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Radiation Therapists Mock Interview

Question 27 of 35 for our Radiation Therapists Mock Interview

Radiation Therapists was updated by on August 21st, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 27 of 35

Have you ever dealt with a crisis on your shift? How did you react?

"Yes, I have been a radiation therapist for eight years now, and I believe I have seen it all. I have training in emergency response, and our clinic has a variety of physicians around. Just last week, we had a patient experience a severe panic attack during treatment. It's important to act quickly, professionally, and calmly when dealing with any crisis. After realizing the patient was most likely having a panic attack and had a history of them, I talked to her in a soothing tone and had her perform some breathing techniques while rubbing her back. She calmed down after five minutes and thanked me for my help."

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How to Answer: Have you ever dealt with a crisis on your shift? How did you react?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Radiation Therapists job interview.

  • 27. Have you ever dealt with a crisis on your shift? How did you react?

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      Working in the medical field can be a bit unpredictable, so you must always be prepared! A crisis could be anything from a patient going into cardiac arrest during treatment to a patient getting sick and vomiting on your shoes. The intensive radiation treatments your patients endure often adversely affect their health. Educating yourself on how radiation affects patients, for better or worse, will help you to expect the unexpected and know how to deal with it. If you haven't experienced this situation before, talk about how you would handle it. Demonstrate that you are ready for anything!

      Written by Krista Wenz on August 19th, 2023

      1st Answer Example

      "Yes, I have been a radiation therapist for eight years now, and I believe I have seen it all. I have training in emergency response, and our clinic has a variety of physicians around. Just last week, we had a patient experience a severe panic attack during treatment. It's important to act quickly, professionally, and calmly when dealing with any crisis. After realizing the patient was most likely having a panic attack and had a history of them, I talked to her in a soothing tone and had her perform some breathing techniques while rubbing her back. She calmed down after five minutes and thanked me for my help."

      Written by Krista Wenz on August 19th, 2023

      2nd Answer Example

      "I am newer to my career as a radiation therapist and have not been in an emergency yet. I can remain calm in a crisis, and I also come from the point of empathy in these situations. During my internship, there were many times when the staff and physicians needed to react quickly and work as a team to get through challenging situations. Between my education and strong characteristics, I am ready for anything coming my way."

      Written by Krista Wenz on August 19th, 2023

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Machine breakdowns are common. Communicate with patients effectively. Alert engineers. Delay appointments if necessary. Transfer patients to another machine if possible. Allocate jobs to team members. Consider an extra shift to compensate for missed appointments (Cat 1s) or add treatments to the end of the appointment schedule if missed (Cat 2/3s)."

      Cindy's Feedback

      Good start. The interviewer may be seeking insight and information into how you react in a crisis. Consider expanding your answer so that you're describing an experience. The STAR format would help develop an answer that shows your calm under pressure.

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