine interest when interacting. Gives ways, big or small, that you demonstrate compassion to your patients in the workplace.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"First impressions are important. I always greet patients with a smile and pleasant attitude, even if I'm having a rough or stressful day. I'm patient and genuine in my interest and desire to care for them rather than seeming annoyed, rushed, or like they are a burden. I actively listen to them to better understand their concerns and answer questions they may have. I always try to put myself in their shoes to understand their perspective, attitude, and outlook on things."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"Patient safety and comfort are my focus. I always speak to patients in a calm and reassuring manner, which instills confidence and trust in our team. I try to put myself in each patient's shoes and relate to the questions they are asking or the fears they have. I never get frustrated when speaking to patients or their families and I go out of my way to ensure patients know I'm focused on them and they have my undivided attention. I truly care about my patients and want their experience with us to be a positive one."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"I know that having a surgery or procedure can be stressful and anxiety-inducing for many. It's my goal to reduce their anxiety and demonstrate that I genuinely care about them and their well-being. I take time when explaining information to them and provide plenty of opportunities for them to ask questions. My motto is to always treat my patients like I'd want my family member to be treated."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Behavioral
2. A major focus of our facility is achieving excellent patient scores in our post-surgical surveys. What role would you play in helping our team earn excellent scores?
How to Answer
The overall patient experience entails the entire range of interactions patients have with their healthcare team, so each employee plays a role. No matter the setting, anesthesiologists should focus on the quality of care they provide, because if hired, the organization will expect you to positively influence the experience of the patients you will be working with daily. Aspects to consider in your response include bedside manner, responsiveness to patients, kindness and compassion, follow-through, and communication.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 7th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"As an anesthesiologist, I have multiple interactions with patients during their care and treatment. Before an operation, I meet with patients to assess their general health, review their medical history and ask follow-up questions. I also help complete the patient prep. This is definitely an opportunity to make an impact on the patient experience by making them feel safe and comfortable as they prepare for their procedure. I make sure I'm friendly and reassuring and that I give them time to ask me questions beforehand. I always go above and beyond to make sure they are educated on the procedure, and what to expect afterward and I do what I can to make them comfortable while they wait, IE getting them a warm blanket if they are feeling cold."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"Comfort and safety are my top priorities for patients. I evaluate my patients before the procedure or surgery and I closely evaluate them throughout. In my role, I'm responsible for helping develop a plan for dealing with post-operative pain, and I take that very seriously. I want patients to wake up feeling safe and as pain-free as possible. In all interactions with patients and their families, I am kind and professional. I never want a patient to feel like I'm rushing or they are just another bed to get in and out, but rather I want them to feel like we are focused only on them and know they are in good hands. Doing these things regularly, along with being attentive, patient, and responsive to patients will help us to receive positive patient survey scores."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"Many patients are nervous or anxious when they are in the hospital, so I go above and beyond to help calm their nerves and reassure them that they are in good hands. It's important that they know we want to make every effort to help them get well and return home. I make every effort to make them comfortable and spend adequate time with them and their caregivers before and after a procedure or surgery. My goal is to meet their basic needs, then exceed their expectations for kind, compassionate care. I seek patients' feedback often, so I know how I can improve my interactions with them and improve their experience with us."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 7th, 2023
Behavioral
3. What do you feel is the single most important quality an anesthesiologist should possess?
How to Answer
This is an exploratory question that allows the interviewer to gain insight into what you feel is the most important quality to possess in order to be successful in the role. There is no wrong answer, as there are many important traits, qualities, and skills that an anesthesiologist must possess. Asking this type of question ensures you understand the required soft skills for the position.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"As a specialist beginning my unsupervised practice of anesthesiology, I feel the most important quality to possess is one of prudent assimilation. I know that any seasoned specialist builds upon his or her skills by observing others and incorporating ideas and protocols that are witnessed first hand and felt important to add to their own tool chest of skills. A successful anesthesiologist who has enjoyed a remarkable career is an amalgam of the many fine doctors with whom he or she has worked through the years."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"In this role, attention to detail is important, as mistakes can have drastic consequences. As an anesthesiologist, I must have the presence of mind to closely monitor even the most routine procedures and be ready to take swift and decisive action when emergencies arise. This is a skill I possess and would bring to the team."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I have come to learn that the single most important quality of an anesthesiologist is attentiveness. During surgery, an anesthesiologist needs to pay attention to multiple patient queues, orders, and details. It's imperative to be engaged and present at all times during this parade of duties. That being said, the most important quality--patient by patient--is perspective, being able to see the whole picture. We are a collection of processes, tissues, chemicals, and electrical discharges, but our 'whole' is our body; likewise, as I monitor all of these individual processes, tissues, and so on, I have to keep the body as a whole in mind. I have learned that by the time something happens to the body, the process deeper down that started the abnormality may look innocent unless I keep in mind the cascade of processes that make the whole. If not, I may miss the problem."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Behavioral
4. Tell me about your leadership qualities.
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know what you consider to be strong leadership qualities. When describing leadership qualities, try to avoid general terms and give some unique ideas. This is a question almost guaranteed to be asked of you. You should prepare an answer you feel they haven't heard before, because you can be assured they've heard many variations already.
A great leader is someone who people naturally want to follow. They have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with nearly any personality type. A respected leader will take ownership of their mistakes and will always lead their team by example. True leaders see the importance of motivating others and recognizing even the smallest achievements. You can include these insights in your answer, but these are only the foundation of a good answer.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I'm new to my career, so my workplace leadership experience is somewhat limited. With that said, I possess great leadership qualities that include diligence, tenacity, and open communication. I look forward to taking these skills to work for you!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I take every opportunity to improve my leadership skills. These opportunities come up every day if you know where to look. My leadership qualities are best summed up as dedicated, attentive, and motivating. I like to recognize my support staff's small wins because that motivates them to continue achieving."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I believe I efficiently lead by showing others respect regardless of their position or title, creating an open environment in which everyone knows that ideas are welcome. I enjoy setting achievable but high expectations for myself and my support staff. Most importantly, I make sure that the environment is friendly and that everyone enjoys their work. If they can rely on that, they've been led effectively."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Behavioral
5. How do you express your opinions on controversial topics such as abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and cloning?
