How to Answer: Tell me about a crisis situation you faced at work. How were you a part of the solution?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Nurse Practitioner job interview.
6. Tell me about a crisis situation you faced at work. How were you a part of the solution?
How to Answer
As a nurse practitioner, you may face many crises where you need to make quick and sound decisions. Be sure to highlight your strengths and strategies when under pressure to prove to your interviewer that you'll be able to handle these situations with ease at their organization. If possible, share an example that clearly lays out the situation you faced, the steps you took to find a solution, and any lessons you learned from the experience you can bring to this role.
Written by Jaymie Payne on January 31st, 2023
Entry Level Example
"I have faced many crises in my nursing career. A few years back, when working as an RN in the intensive care setting, we had an elderly patient go unresponsive due to a mix-up with medication. It was challenging to get through the initial situation to stabilize the patient, but we did so through teamwork with the nursing staff and the physician on duty that night. The next challenge was following up without placing blame on any party. There was an internal investigation which could have torn our unit apart, but instead, we all became closer."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"One of the most challenging days I've had as a Nurse Practitioner happened during my clinical rotation in the Labor and Delivery unit. We had a mother who delivered triplets, and two of the babies were unresponsive at the time of birth. There were multiple physicians and nurses in the room caring for the family...maybe 6 or 7 nurses at once, and there was a lot of activity in a short amount of time. I was part of the care team for the babies and learned how important it is to take the time to remain calm, carefully listen to the team lead, and follow specific directions in a time of crisis. I'm happy to report that the babies were healthy, and it was a great learning opportunity for me, one that I've remembered throughout my career."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"Crises happen every day in patient care. When I am faced with a crisis, I have learned to remain calm so that my team will follow suit and behave professionally. Keeping a level head is a critical key to making smart decisions. This thought process helped me through a situation last year when my emergency unit faced an auto accident that brought six critically injured patients to us. The ability to stay calm and focused helped my team triage the patients quickly and provide the best care possible in short order. This really helped prepare the patients for the staff that was called in and joined us within an hour after the arrival of the patients."
Written by Rachelle Enns
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