Talk about the most difficult situation you've had communicating with a patient or their family prior to a procedure. How did you effectively navigate the situation?

"My communication objective is to ensure the patient understands the procedure and the necessary aftercare. I also do my best to make them comfortable enough to questions along the way. Last year, I worked on a critical case where the patient was unconscious after a car accident, and I was communicating with the patient's mother, who had just arrived in the OR waiting area. She was extremely emotional. I gave the mother time to collect her thoughts and then slowly walked her through the steps of the operation. Though she continued to sob, I respectfully maintained eye contact with her and reiterated that the coming hours were going to be critical in saving her child's life. In the end, the plan for pre-op and post-op was communicated and understood, and we left the mother with instructions to find our cafeteria and to call other family members."

Before your interview, think of a time you experienced a difficult situation while communicating with a patient or their family. There can be several reasons the communication was difficult, but your example should highlight how you took a calm, informative, and empathetic approach to communicate the next steps. As you answer, make sure your interviewer gets a sense of your overall communication style with patients.