How to Answer
Questions like this can be tricky! Be sure to take note of the wording here as the interviewers are looking to see how you navigate controversial topics versus directly asking your opinion on these matters. This is the time to discuss how you remain tactful when contentious issues arise.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"The medical workplace is not where these battles over philosophical differences should be waged. Battles create winners and losers, and there is no room for losers in medicine, for ultimately the patient is the one who suffers. My position is one as a person who is a non-participant ( a 'non-combatant') in these battles. The workplace need only follow the law while respecting the personal ethics of the workers."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"When it comes to controversial topics such as abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and cloning, I will certainly give my opinions more freely in a social setting with a friend versus a workplace setting--and never around patients. If at work, I would try to keep my personal opinions to myself or, at the very least, remain diplomatic by expressing how each side has their right to an opinion, including me, which shall remain private."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"Such controversies will never be argued convincingly, because opposing sides use different definitions as a basis for their positions. For example, when life is considered to begin will determine a person's position on pregnancy termination; that is, life begins, respectively, at conception, at implantation, at autonomous hormonal support, at establishment of a heartbeat, or even at third trimester. As an arbitrator for these different definitions, I can only lose, which takes away from my effectiveness in my profession. Therefore, I would offer the traditional 'agree to disagree' with others, as long as they recognize the existence of multiple definitions that are incompatible."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Behavioral
6. Are there any situations when a physician is justified in lying to a patient?
How to Answer
With this question, the interviewer is questioning your knowledge, character, and ethics at the same time. You should have a well-versed answer to this question as it may come up many times during your career. Research the concept of "therapeutic privilege" and then create a canned response from there. Your answer should be brief, clean, and not convoluted.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I have had many discussions with other anesthesiologists on the topic. Physicians may have to evaluate whether the deception will cause physical or psychological harm, will reduce stress and anxiety, will preserve or create a sense of hope, etc. We may be faced with situations where parents ask us to lie to their children for one reason or another. I have not run into any instances where I've had to evaluate if lying to a patient was appropriate, but my current belief is that there is never a situation where a physician is justified in lying to their patient. We have a responsibility to be honest with our patients so that they can make the most informed decisions for themselves."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Answer Example
"As an anesthesiologist, I commit to be honest and professional in all interactions. Deceiving patients is unethical, and erodes the trust of patients in physicians. I personally feel that deception or lying to a patient is a violation of my duty and is rarely justified. The only exception to this could be in a case where a patient has dementia or another cognitive disorder, that may prevent them from understanding the need for a medical procedure. Depending on the situation (life-threatening illness or disease that required a procedure with sedation), if the patient had a power of attorney, I would give the information to the family and ensure that the medical history was reviewed with that person. I would try to be as honest as possible with the patient, but if they were confused or unable to understand, I would do my best to calm them and reassure them throughout the sedation process. That is the only scenario I could think of where deceiving a patient might be justified."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Experienced Example
"Because I have worked in palliative care for many years, this is a topic that comes up frequently. Families often want physicians to omit certain information in the hopes that their loved one won't be stressed or experience additional anxiety. It's understandable that families want to protect their loved ones, but it's never appropriate for physicians to lie or withhold information from patients. It's never okay to mislead a patient into thinking a situation is better or worse than it is. If a family makes such a request, I often offer to share the information in smaller doses, so that it's more manageable and less overwhelming. This also gives them time to ask questions and fully understand the sedation, surgery and recovery process."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Behavioral
7. What has been your biggest challenge as an anesthesiologist, and what did you learn from it?
How to Answer
This question is similar to the 'what is your greatest weakness' question. Not all challenges will reflect a weakness that you possess, but you need to show the interviewer that despite a difficulty, you will learn from it. Tell the interviewer about a challenging case you had or a time you struggled emotionally with the outcome of a surgery. Discuss what you learned and how you applied that struggle to your professional or personal growth.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"In the recent past, my biggest challenge has been in balancing my studies with the work that came with my residency. I have learned a lot about managing my time and prioritizing my work. It's a triage skill, and while the biggest challenge is learning to do it right, it's fulfilling when I do."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"A natural challenge of being an anesthesiologist is the pressure to achieve perfect outcomes. Each day, I'm working with acute and critical patients, so even the smallest mistake or miscalculation could cause injury or be life-threatening to the patient. This job requires you to be alert at all times and to exercise good judgment and caution with every step you take in the patient care process. There is often pressure from leadership to be as successful as possible, to prevent the hospital from being sued, which is understandable, but still causes stress for staff. I've found that it's important to understand the impacts of medical mistakes, but it's equally as important to trust and be confident in your skills and abilities. I make sure that I take care of myself outside of work, mentally and physically so that I'm prepared for each shift, and I can be focused on the patient and their safety. It's important to have outlets for stress so that it doesn't build up and carry over into the workplace and to your staff."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Experienced Example
"Taking my specialty for granted is my biggest challenge. Even a frequent type of case--yet another nerve block or a simple in-and-out mask case--should never be seen as routine. If it does, I'm not putting my patient first, because there is so much at stake in what I do, even when it's considered 'routine.' There are no routine patients, so there are no routine cases. When I'm lucky enough to have a series of cases that don't have life-and-death excitement, the lure of complacency-in-the-routine is a test for when the life-and-death complication presents itself; if I'm complacent, I may not pass that test."
Written by Rachelle Enns
User-Submitted Answer
"My biggest challenge has been in balancing my studies with the work that came with my internship. I have learned a lot about managing my time and prioritizing my work. I decided to do my internship in the Netherlands to improve my triage skills further. The Dutch are known to be the most organized people in Europe."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Wow! That's interesting about the Dutch! :) Naturally, it was challenging to balance your work, studies, and personal life. Can you talk more specifically about how exactly you managed this? Did you use any time management tools or methods to help you achieve balance? Consider including an example to further show the interviewer that you were able to overcome this challenge. Also, don't forget to emphasize any lessons you learned about balancing and prioritizing competing tasks. How will these lessons make you a better anesthesiologist? Great job!
Compatibility
8. What type of work schedule are you looking for?
How to Answer
Talk to the hiring manager about your schedule and flexibility in hours. Be honest about your availability and expectations and ensure that the interviewer is clear with you on their expectations, as well. Read the job post carefully, and use this time to ask questions about the schedule requirements. It's better to have the conversations up front, to ensure the schedule pattern and requirements are compatible with what you're looking for.
