"I would arrange a meeting with Administration about what I wanted, along with a request for representation from persons responsible for purchasing. Because I understand the value of a 'bottom line,' I would understand if the request were deemed extravagant, redundant, or unnecessary. In the meantime, such a denial would only make me alter how I do my surgery without the instrument, not whine about it and blame any shortcomings on having to do without it."

This question is asking how you would go about solving a problem that affects your efficiency, such as going through central supply with specific requests, etc.. However, what it might really be trying to do is to discover whether you blame others for your setbacks. You'll want to answer this with the usual bureaucratic steps you'd take, but you also should include in your answer the sentiment that you and you alone are responsible for what happens in your surgeries.

"I would contact Central Supply and ask what such an instrument costs or--if it is available--why wasn't it available to me at the time. Since I take responsibility for my surgery, I want to strive to have the state-of-the-art equipment needed."