Tell me a problem with a patient where you may have been misinformed about the patient's symptoms and had to re-evaluate a care plan or a time that a patient was afraid of treatment and had to be educated further before following through with care.
"One incident I can recall was an elderly woman who came into the clinic with repeated urinary tract infections. She was given prescriptions for the infection and taught the proper use of the medications and given instructions on ways to prevent the infection. Still, every time she came back for a follow-up appointment, she had symptoms. After counseling with her and asking about her behavior patterns at home, we discovered she took daily baths with bath salts and perfumed soaps. She was educated on the ways that those things could irritate the urinary tract and could lead to infection. When she returned for her next follow-up, she was symptom-free."
"I could probably tell you several stories. One example I can remember is when I was a new practitioner. I had a patient with bladder prolapse. She didn't want surgery to correct the issue for quite a while. When the condition worsened, and with proper education and assurance, she finally decided to have the corrective treatment and it resolved the issue."
As a medical professional working with patients, you research problems on a daily basis. Tell the interviewer about a particular situation, how you researched the problem and what the outcome was. Tell the interviewer about a time that a patient came back to you because his symptoms weren't being relieved or the time that you discovered the patient was not taking his medications as prescribed.
"I had been treating a patient with hypertension for a few months, but nothing seemed to get his symptoms under control. After requesting the patient keep a journal of his activities, including what he ate, what physical activities he was participating in, and when he took his medications, I was able to determine that he was not being compliant with his prescribed medication regimen and we educated on his plan of care and continued to monitor his progress. With some extra instruction and monitoring, his symptoms improved and his blood pressure became well controlled."
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 remember that I ordered an MRI scan for a patient who has back pain and some neurological findings. The patient refused to do MRI because she mentioned that the scan is like an X-ray and gives her lots of radiation and will cause cancer in the future. I explained to her that MRI does not have any radiation at all and it uses a magnetic field, and based on the different responses of different body tissue will make an Image.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a good example that shows the interviewer you listen to a patient's concerns and are willing to provide them with education and facts so that they can make an informed decision about their care.
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