As a new trainee in our Internal Medicine Residency, how would you handle being asked to do a procedure or task that you were unfamiliar with and uncomfortable handling?
As you enter Internal Medicine Residency training as a new medical school graduate, you know that you will be tackling many new procedures and tasks in practice that you haven't completed before. In proposing a question like this, your interviewers will be looking to hear that you would take a collaborative and learning approach and that you aren't afraid to ask for help when you know your shortcomings.
"I am confident in my medical knowledge and skills, but I also know that I will be tackling some things that will be very new to me. When faced with this situation, I wouldn't hesitate to ask a senior resident or faculty member for guidance. My goal is to leave residency with all of the skills necessary to be a confident and competent physician, and I greatly look forward to these learning opportunities with your program."
This is not the time to say that you would jump in with both feet and potentially risk the safety and wellbeing of a patient. Your interviewers are not looking for someone who jumps when someone says jump, but someone willing to jump with confidence and competence. Provide an answer that illustrates this difference. As you answer, talk about your willingness to ask for help and learn in the process.
"I would communicate to my senior resident or attending that I was unfamiliar with doing that given task. I would ask for additional teaching so that I could safely be able to perform the given procedure or task."
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
1. I am confident in my medical knowledge and skills, but I also know that I will be tackling some things that will be very new to me.
2. When faced with this situation, I wouldn't hesitate to ask a senior resident or faculty member for guidance.
3. My goal is to leave residency with all of the skills necessary to practice independently with confidence and competence, and I greatly
look forward to these learning opportunities with your program.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! It's great that you won't hesitate to ask someone senior for guidance. You might also talk about maintaining a positive outlook, starting with a small step to keep things manageable, gathering information and resources, and seeking to collaborate with others.
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