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"Ideally, I work prefer to work Monday-Friday on the evening shift, and I would be available to do a weekend and holiday rotation. I understand that there are likely on-call requirements as well, which I am more than happy to cover."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
Answer Example
"I understand that as an anesthesiologist my hours may be sporadic and not always pre-determined. I went into this field with a strong understanding that I would be expected to work a wide range of hours. I can make myself available whenever needed."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I'm primarily looking for a day shift position knowing that it will include some weekends. I know that this position often requires extra shifts, especially when there are emergencies, so I'm happy to accommodate those needs to ensure our patients are cared for."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
Compatibility
9. Where do you see your career as an anesthesiologist taking you in the next 5 years?
How to Answer
It's impossible to know where you will be in 5 years, but you need to assure the interviewer that, given all possible circumstances, you see yourself working as an anesthesiologist with them for the long term. For example, you can offer to seek leadership in the organization. Another example, taking this question on a track similar to the one about self-development, it can be answered similarly with how you plan to improve within your vocation. Alternatively, with the advancements in technology and medicine that are happening (according to IBM, total medical knowledge is doubling every 77 days!), this question can be your chance to tell the interviewer how you plan to be a part of the action. The energy that you put into this answer will show the interviewer your motivation level.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"In five years I would like to be indispensable--that's tongue-in-cheek bravado, I know. What I really mean is that I'd like to contribute to the department to the extent such that I would be considered a valued asset on educational, professional, and ethical levels within the profession and within the organization. Engaging in such qualities is true leadership."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"As a newer anesthesiologist, my focus short term is to find a reputable organization to join so that I can get established, grow and develop. In three to five years, I would like to be exploring specialty areas and potentially pursue additional certifications that would allow me to add more value to the organization and to continue to grow and expand my own skill set and expertise."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experienced Example
"Five years from now I would like to be teaching residents in this department. I feel like I am progressing at a rate that will make this a possibility and want to share my experience, intuition, and epiphanies with those who are learning."
Written by Rachelle Enns
User-Submitted Answer
"I hope to achieve a healthy work/ life balance, where I will focus more on research and writing."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Rachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer
Solid! If you are comfortable sharing what type of research and writing, or the areas of focus most interesting to you, that would be a great add.
Compatibility
10. Would you ever consider relocation?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know if you would relocate if circumstances changed for you. If picking up and moving your family across the country isn't your plan then be sure to let them know that. If working between two clinics, with some overnight travel, wouldn't bother you, share that information with the interviewer. The time to establish this is on the front end of your relationship. This will avoid wasting time on both your and the facility's part.
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
1st Entry Level Example
"I am new to the medical industry and will happily pursue an opportunity anywhere within the United States. However, once begun, I would like some assurance of a few years' stability. Do you offer any type of relocation assistance programs?"
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
1st Experienced Example
"I wouldn't consider relocating to a different state, but I would consider working with the three other hospitals you have in the valley. I am a strong team player and would collaborate with other facilities."
Written by Rachelle Enns
2nd Experienced Example
"I would consider relocation for the right opportunity. The right opportunity would provide me a blend of leadership responsibilities, career growth, teaching opportunities, and an increase in compensation. It should also clearly state my future obligations, relocation-wise, so as to give me and my family some stability."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Competency
11. How do you go about educating patients on the risks of anesthesia?
How to Answer
Part of the job requires you to educate patients and/or their caregivers on the potential risks, side effects, and complications of receiving anesthesia. To do so, you must be able to effectively communicate with patients to provide appropriate education, answer their questions and address their concerns. This question allows the interviewer to gain some insight into your communication style and skills as well as your patient approach. Describe ways that you are able to provide patients with the information they need to make informed decisions and strategies you use to answer questions, concerns and reassure patients.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"My approach is always straightforward and direct. I use simple language and terms and I'm honest about the risks and complications. I factually present the information, share my personal experience, and I give patients time to think about what I've said and ask questions. I'm always happy to answer questions that patients or caregivers have so that they can make the most informed decisions about their care. If it's an overwhelming amount of information, I provide literature or documents that they can review and have a copy of."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"I know that surgeries and procedures requiring anesthesia can be stressful for patients. Part of my job is to review the benefits and risks associated with anesthesia and it's something that I do on a daily basis with patients. When I enter a patient's room, I ensure all necessary parties are in the room, usually the patient themselves, then any caregivers, friends, or family that need to hear the information. I explain the benefits and the risks associated with anesthesia and any likelihood or possibility of complications. Patients often have questions, so I take the time to actively listen, answer their questions, and ensure they fully understand the information. My goal is for patients to feel safe and comfortable before a procedure, so I take extra time in this area of patient education."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"Typically, I start off by explaining things verbally and discussing the risks associated with receiving anesthesia. I then review a printed document with the information discussed, as oftentimes patients are required to sign a form stating I have reviewed the risks associated. This is usually a pretty straightforward process, however, patients often have questions and I'm always happy to answer them and take my time explaining things or reassuring them that we take every precaution to keep them safe."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
Competency
12. How do you manage your time?
How to Answer
Time management skills are crucial to being a successful anesthesiologist. You will juggle multiple patients and projects and will need some sort of system to keep track of it all. Tell the interviewer about the system you utilize to manage your time.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"When it comes to prioritizing multiple patients in a day, safety is always my top priority. I always evaluate each procedure and patient's needs carefully and create a plan of action for tackling the tasks in order of importance. I've had experience with this in my previous roles and I'm confident in my ability to prioritize tasks efficiently and ensure the safety of the patients. I understand the importance of staying organized and ensuring that all tasks are completed in a timely manner. I also understand the need to remain flexible and be able to adjust my priorities as needed."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Answer Example
"Time management is an important part of meeting deadlines and being successful in my role as an anesthesiologist. While there are general activities that are ongoing in my role, I manage my time based on pressing projects and the needs of the people I support in my role. When necessary, I adapt and ensure flexibility in my time management."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I rely heavily on my support staff. They are lifesavers at times. Also, I ensure organization by never delaying my documentation and always showing up to a shift a little early."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Competency
13. What is your communication objective with a patient prior to surgery?
How to Answer
As an anesthesiologist, you are at times the first person they talk to about their pending procedure and the last person the patient speaks to before they are sedated for their procedure. Tell the interviewer about your counseling style. Your patient interaction style should be calm, informative, empathetic, and truthful.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"My objective would be to ensure that the patient or their guardian fully understands the procedure. I will always take the time to answer any questions they or their family may have."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"My objective is to ensure the patient understands the procedure that they will be receiving, the aftercare that is necessary, and that they can ask any questions along the way."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"As an anesthesiologist, I understand that I am likely the last person the patient sees before they go under for their surgery. My communication goal is to make sure they understand the situation, our medical plan, and that they are in great hands with our medical team. Although I must inform them that complications are possible, the overall tone is that the expcetation is that all will go as planned."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Competency
