How do you cope when losing a patient?
As a dementia care specialist, you understand death is part of your job. The interviewer wants to hear that you have coping mechanisms to keep from becoming overwhelmed with the loss of life. Healthcare professionals need someone they can speak with and have healthy avenues to decompress to prevent burnout, illness, and injury. Describe how you cope when you lose a patient.
"I got into this profession to help people, so it is sad to see them die. While losing a patient is never easy, I knew that was part of the job before becoming a nurse and dementia care specialist, so I have the mindset that patients will unfortunately not always make it. I cope by knowing I did the best I could for them and had a smile on my face when doing so. If a particular death bothers me more than others, I talk with colleagues or counselors with the Employee Assistance Program, which always seems to help. I also take care of myself mentally and physically so the grief doesn't take control of my emotions."
