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?

"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."

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.