How to Answer: You are an NP working at the hospital. One shift, you are assigned a 90-year-old woman who does not speak English. Test results come back and show that she has advanced-stage cancer. Her family does not want to tell her the news. How do you proceed?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Nurse Practitioner School job interview.
5. You are an NP working at the hospital. One shift, you are assigned a 90-year-old woman who does not speak English. Test results come back and show that she has advanced-stage cancer. Her family does not want to tell her the news. How do you proceed?
How to Answer
Patient rights and end-of-life ethical dilemmas are common issues for Nurse Practitioners. Address the situation from each point of view: the patient, the family, and your responsibility. Defend your answer with experiences in your prior medical career or known ethical standards.
Written by Makayla Donigan on February 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"In this scenario, there are a lot of perspectives to consider. The family is acting in good faith, trying to prevent their loved ones from experiencing extra pain towards what will most likely be the end of their lives. On the other hand, the patient has a right to know what conditions they have and what treatment options exist. As a Nurse Practitioner, it is a delicate line to balance. In this case, I would go through determining if the patient has the capacity to represent themselves in their medical decision. I would then see if the patient established a medical Power of Attorney. Unless the patient is deemed incapable of making medical decisions for themselves, I would tell the patient of their test results."
Written by Makayla Donigan on February 5th, 2021