Have you ever witnessed a coworker put a patient in jeopardy? If so, how did you handle the situation?

"When I worked at a long-term care facility, one of my co-workers was using a lift to transfer a patient. He did not have the belt fastened correctly, and the patient slipped onto the floor. My co-worker could have prevented this accident with a touch of extra care. I had to write an incident report and turn the situation over to a supervisor. Although stressful, I did not hesitate to take the proper action. The safety and health of our patients should always come first."

If you have ever faced a situation that resulted in the potential firing of a co-worker, you know how terrible it can be. A situation where you have to make a judgment call can be stressful; however, nurses are bound by law to protect patients and co-workers by reporting anything unlawful, inappropriate, or dangerous. The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of identifying and reporting a non-compliant situation if needed.

"I experienced a time that I had to report a co-worker to my supervisor. One of my peers had a diabetic patient who had insulin orders per a sliding scale. The nurse gave insulin to the patient without checking his blood sugar level first. She saw me witness the event and asked me not to tell anyone. However, I knew that the patients' safety was the responsibility of everyone. For that reason, I did notify the supervisor without hesitation and knew I was right to do so."