Have you ever had a patient be combative toward you? If so, how did you handle the situation?

"I think any LPN who has worked extensively in this profession will tell you that, at one time or another, they have had a patient who was not very cooperative. I had a patient throw his food tray at me once. While I was not happy about having oatmeal all over my scrubs, I took a minute and talked to the patient to find out what was going on. I found out that the patient had reported an allergy to oatmeal and had asked the nurse the day before to make sure that dietary knew of the allergy. When he received his breakfast tray, he became upset and threw it at the first person he saw. I cleaned the mess, ordered him a new tray, and noted his chart of the allergy."

Unfortunately, there are times when a patient may be more challenging to care for than others. As a licensed practical nurse, you understand that aggressive or abusive patient behavior likely stems from a medical problem, a mental health problem, an emotional issue, or a combination of all these factors. The interviewer wants to know that, when faced with this type of situation, you will be able to maintain your composure and handle the incident as a professional licensed practical nurse. If possible, tell a brief story of a time when you faced this situation. Be sure to use the STAR method when giving your example (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

"During my nursing night shift a couple of years ago, I came across a confused patient with Alzheimer's disease who I found to be wandering. This older man was using a cane, and he seemed to be lost. I kindly approached him and offered to get him back to his room. As I turned to head in the direction of his room, he hit me in the back with his cane. I ran down the hall and called for help. It took several nurses to calm him down. This situation changed how I approached patients who suffer from confusion or memory loss. I also am sure never to put my back to patients under any circumstance."