14. What precautions do you take for a patient with poor health?
How to Answer
Poor health is any falling away from the ideal candidate for anesthesia, which is designated ASA Classification I. Thus, poor health extends from Classification II through V. These classifications have been devised to do just that--institute precautions in a patient in poor health. This question isn't about your knowledge of the ASA criteria list, but how you deal with risk in the patient-doctor relationship. Preop discussions will be different from ASA I through V, which are based on the education you give to your patient. Let the interviewer know that you gear your procedure counseling to make the patient aware of complications possible and the importance of before- and after-care instructions.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I have been taught that when a patient has high-risk factors I must take the time to explain the risks to them beforehand. I will educate him or her what my treatment entails and how it is expected to go, with the understanding that complications are always possible. I will make liberal use of corroboration from a more experienced anesthesiologist if there is any hesitancy or uncertainty in my plan."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"The day before a procedure I schedule an appointment with my patient to explain the procedure and to discuss his or her awareness and knowledge of the risks and benefits of the planned procedure; if the patient is in poor health, I also shift from his or her knowledge of the risk v benefit to what I can explain about the anesthesia risk v benefit as it applies to the surgery and poor health. It's also important that on the day of the procedure, I make all staff aware of any information that makes this patient a high risk so that everyone is extra vigilant."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 7th, 2023
Experienced Example
"A question to always ask is whether the patient is better or worse off undergoing surgery with anesthesia. The next question to ask is if the patient is aware of whether he or she is better or worse off having it. My obligation, besides using prudent safeguards according to the ASA risk categories, is to educate the patient so that we can partner with each other for the best outcome."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
15. How would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve?
How to Answer
Careful with this one! While interviewer truly may want to understand better in which way you feel healthcare could best evolve, it might be a fishing expedition into your politics. There are many controversies in healthcare today, ranging from capitalism to socialism. Since even non-profit hospitals have a bottom line, there may be a consensus for what evolution of the current system may be best or worst for them. You don't want to take sides in this debate, lest you choose the wrong one. You should center your answers only on the concept of better patient care that includes embracing diversity. You just cannot go wrong doing that. Whatever your answer, be sure to maintain a confident stance and complete your answer in a way that presents you as someone who gives this a lot of careful thought.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I think we are doing a great job but can always do better, especially as it applies to the underserved population. True, this segment of the population may always exist, but we must continually ask ourselves if we are doing everything we can to address inequity in healthcare."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I would like to see health-based organizations and facilities put more efforts into putting their patients at the center of everything that they do. This could mean cutting down wait times, improving safety in hospitals, and even engaging with the community more often, so there is a greater level of trust and comfort-ability. I do believe that we are evolving at a fast rate and I am happy to see how far this patient-centered attitude has come since I started my educational path within medicine."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"As an anesthesiologist in practice for years, I have seen my role reduced to that of a provider, which I feel was a natural deterioration in a capitalistic formula. I would like to see not only an improved perception of my role, but that that perception includes the patient-doctor relationship, inseparable. I feel that a patient-doctor relationship portrays a more sanctified relationship. The patient-doctor relationship really is inseparable, so if either is belittled, they both suffer. The best evolution of medicine must include respect for both."
Written by Rachelle Enns
User-Submitted Answer
"Communication, both between providers and between provider and patient, is central to the provision of good healthcare. Our booming technology is enabling more care centres to shift from paper notes to electronic medical records. Further, the establishment of 'My Health Record' facilitates between-site communication patients to view their own health information.
I'd like to see the medical profession embrace the opportunity that electronic medical records present; especially in terms of communicating across specialities and with our patients. Indeed, my passion for connecting care can be seen in my establishment of an online application to streamline medical record requests across hospitals. I hope that connected EMRs will see my application will become obsolete in the future."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Rachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer
Fantastic answer! You are very clear on your vision for the future of communication in healthcare and how technology can be leveraged to get there. The way that you tied in your accomplishment (online applications) is perfect. Well done!
Discovery
16. Why did you want to become an anesthesiologist?
How to Answer
The interviewer is trying to get to know you better on many levels, so your answer should be straightforward yet heartfelt. All of medicine is a special vocation, but anesthesiology is a bit different in that the turnover of patients is very rapid, although the patient-doctor relationship is just as important. It is also special because it blends on-the-fly science with the person, one patient at a time. Tell the interviewer why being an anesthesiologist differs from that of other specialties and why that difference is important to you.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"For me, the practice of anesthesiology allows the therapeutic management of a patient 's physiology that works in tandem with another therapeutic procedure to fix a specific problem. In this way I am a crucial partner in a team approach that makes another therapy possible and successful."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"As I visited all of the medical specialties through medical school, anesthesiology stood out because it allows one to enter the dynamic physiology of the human body. In that respect it is very scientific, but it is also very special as it allows the physician actually to partner with that physiology on a human level as well as on the scientific level. That makes it as fulfilling as it is fascinating."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I chose anesthesiology, but it was practicing it that has allowed me to more clearly understand why. As an anesthesiologist I have the unique honor to earn the complete trust of a patient, and this is what I mean: in every other specialty the patient is aware of what is happening during evaluation, decision-making, and therapy. If he or she gets better with a medication, for example, there is awareness of what is happening as the improvement happens; alternatively, with complications of therapy, the patient experiences the physical as well as the mental repercussions, such as fear or frustration, but is also grounded by that awareness. Yet, in anesthesiology there must be a special type of trust to allow someone--myself--to manage life and survival while the patient is totally unaware, regardless of whether things are routine or involving literal battles for survival that depend on me and my abilities. That trust is an honor, because it's a testimonial to your interaction with a patient that allows it--a patient you've just met!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
17. What do you like most about your current position?
How to Answer
This is a sneaky way to ask why you are actually leaving your current position. This will tell an interviewer a lot about you on the front end. It will allow him to compare and contrast your previous position with the one for which you're interviewing and use that to judge whether you'll be a good fit or not. In answering the question, do say what you like about the position you're leaving, but don't ever badmouth your current position to justify what you like least. That tends to make one think that you may be the problem, not the position you're leaving.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I work with an amazing team of healthcare practitioners and truly, the teamwork and collaboration here is the best part of my job at this facility. I have no complaints about my employer and if it weren't for me relocating in the next few months, I wouldn't be seeking a new opportunity."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Answer Example
"My current position has given me a lot of good foundation for my work in anesthesiology, but I'm looking for more challenging cases to advance my skills and increase my knowledge."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I have always enjoyed teaching in my chosen specialty. I did it as a senior resident, and although I like my current position for the integrity and reputation of the organization, I want a phase of practice that allows me to teach again. I feel my special interests in certain aspects of anesthesiology will allow me to share my passion for things I've come to master in my current position, but which are at a standstill because of the limited variety and breadth and depth of practice."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
18. What questions do you have for me?
How to Answer
It's always a great idea to have questions ready for the interviewer. Review the organization's website and other online resources to ensure the questions you are asking are not basic and easily researchable. Actively listen during the interview and ask any follow-up questions you might have based on what the interviewer has said. Consider asking follow-up questions about the interviewer, the company, the position itself, and when you can expect feedback from the interview.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions. You answered many throughout the interview, but can you tell me more about the volume of surgical cases performed each month and the typical case mix?"
