"I learned in my residency to prevent any potential causes of pressure by being well prepared ahead of what might be coming to produce such stress. This usually meant a quick chart review of the patients scheduled for the day and then prioritizing my time for that day. When I began doing this, I found that stress seldom occurred. I have also gotten much help by simply talking my frustrations out with a colleague."

Everyone has a breaking point, so this question is designed to see if your reaction and/or remedy to stress is reasonable or unreasonable. For example, you wouldn't want to say, 'One time during surgery I got so flustered and frustrated that I asked a colleague to take over because I couldn't be objective.' An answer like that will tell your interviewer that all he/she should expect from you is walking out in the middle of a surgery whenever you feel you can't take it. Instead, come off as reactive to stress but not surrendering.

"No rotation, shift, or even procedure lasts forever, and I know that my duty is to remain on-task until it is over and done well, and then I can have the luxury of dealing with the emotional component of it--usually by exercise."