How to Answer: Talk about the most difficult patient that you had to work with. What made them difficult and how did you handle the situation?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Occupational Therapist job interview.
9. Talk about the most difficult patient that you had to work with. What made them difficult and how did you handle the situation?
How to Answer
As an Occupational Therapist, there will be times that you have to work with a difficult patient. The difficulty can happen for many reasons and the interview is looking to see how you handle situations with difficult patients by remaining composed and making sound decisions. The interviewer is also looking to get an idea for what types of patients may be frustrating for you to work with.
Written by Heather Douglass
Entry Level
"During my internship working at a large acute care hospital, I worked with an older lady following open heart surgery. Having just lost her husband a year prior and not having much family around, she was in a lost and depressed state of my mind. Her situation brought up many personal feelings in my mind of my grandmother and how I would feel if she were in this ladies position. Taking a more loving approach to this patient and making as much small talk as I could with the patient, she slowly warmed up to me and our therapy time together. Upon her discharge, she hugged me and thanked me for all that I did for her."
Written by Ryan Brunner
Answer Example
"During my time working with patients in a skilled nursing facility, I was working with a particular gentleman that wasn't receptive to any of the treatments that I tried. In taking a step back to get the know the man a bit more, I knew he had a love for the outdoors. After a brief conversation with the nursing staff, I was able to take him outside where he was much more willing to my treatment."
Written by Heather Douglass
Experienced
"Working with children for many years, the most difficult patient I had to work with really stemmed from his family life around him. The young man was having some serious trouble with fine motor skills and when we worked together alone, it was apparent that he was very receptive. After trying to involve his family, it became quite apparent that they were very disengaged in the life of their child and when a situation like this comes up, it breaks my heart. Knowing I would be his only shot to improve, my administrator allowed me to have extra sessions with him over time and I saw great improvement."
Written by Ryan Brunner