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"Can you tell me more about why this role is open? Is it a new position or would I be a replacement? In total, how many
anesthesiologists and anesthetists practice within the group?"
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"Can you tell me more about the call schedule? Does the schedule allow for a day off post-call Also, I know some facilities have a designated "call room" available for physicians taking long call shifts. Does your facility have anything like that available?"
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Discovery
19. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned through your work as an anesthesiologist?
How to Answer
The path to becoming any type of physician, especially a specialist like an anesthesiologist, is one of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. The interviewer would like to know more about the what you've learned beyond just the 'book knowledge' of your specialty. Share with the interviewer a valuable lesson you learned on your path to becoming an anesthesiologist.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"The most valuable lesson I have learned is the lesson of staying on task, and task number 1 is always putting the patient first in every thing I do and every decision I make. When I am rendering anethesia to a patient, I am on his or her time, not mine, and my world should serve the needs of his or her world."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"During my path to becoming an anesthesiologist and then practicing the specialty, I've learned to see the patient's perspective instead of seeing it just as my performance of a duty. I have become much more empathetic which is a trait that all medical professionals should have."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"Often I meet my patient for the first time the day of anesthesia. The most valuable lesson I've learned as an anesthesiologist is how to establish a patient doctor relationship that is immediately supportive of trust, and for that, the patient must see the empathy I have. If that happens, patient trust is established which goes a long way to how the procedure will go."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
20. In your opinion, what is the most concerning issue facing the medical industry today?
How to Answer
Being a medical professional means that you need to take a keen interest in current events by carefully following the challenges which the medical industry faces. The interviewers want to see that your attention includes applying the external influences of the industry to your own practice. Discuss what you feel to be a primary concerning issue, but be sure to ask the interviewers what they personally see as the most concerning issue in the medical field today. This is an opportunity to start a very insightful conversation and this give-and-take will be helpful in their getting to know you beyond just a Q&A exercise. You should take advantage of that.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"After the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of telemedicine, I worry that the dividing line between appropriate and inappropriate telemedicine will blur? Telemedicine is a newcomer to the medical industry, so we must be careful that it is used responsibly."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I feel that the most concerning issue in the medical industry is the continual rise of drug prices. The best medications should be accessible to anyone, regardless of their financial or social status, and there has been a rising concern with big pharma creating drugs and then pricing them so high that they are unattainable to most. What do you feel are the most concerning issues facing the medical industry today?"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I feel that telemedicine will expand into the supervisory realm, allowing an anesthesiologist to supervise several ORs in real time via audiovideo. This can be both good and bad in that it can allow for a higher level of supervision to rural ORs that would normally use unsupervised CNRAs, but it can also overextend into cases in which telemedicine isn't appropriate--just to save money. No doubt telemedicine is here to stay, and everyone is scrambling to make the capitalism work in tandem with its ethics. As such, it is fraught with danger and probably will require an extensive protocol to determine its appropriateness."
Written by Rachelle Enns
User-Submitted Answer
"We have had an exodus of medical professionals, both physicians and nurses, from this institution over the last few months. It is concerning that we are unable to retain individuals to remain in these posts or to attract new people."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Rachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer
Curious if this response can relate industry-wide, or is just pertaining to the institution where you work?
Discovery
21. What are your salary expectations?
How to Answer
Provide the company with a target range you would like your salary to fall within, given your experience and the position you are applying for. By providing a range, you are demonstrating flexibility while also voicing what you feel your contributions are worth. Review the company website ahead of time to see if it mentions a total rewards program, which may include work-life balance, health benefits, mental health services, employee discounts, retirement saving options, etc. If those are important to you, share that you would consider those when considering a total compensation package.
Written by Rachelle Enns
1st Entry Level Example
"My salary target is $210,000 per year as a new anesthesiologist. I understand the value of other benefits, such as CME reimbursement, malpractice insurance, retirement plan, and so on, so I am open to considering those factors when evaluating a compensation package. Ultimately, I'm looking for compensation that is aligned with the role and allows the opportunity for growth."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
1st Experienced Example
"Given my ten years of experience in various settings in nationally ranked hospitals, I'm looking to earn between $325,000-$340,000 base salary. I would also be looking for health, vision, and dental plan coverage as part of my benefits package."
Written by Rachelle Enns
2nd Experienced Example
"At this point in my career, opportunity and growth are at the forefront of my decision. Compensation is not my only driver. With that said, I am currently looking to earn at least $280,000 per year."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
22. Are you actively interviewing with other companies?
How to Answer
Be honest about your status and if you're passively or actively job searching. Be open about whether you are interviewing with other companies and, if so, what stage of the interview process you are in and if you have any pending offers. This gives the interviewer a better idea of how seriously you're pursuing other opportunities, how soon you're looking to make a move, and how quickly they need to make a decision. If you are interviewing elsewhere, but this company is your preferred employer, don't be afraid to share that information.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"You are the only hospital to which I have applied. Your mission, values, and goals as a hospital are what attracted me to the job. I haven't found another organization with goals that align so close with mine."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I have applied to two other hospitals in the area. The reason I applied to this hospital was you have a strong record and reputation in Obstetrics. I have ten years experience working in Obstetrics Anesthesiology and would very much like to grow my career with the best of the best!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I was not actively seeking a new opportunity; however, I had to throw my hat in the ring when I saw your posting for a Pediatric Anesthesiologist. Your hospital has an incredible reputation, and I would be proud to work with your team here."
Written by Rachelle Enns
User-Submitted Answer
"I've applied for a position on the anesthetics training scheme as my first preference. However, I acknowledge how competitive entry into the program is, and that you have many other excellent applicants. I think my ten years of experience in research differentiates me form other candidates."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Rachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer
This reply is a terrific start! It sounds as though you are humble as well - stating that there are likely many talented candidates. Any interviewer should appreciate that kind nod to the competition. I encourage you to craft a more robust final qualifying statement. If you'd like to qualify your experience further, and better state why you should be chosen for the role, you can find some helpful information in this guide: https://www.mockquestions.com/articles/How to Answer: Why Should We Hire You?/
Discovery
23. Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.
