How would you respond if a patient or their family member yelled at you?
As a nurse, there will be times when you will have a patient or family member yell at you. Generally, it will not be because of something you did but because they are uninformed, scared, or in pain. The interviewers would like to gain insight into your communication and problem-solving skills and see that you can handle this situation calmly and professionally. Describe how you would speak to a patient or family member if they yelled at you. As a seasoned nurse, you most likely have had this happen before. If so, use that situation and how you responded in your response.
"When a patient or family member yells at me, I want to see why they are upset and resolve the issue. I calmly ask them why they are yelling at me. Once I understand why they are upset, I can decide how to address their concern and resolve the issue. If they are yelling at me because of a medical condition or mental health issue, I address their health or mental health concerns. In my five years as a nurse, I have found that people want to be heard and understood and have their concerns addressed. For me, it's about remaining calm and professional while diffusing the situation and making the patient or family member happy."
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
Firstly I’ll remain calm and understanding and calmly ask why they are yelling at me. I will try to get to the bottom of the reason and address it appropriately since this happens sometimes out of frustration, pain, and fear. If the issue needs to be addressed by someone in a higher office I will assure them, actively listen and relay the message to the appropriate person and make sure to follow up.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great! You make sure the interviewer knows you don't take these types of situations personally. You're able to remain calm and communicate to get to the root issue.
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