How to Answer: If you noticed a physician or member of the care team not taking proper safety precautions in our PICU, how would you handle that situation?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a PICU Fellowship job interview.
18. If you noticed a physician or member of the care team not taking proper safety precautions in our PICU, how would you handle that situation?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Safety is of the utmost importance when providing direct patient care in the Pediatric ICU setting. When it comes to patient safety, all direct patient care staff are at the frontline of providing a safe environment for both the children they are caring for and the families that accompany them. Your interviewer expects to hear that you will be an advocate for safety at all times if you were to join their PICU in the next class of fellows.
Written by Ryan Brunner on May 10th, 2022
How to Answer
Whether you notice a colleague not washing their hands before and after seeing a patient or about to administer an improper dose of a medicine, tell the interviewer that you wouldn't hesitate to intervene immediately. Explain that you understand why an increased focus on safety is so important in this role as a PICU Fellow due to the patient base that you will be providing care for.
Written by Ryan Brunner on May 10th, 2022
Answer Example
"In the healthcare field, safety depends on consistent, simple, and easy actions. If I ever see members of the care team not taking precautions seriously, I talk with them immediately and positively, reminding them of the importance of safe work habits. If I noticed a physician skip handwashing, for example, I would talk to them in private and explain the importance of hand hygiene in keeping all patients and staff safe. If it came to continued blatant disregard, I would take the issue to the program director as quickly as possible. Pediatric patients are so susceptible to common viruses and infections that we as adults wouldn't bat an eye at yet could prove to be fatal for them. Extra diligence in the routine safety precautions is something I would take seriously every day as a trainee in your PICU Fellowship program."
Written by Ryan Brunner on May 10th, 2022