MockQuestions

NHS Band 6 Nurse Mock Interview

Question 12 of 30 for our NHS Band 6 Nurse Mock Interview

NHS Band 6 Nurse was updated by on February 5th, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 12 of 30

Could you describe a time you had to quickly make a decision regarding a patient?

"As an experienced nurse, I often make quick decisions regarding my patients. One of the most recent examples happened two weeks ago. I was walking past a patient's room to check on another patient when I heard the sounds of vomiting coming from the room. I entered the room and found the patient on their back, unresponsive with projectile vomiting. I immediately pushed the nurse's call button and rolled the patient onto their side so they would not aspirate. I then grabbed the suction unit at the head of the bed and started suctioning the patient's mouth. After suctioning the patient, they started waking up, and my colleague walked into the room to see why the call button was pushed. I believe I was in the right place at the right time, as the patient could have aspirated or choked if I hadn't been walking by."

Next Question

How to Answer: Could you describe a time you had to quickly make a decision regarding a patient?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a NHS Band 6 Nurse job interview.

  • 12. Could you describe a time you had to quickly make a decision regarding a patient?

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      A skill that is essential to have as a nurse is the ability to think and act quickly. Depending on where you work, you will have to make decisions regarding patient care quickly, sometimes more often than other nurses. For example, if you work as a nurse in accident and emergency, you will have to quickly make decisions more often than nurses who work in a non-urgent setting. Regardless, the interviewers would like to hear of a time you had to quickly make a decision regarding a patient, what the situation was, and the outcome.

      Written by Krista Wenz on February 5th, 2023

      Answer Example

      "As an experienced nurse, I often make quick decisions regarding my patients. One of the most recent examples happened two weeks ago. I was walking past a patient's room to check on another patient when I heard the sounds of vomiting coming from the room. I entered the room and found the patient on their back, unresponsive with projectile vomiting. I immediately pushed the nurse's call button and rolled the patient onto their side so they would not aspirate. I then grabbed the suction unit at the head of the bed and started suctioning the patient's mouth. After suctioning the patient, they started waking up, and my colleague walked into the room to see why the call button was pushed. I believe I was in the right place at the right time, as the patient could have aspirated or choked if I hadn't been walking by."

      Written by Krista Wenz on February 5th, 2023

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Making quick decisions about patient care is already part of a critical care nurse's daily routine. In my experience, I noticed that the intubated, ventilated, and sedated patient's cardiac monitor was alarming. When I checked, it showed that the patient was in ventricular fibrillation. I immediately checked if the wirings got detached and also checked the patient's carotid pulse. There was no pulse, so I pressed the emergency button, lowered the head of the bed flat, and started CPR. The medical team came in and we took turns performing CPR, giving adrenaline and shocks until the patient had attained ROSC. I always stay vigilant at work so I can render high-quality nursing care to my patients."

      Jaymie's Feedback

      This is a good example to share with the interviewer. While you describe the situation and actions well, you can explicitly emphasize the quick decision-making aspect to address the question directly. Consider also incorporating a brief reflection on the experience, highlighting what you learned or how it influenced your approach to patient care. Overall, it's a strong response focusing on a critical event, and a slight emphasis on the quick decision-making element can enhance it.

    • Next Question