How would you handle communicating bad news to a pediatric patient and/or their family?

"I certainly do not enjoy communicating bad diagnoses, but I do have experience in doing so. I make sure to practice empathy in my approach and I know this skill is vital with pediatric patients and their families. Truth is always key, so I will be honest and clear when communicating the news. After that, educating the patient and their family on the best course of action will help set their mind at ease and keep them focused on a goal moving forward rather than the diagnosis."

Whether it is providing a difficult diagnosis to a parent or educating a teenager that doesn't take their oral health seriously, the conversation won't come easy. Assure your interviewers that you will join their program as a person that can handle these conversations comfortably by stressing the importance of educating patients/families and doing so in a respectful manner. Be sure to stress the importance of taking an empathetic approach with your patients when difficult actions need to be taken.