How to Answer: How would you handle a situation with an angry patient?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Medical Assistant job interview.
20. How would you handle a situation with an angry patient?
How to Answer
Knowing how you will handle a difficult situation will tell the interviewer if you have the the right attitude for this job. Being a medical assistant means you have to deal with people from very different backgrounds and with varying personalities. Give the interviewer an example of how you would handle an angry patient.
Written by Ryan Brown on May 5th, 2021
Entry Level
"I think it is important to try and find out what has made the patient mad. If it is something such as not being called as quickly as he had expected, a simple explanation regarding what caused the delay may help calm him."
Written by Darby Faubion on January 22nd, 2019
Answer Example
"I believe acting calmly and speaking rationally is a great way to calm someone who is angry and I try to be the voice of reason without making someone feel that I am belittling them."
Written by Ryan Brown on May 5th, 2021
Experienced
"There are a couple of different approaches and safety is, of course, the most important thing to consider. A patient who is angry could become combative which could result in injury to him, to me, or to others. I feel the best approach is to ask what has made the patient upset and try to resolve the underlying cause, if at all possible."
Written by Darby Faubion on January 22nd, 2019