"In the healthcare field, the safety of everyone in a hospital really comes down to simple and easy actions on a consistent basis. When I see my coworkers not taking precautions seriously, I make sure to talk with them immediately and in a positive way, reminding them of the importance of safe work habits. If I notice a coworker skip handwashing, for example, I would talk to them in private and explain the importance that hand hygiene plays in keeping all patients and staff safe. If it came to continued blatant disregard, I would take the issue to my supervisor as quickly as possible. NICU patients are so susceptible to common viruses and infections that we as adults wouldn't bat an eye at, yet could prove to be fatal for them. Extra diligence in the routine safety precautions is something I would take seriously each and every day on the job here."

Whether you notice a colleague not washing their hands before and after seeing a patient, or about to administer an improper dose of a medicine, reiterate to your interviewer that you wouldn't hesitate to intervene immediately. As you answer, make sure to stress that you understand why an increased focus on safety is so important in this role as a NICU nurse due to the patient base that you will be providing care for.

"Patient safety is my top priority. If it was something minor, that did not put patients in immediate harm or jeopardy, I would try to coach and educate my peer. I would approach them gently, and make sure they were trained properly and understood the importance of why we have to do certain things or follow certain processes. If they were apologetic and accepted the feedback, I would not escalate it to our manager. If they disregarded the advice or repeated the mistake, I would notify my supervisor. If it were a situation where the patient was in immediate harm, I would notify my manager right away."