How to Answer
Talking about your most significant accomplishment will give the interviewer a definite idea of where you place your values. It will also show the interviewer more about your personality, how you like to be motivated, and how to coach you in the future. It is okay to brag a little bit when answering this question. Show that you are proud of yourself and your career accomplishments!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I was honored and humbled last year when I was asked to help train and mentor other staff members. I have dedicated many years to furthering my education and obtaining my specialty certifications to become an expert. I felt like my commitment to being the best of the best was recognized and I was incredibly honored that leadership was confident in my abilities to help mentor and teach others."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
Answer Example
"The greatest accomplishment in my career was graduating University as an honors student while still working full time in a related field. I was top of my class, and working full time. This showed me that I could dedicate myself to my career and reach the goals that I set for myself. It felt great to accomplish so much and be recognized for my dedication."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I have many accomplishments that I am very proud of during my career as an anesthesiologist. Overall, I would say that my greatest work accomplishment is the positive reputation that I have built and the superior patient satisfaction with my work. I have been asked to speak at various events and conferences over the years, and I believe that is because of the skill and reputation I've built in the area as a trusted professional."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
User-Submitted Answer
"My research project looked at morbidity and mortality of patients admitted with a hip fracture at the QEH. We found that the average time to surgery was approximately 21 days. The recommended time is 48 hours. I developed a hip fracture protocol which is being used by the departments of orthopedics, accidents, and emergency and anesthesia, which significantly reduces time to surgery and as a result associated morbidity."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Rachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer
Very solid answer, and example. This is well explained, even to a layman. Nice work!
Discovery
24. What questions do you have for us?
How to Answer
It's always a great idea to have questions ready for the interviewer. Review the hospital's website and other online resources to ensure the questions you are asking are not mundane or redundant. The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is a list of items you could have found the answers to from merely watching a video on their website!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions. You answered several throughout the interview but I was wondering if you could tell me how long has this role been vacant and what challenges have you had recruiting for it? Also, how soon are you looking for someone to start in this role?"
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
Answer Example
"One question that comes to mind is how many anesthesiologists do you have on staff? Also, is this position a replacement or a newly created opening due to growth?"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"What types of career growth opportunities would this position give me? Also, I know that accreditation is a grueling process, fraught with deficiencies--some minor, some major; have you had any major deficiencies you have needed to correct before the Joint Commission return for another review? "
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 7th, 2023
Discovery
25. We believe in the continual development of our faculty, both professionally and personally. What is your self-development plan?
How to Answer
A new associate should not act like he/she already has tenure and just 'punch in' and 'punch out' every day. Coming with the job is a vocational mandate to improve--yourself and, with it, the whole team. The interviewers do not necessarily want to know what your exact plan is, but that you in fact have plans. This means you're already thinking ahead and are 'all in' when it comes to your profession. If they are going to invest in you, they need to know that you have a plan in place for investing in yourself also, which will come back to the team as a whole.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"The practice of medicine, once separated from the business side by a wide gulf of arrogance and self-appointed nobility, now sees this dividing line blurring. Besides continuing medical education, which is automatically built into my recertification schedule, I want to pursue an education in business. Business and medicine are no longer at odds with each other because of some attitude of elitism, and the truth is that a business sensibility can help medicine by improving efficiency and reducing expenses, which benefits everyone from the big institutions to each patient."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"If I don't strive for improvement, I will be bored; I didn't train in anesthesiology to be bored. I want to practice state-of-the-art medicine while incorporating the newer ideas and advances that come from the rapidly increasing medical knowledge, and that means keeping a keen eye out for the literature of my specialty and interacting with it by incorporating what I learn into my practice."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I intend to partner with new anesthesiologists to try to incorporate the newer protocols and techniques into my already-established way of doing things. The new anesthesilolgists have a lot to learn from me--and I intend to give that to them; but I also have a lot to learn from them. I can't know everything, and I rely on the range and depth of special interests that all of those with less experience will bring as they try to improve themselves--we should all ride that ride together. In other words, they can bring the variety and volume that accruing medical knowledge offers and I can bring a perspective of how such new things apply to the real world of practice. This is a win-win."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
26. If you could meet anyone in the history of medicine, who would you choose and why?
How to Answer
This is more of a personal interest question, and you really cannot give a wrong answer here. Think back to any of the' founding fathers' (and mothers!) of medicine. Everyone should have a story that resonates with him or her--stories of overcoming adversity and how such stories could relate to them today, stories of discovery that are admired, and fantasizing about asking the burning questions of these pioneers. Be sure to add passion to your answer so that the interviewers can sense a genuine interest.
Written by Rachelle Enns
1st Entry Level Example
"That's a great question! If I could meet anyone in the history of medicine, I would meet Virginia Apgar. She paved the way for women in medicine and also introduced obstetrical considerations to neonatology. She also invented the APGAR score. Now, that's fascinating!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
1st Answer Example
"If I could meet anyone in the history of medicine, I would go back to the very beginning and meet Hippocrates. I find it fascinating that he was the first person ever to believe that disease and death were not a result of the anger of gods. I would ask him what that first conversation sounded like...when he first said to others that superstitious belief does not cause disease. He would have had to have faced so many roadblocks, yet he continued to believe in his work."
Written by Rachelle Enns
1st Experienced Example
"I have come to appreciate the work of many medical professionals who paved the way for me to have a safe and fulfilling career in anesthesiology. If I had to choose just one person from history, I would choose Emery Andrew Rovenstine. He pioneered the idea of therapeutic nerve blocking and also introduced the use of cyclopropane."
Written by Rachelle Enns
2nd Experienced Example
"I would love to meet John Adriani from the now defunct Charity Hospital of New Orleans. When he came on board in the 1940s, only minimally trained nurses administered anesthesia. He elevated the specialty to the administration by physicians, but included nurses as anesthetists, against which the chauvinism of the day threatened his very licensure. He literally wrote the play book on the training of specialists in anesthesia. He pledged himself as 'pro-patient' at the national level and today's practice of anesthesia is his dream come true as an example of men and women and doctors and nurses working together in a modern organizational formula that works extremely well and has improved care."
