PA School MMI Mock Interview

Master 25 MMI scenarios covering ethical dilemmas, teamwork, and clinical judgment for your PA school interview.

Question 15 of 25

If you are faced with a large clinical workload, extra hours in the hospital, and an increasing administrative workload during your career, how will you prevent burning out?

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Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

According to recent studies, one in three physician assistants have met the requirements for being considered burned out, and almost half meet the requirements for being exhausted. At this MMI station, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are aware that you are entering a demanding field and will come to their program with the tools, resources, and strategies necessary to avoid burning out.

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

From a candidate's perspective, the MMI process gives you the ability to talk about your past experiences and how they will help you be a successful student and future physician assistant in practice. Think about some times you successfully navigated stressful situations and come ready to explain how you did that.

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

The main goal of your answer is the talk about how you stay organized and on track on the job and take care of yourself mentally and physically outside of work and the classroom to ensure that you can perform at your peak at all times. As you discuss how you would do this as a PA, let your history be your guide; your interviewer knows that past behavior can help predict future performance in the clinical setting.

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

"This all comes down to striking a balance between focusing on my work in the clinic and focusing on myself during my off time. As I've shown through multiple semesters with a large credit load and working part-time on the side, using tools to keep me organized and on track has always helped me from becoming too stressed in my work. I love to use calendars to ensure that my daily tasks are taken care of. Setting aside time for future work prep is vital as well. I'm all about maintaining a healthy and productive lifestyle in my personal life. I keep myself revitalized by weight lifting and running regularly and maintaining a healthy diet. I don't drink caffeine or soda and feel this keeps my head clear. I look forward to the coming challenge of PA school and a successful career in practice as a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery."

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25PA School MMI Interview Questions & Answers

Role Playing

1.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.

Role Playing

2.A new patient gets angry at you for bringing up weight loss tactics when discussing their health. Respond to them.

Role Playing

3.You are playing catch with a friend in your yard and a ball goes over the fence and breaks a cherished lawn ornament of your neighbors. Knock on their door and explain to them what happened.

Ethical Scenario

4.Do you think it is okay for a Physician Assistant to be friends with a patient or follow a patient on any social media platforms?

Ethical Scenario

5.Is it ever okay to be dishonest with a patient?

Ethical Scenario

6.What would you do if you found out a fellow PA student was cheating?

Ethical Scenario

7.How would you respond if a patient asks your thoughts on the topic of abortion?

Communication

8.Let's pretend I've never cooked a cheeseburger before. Walk me through how to successfully prepare and cook it to perfection.

Cultural Fit

9.What appeals to you the most about joining our Physician Assistant program?

Diversity

10.Our program and institution values a culturally diverse and inclusive atmosphere. How do you expect to thrive and prosper in this environment?

Essay Writing

11.What do you feel is one of the biggest issues that physician assistants face in practice?

Policy

12.How do you feel about the differences in state laws that impact a physician assistant's ability to prescribe and administer prescription drugs and medical devices?

Scenario Based

13.You are having a disagreement with a colleague about the best treatment path for a patient after discussing options. How would you handle that situation?

Scenario Based

14.What would you do if a patient told you they couldn't afford a procedure they desperately needed?

Scenario Based

15.If you are faced with a large clinical workload, extra hours in the hospital, and an increasing administrative workload during your career, how will you prevent burning out?

Teamwork

16.You will be given a drawing of a sunset scene on a beach, and you will have to describe to your collaborator how to draw the scene without them seeing the actual picture.

Teamwork