Your team is discharging a patient in the end stages of kidney failure to hospice care. The patient's son approaches you, asking you to find a reason to keep him in the hospital. Respond to the patient's son.
Expect role-playing scenarios during your PA school multiple mini interview process. Your admissions team knows that physician assistants face many challenging interactions, both during their time in training and as a PA in practice, and they need to see that you can handle difficult conversations with professionalism and grace.
Be sure to practice a variety of scenarios with a friend or loved one before your interview. The more you can practice delivering bad news and having difficult conversations knowledgeably, the better results you will have when it counts.
If a family member disagrees with a medical decision or the care of their loved one, it is best to take an educational approach. The son does not want to face the reality that the end of their parent's life may be near. As you answer, take an empathetic approach while letting them know this is the best path forward.
"I understand and appreciate your concern, but this is the best option for your mother. Hospice professionals can provide the care she needs at this stage of her disease better than we can. You'll get to be by her side as much as you like and even assist in her care. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any initial questions. The hospice center she is going to is amazing, and she will have a full care team there waiting for her. My colleague, Dr. Smith, also makes rounds there daily and will be available any time your family needs him."
