You see a nurse 'pretend' to give a narcotic to your patient who is writhing in pain while her back is turned to you. Then you see the medication in her pocket. What do you do?
Substance abuse among healthcare providers and staff is becoming more prevalent. Your interviewers want to know that you are aware of this fact and that you are willing and ready to step in when you witness it. Not doing so can put the patient, the staff, and the institution at major risk.
"I would record the patient's name, the nurse's name, and the time of the incident. Then, I would look on the patient's chart to see who ordered the medication if I hadn't. Since it is a nurse and not officially a resident in my program, I would report the incident to the nurse's immediate supervisor. However, my responsibility doesn't end there, because I have to act as my patient's advocate and make sure the supervisor followed her own service's and the hospital's protocol for this type of infraction. Just because it's not another resident does not excuse me from following up on this--for that nurse's sake (who has a problem), her nursing service's sake, and--especially--the patient's sake."
This question is a little tricky because it involves a person who is not part of your training program. However, if it involves both a patient and the program that you represent, it is your business. Assure your team of interviewers that you would immediately address the situation with the nurse and take the issue up the chain of command immediately.
"I would immediately notify my attending physician as this is a serious safety concern for both the patient and the nurse. I would do so discreetly and in a respectful manner."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I will double-check his or her order in the chart first then I will talk to the nurse about the situation. I will listen to her and I will report the incident to the nurse's supervisor. The patient comes first.
Chad's Feedback
The interviewer will be pleased to hear the patient is your priority, and you would not hesitate to report the nurse to their supervisor for the diversion of a controlled substance. If you have experienced this type of situation in your career, be sure to inform the interviewer of the circumstances, how you handled it, and what the result was.