How to Answer: Talk about a time you had to think on your feet and make a split second decision. What was the situation, and what was the outcome?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Paramedic job interview.
28. Talk about a time you had to think on your feet and make a split second decision. What was the situation, and what was the outcome?
How to Answer
Paramedics are often put into unique situations that their training and experience may not have prepared them for. The ability to make a split-second decision that can help save a life is critical in this job. Each patient and each situation you encounter as a paramedic is unique, and you need to be ready to handle anything thrown your way. Before your interview, think of a few situations where you had to rely on quick judgment and unique resources to help a patient in need. Your interviewer will be looking for you to provide details about the situation and the outcome.
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022
Entry Level Example
"During my field experience for my associate's degree, the EMS crew that I worked with was based out of a large metro area hospital with a busy emergency room. When not out on calls, we helped where we could in the department. One night, one of our physicians asked me to stay with a patient who had come in with shortness of breath. As we talked, the patient grabbed his chest, hunched over in his chair, and went into cardiac arrest. After hitting the emergency button in the room, instinct took over, and I immediately began administering CPR to the patient. Soon, a team was in with a defibrillator, and the patient began breathing again. Within a short time, he was into surgery. My CPR training had prepared me to take action almost without me even realizing it, and I am extremely thankful for that."
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022
Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, we received a call about a hunting accident involving a gun that had accidentally wounded a hunter in a remote area. The call came through to our dispatch from the hunter's friend, who was deep in the woods and thankfully had cell reception. As I was behind the wheel heading to the general area, I asked my partner to have dispatch ask where their vehicle was parked, and luckily I was very familiar with the area they were hunting. Knowing the creek that ran through the public property was shallow and thinking that would be the best way to find the hunters, I had our dispatcher let the friend know we would be entering the wooded area through the creek on foot, and we'd be yelling his name as we walked. When we arrived, my partner and I carried a backboard down the shallow creek and ran into the victim and his friend less than a half-mile in. Seeing that the gunshot wound was in the upper leg and the bleeding appeared minimal because of the makeshift tourniquet the friend made, we got the victim on the backboard and carried him out. The key to getting the victim out safely was making a quick plan with the victim's friend on a place to meet up, and it was very fortunate that I was familiar with the area."
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022
Experienced Example
"Early in my career, we were called to a large auto accident on an interstate freeway during a holiday weekend when traffic would be extremely busy. We knew coming onto the scene of the accident that there would be many injured people and one or two deceased. As we approached the scene, there were other ambulances at the scene as well as police officers. As we approached, we were told that almost all of the victims in the accident were accounted for and treated. My partner approached the final victim needing care. Seeing that the accident was on a busy exit ramp and that vehicles were driving fast near the scene, I grabbed our flashlights and ran further up the ramp in hopes of directing traffic to help keep the scene safe. My partner radioed me when our patient was ready; more police had arrived, and one came up the ramp to relieve me. I was thanked heavily for taking a duty that would normally not be a part of my normal routine at an accident scene."
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022