Written by D. Leo on June 15th, 2023
Discovery
27. Who has been your mentor during your career as an anesthesiologist?
How to Answer
Your life's inspiration can come from a book, a mentor, your family, a celebrity, or an author. Anyone! Having a mentor in our lives can help encourage and empower us to take a step in the right direction. You can learn valuable business and life skills from your mentor, including best business practices, appropriate behaviors, and protocols. They provide insight, perspective, vision and provide a sounding board. Tell the interviewer how your mentor has helped you become the anesthesiologist you are today. A mentor need not be a teacher of your specialty; he or she can simply inspire you by who they are, how they are poised, and who they help.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 7th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"My mentor has been my father. My father is also an anesthesiologist, so he has been able to help and guide me get to where I am today, especially during the powerful emotional undercurrents that come when patients don't improve or when they suffer complications."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I find inspiration in a variety of people and things. I would have to say that the person who has most greatly inspired me has been my grandmother. She always had a smile on her face no matter how hard she worked and she loved everyone. She was well respected and always gave more than she received. I try to live with her as much as I can."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"I have had as many mentors as I have had patients, because I make sure to learn something from each and every one of them, patient-by-patient, case-by-case, success-by-success, and complication-by-complication. I am always being mentored, and if I miss a lesson from any one patient, then I have not been a good anesthesiologist for that patient."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
28. What aspect of anesthesiology excites you the most?
How to Answer
This question provides an excellent opportunity to show the interviewer how much you enjoy your job, whether it's a particular type of patient, the rush of adrenaline that comes from an emergency, or the rendering of the art of medicine by saving the day with insight. Speak about what excites you and motivates you to do the job every day. You can also include areas that excite you in the future; perhaps technological advancements, or earning specialty certifications.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"Emergency surgeries are usually life-threatening and life-saving at the same time. My role is to make the life-saving possible while holding together a severely challenged and life-threatened physiology, and when that happens, I know that my contribution is what made the surgeon's contribution possible. Our roles are mutually inclusive, and when a patient rolls in the PACU in stable condition, this is an excitement that makes every harrowing moment worthwhile."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I have always loved to be challenged, and anesthesiology is a very intellectually demanding career. I'm excited by the numerous practice and specialty areas, ranging from pain management, obstetrics, cardiac and palliative care. There are endless opportunities to grow, develop and make an impact on patient care, and I'm excited to get started on my career journey."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Experienced Example
"Today's anesthesiologist accomplishes things that just a few generations ago would have been considered magic or alchemy. I have to admit that when I re-establish the stability of someone who is hemorrhaging, fighting multi-organ jeopardy, or resisting the ravages of infection, that is magic to me. And magic is exhilarating."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Discovery
29. What do you know about our hospital?
How to Answer
Make sure you do your homework before your interview. Knowing about the hospital will show the interviewer that you are interested in their particular position and not just floating your resume. First, mention their goals and mission and how they relate to yours. You should read their "Mission Statement" and/or "Vision" which is usually posted on the landing page of the hospital website. You might want to paraphrase those values in them as being yours and that you find theirs to align with yours. Talk about any awards and accreditations the hospital has. Reviewing the sites annual reports is another excellent way to brush up on the impact their facility is making.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"I know that the organization has been serving patients in the community for about fifty years and has a great reputation for quality care. I did some research online and read that you have won many awards in patient care and safety, and that is really impressive to me. I also read many positive employee reviews, and it seems like the culture is very collaborative and positive, which is exactly what I'm looking for in my next company."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Answer Example
"From my research, it looks like the hospital has grown tremendously since being founded in 1955. It's really such an accomplishment to have over 6,0000 employees and to have won such awards as the "Best Employer for Diversity" and to be named one of Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care in 2022!"
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
Experienced Example
"Over my years of experience as an anesthesiologist I have worked with many medical professionals who trained through your hospital. Reputation is important to me, and these other professionals make a powerful statement to me, which is why I have continued to keep a pulse on new openings at your facility. I am also aware that your hospital consists of 5 large facilities as well as 23 satellite clinics over two states, so the breadth and depth of your services is very attractive to me. Your facilities are growing at a rapid pace, and I'd be very excited to join the team."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Education
30. Tell me about your education and degree(s).
How to Answer
The interviewer may not have had a chance to review your resume or may not have it readily available, so they could inquire about your education. Give them a high-level overview of your education path and if you've obtained any additional certifications. If you graduated with honors or have any other proud accomplishments to share related to your education, feel free to include that information as well.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"I completed four years of pre-med education and earned my Bachelor's degree, then completed four years of medical school at X University to become a Doctor of Medicine. I completed four years of residency in an anesthesiology program at X and have been working in the OR for the last six years. I am also board certified."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Answer Example
"I graduated from X University with honors and a Doctor of Medicine degree. After my residency, I took the ABA exam and became board certified. From there, I completed a one-year fellowship training with a focus on pain management."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I have a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from X College and completed my four-year residency program at X. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA. After that, I went on to become board certified and completed a two-year fellowship training to subspecialize in intensive care."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experience
31. What experience, training or certifications do you have in anesthesiology subspecialities?
How to Answer
In anesthesiology, there are many subspecialties including pain management, cardiac, pediatric, neuro-anesthesia, obstetric, critical care, and hospice. Give the interviewer some insight into your education, training, certifications, and experience in these subspecialties. If you do not have any, be honest and share any future plans or goals you have in these areas.
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"I have experience and training in obstetric anesthesia. I work primarily on the maternity unit, where I administer intravenous medicines like morphine and fentanyl for pain relief and assist if complications arise. I administer epidurals and I also administer strong anesthetics for mothers who are preparing for cesarean births. In this setting, I also oversee infusion pumps that patients can utilize as part of their pain management plan."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"I am trained and have experience as a neuro anesthesiologist. Neurosurgical procedures are extremely delicate and require close monitoring and care before, during, and after surgery. In this role, I provide care in the general neurosurgical operating rooms and in the neuro-interventional radiology suites. I have experience providing anesthesia for cases
such as craniotomies, including awake, complex, cervical spine surgeries; posterior fossa tumor resections; endoscopic procedures; spinal fusions; and level I emergency procedures for aneurysms, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acute trauma to the cervical spine."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"I am passionate about hospice and palliative care patients and that subspecialty has been the focus of the last ten years of my career. In this role, my goal is to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses and diseases. I'm trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an operation or procedure. I assess the risk of the patient undergoing surgery and optimize the patient's condition prior to, during, and after surgery. I'm empathetic to the situations that my patients and their families and the illnesses they face and do all that I can to help them be comfortable."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experience
32. Do you have any experience medically directing or medically supervising CRNAs or AAs?
How to Answer
In some facilities, the anesthesiologist must complete the required services themselves. In other medical supervised practices, anesthesiologists do not execute services themselves, but supervise CRNAs or AAs. The interviewer would like to better understand your experience in this area and gauge your comfort level and interest. This will allow the interviewer to ensure the responsibilities are compatible with your experience and desire to work in such an environment.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"I have not worked in any setting where I've had the opportunity to direct or supervise CRNAs or AAs. I'm a natural leader and enjoy mentoring others when there is an opportunity to do so. I feel confident in my experience and skillset and would be interested in taking this responsibility on in my next role."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role, I do supervise two CRNAs. I have been doing so for the last three years and am very comfortable working in this environment. It's my responsibility to oversee the CRNAs and ensure they are properly educating patients about treatment plans, answering patients' questions about their care and treatment, administering appropriate local and general anesthesia, providing main management, and delivering emergency medical care as needed."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"I do not have experience directing or supervising CRNAs or AAs. I am a recent graduate, so I would not feel comfortable in such a role at this time. My focus is on growing and developing in my own role, then perhaps in the future exploring leadership and mentoring opportunities such as that."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Experience
33. Tell me about your experience working as part of a hospital healthcare team.
How to Answer
In this setting, you will likely be working with physicians, surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, so the interviewer would like to hear more about your experience working on a similar team. It's important to show the interviewer that you can be successful in this environment by possessing strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Share your experience collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure patients are safe during procedures.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"In my current role in the OR, I work alongside surgeons and nurses every day. It's critical that we all have good relationships and are able to collaborate and communicate effectively when caring for patients. I understand the role of each team member and make every effort to maintain strong working relationships with each of them. Patient safety is my top priority, so I'm constantly talking to other team members to ensure everyone is on the same page and critical information is relayed before, during, and after a procedure that requires anesthesia."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"As a physician anesthesiologist, I work with a team of other physicians and nurses on a daily basis. We all have a common goal of positive patient outcomes, so we collaborate and communicate every step of the way when prepping and treating a patient. We work together to complete preoperative assessments, evaluate and monitor the patient's health before, during, and after the procedure, and ensure they are safe. We all play a part in the well-being of the patient and we rely on one another to help make the process and treatment as seamless and safe as possible."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"I work with a large interdisciplinary team at my current employer. Communication is key as oftentimes there are lots of moving parts when prepping and completing surgeries. Each clinician must communicate important information regarding the patient's health and vital signs, and must quickly alert the rest of the team when complications occur or a situation changes. We must each actively listen and be agile when responding to a patient's need or addressing a complication. We all play equally important roles in the patient care cycle and it's important that we have good working relationships to ensure patients are safe and receive the highest quality of care possible."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 13th, 2023
Situational
34. As an anesthesiologist, there is a chance that your patient will not make it out of surgery. How would you handle that?
How to Answer
Patient safety is always a top priority, however, there are risks associated with anesthesia and medical procedures and at times there are things beyond our control that cause a patient to have complications. If you've experienced this type of situation, describe how you reacted and processed the event. Think about how you responded to the other members of the healthcare team and the patient's family, friends, or caregivers. If you don't have an experience to share, describe how you would respond if you were faced with this event. Be sure to focus on soft skills like communication, empathy, compassion, interpersonal skills, emotional regulation, and reflection to ensure things couldn't have been done differently for a positive outcome.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"I know that many patients are not good anesthesia candidates but require surgery nonetheless. I also know even patients in good health can throw me a physiologic curveball and go downhill fast, especially with the stress of ongoing surgery. Regardless of the end result, although I made an emotional investment with the empathy I used to establish a trusting patient-doctor relationship, there are times that such feelings need to be put on a shelf so that I can be my objective best--either for this patient or for the one I'm treating after a patient loss. There's always time later to take your feelings back off of that shelf that allowed you to do your best work."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"As a medical professional, I know very well that the unthinkable can happen at any time. I rely on my training and experience and provide the best care possible for each of my patients. When we lose a patient it is difficult; however, we must remind ourselves that this is the circle of life. We learn what we can from the situation and remain confident that we did everything in our power to keep the patient alive."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"Anesthesia is a specialty when the laws of biology and biochemistry can align into a perfect storm that can doom a patient. Any anesthesiologist with enough cases will have these. Fortunately, there is usually considerable time to navigate a patient's downhill course, and the best way to handle this is to just stay on task. This means the patient's life comes first, not his or her life story. By that I mean whatever feelings I have in having gotten to know the patient must be set aside, because such feelings are the enemy of efficiency. Usually efficiency doesn't have to compete with feelings, but when they do, again, I must stay on task. Unfortunately, there are downhill courses that never right themselves. However, if I knew I had stayed on task the entire time, then I know I performed to the best of my ability. A death is a tragedy, but when it happens I find my motto changes from 'stay on task' to 'stay on message,' which is being ready to do my best for the next patient. This can exist alongside my disappointment in the previous outcome, because I know I gave it my best."
Written by D. Leo on June 15th, 2023
Situational
35. What would you do if you noticed another clinician make a mistake when treating a patient?
How to Answer
Medical mistakes are impactful and can range from minor to life-threatening. The interviewer asks this question to understand the value you place on patient safety, your ability to follow protocols, and to address issues and mistakes in a timely manner. When responding, you can provide a specific example that highlights your skills and abilities to handle this type of situation. If you have not experienced this situation, walk the interviewer through how you would respond and address the issue.
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"Patient safety is my top priority. Giving feedback to other team members can be hard but even though I'm a new graduate, if I noticed a mistake, I would quickly speak up and address the issue with the clinician. I would do so in a professional and private manner, speaking directly about what I felt I had observed and sticking to the facts. If it were a critical matter, say for example, I witnessed a patient being administered the wrong medication, I would speak up immediately to prevent the mistake from causing harm to the patient. The approach is important, so maintaining a professional tone and not appearing accusatory or belittling would be the goal in this situation. Hopefully, they would quickly address it and we could move forward."
Written by Jaymie Payne on May 30th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"Healthcare workers often work long shifts, so it's important that everyone on the care team is focused and vigilant. This often means, being the second set of eyes to another clinician, as a layer of safety. If I noticed a mistake, I would immediately speak up, but in a professional and polite way, as I worked to confirm what I thought was a mistake. I would never be accusatory, because there is a chance I did not see or hear something correctly. If the patient's safety is at stake, it's important to speak up and ask questions and verify information, to ensure no mistake was made that could harm a patient. It's all about your approach and the relationships that you've built with the team. Everyone should feel comfortable bringing an issue to another person's attention and working as a team to correct them."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 4th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
"We're all human and mistakes happen. If it were something minor, I would approach them in a professional and non-confrontational way and try to help re-educate them on the proper way to do something. There are many situations where a mistake requires special reporting, so depending on the severity of the mistake, I would intervene to make sure the patient was safe, then notify the appropriate leaders and complete necessary reporting paperwork."
Written by Jaymie Payne on June 14th, 2023