Situational Anesthesiologist Mock Interview
Master 30 Situational Anesthesiologist interview questions covering critical scenarios, clinical judgment, and perioperative decision-making.
Question 8 of 30
How would you handle a difficult family member who disagrees with the care that the patient agreed to?
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Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
Patient families can often be the most challenging to physicians, as they do not always agree with the patient's decision. While it is rarer for an Anesthesiologist to run into any issues with the families of patients because they aren't often allowed in the OR or surgical prep areas, your interviewer still wants to see how you would react in this situation. Your interviewer wants to hear that you are a patient advocate and respectful communicator.
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
"I would acknowledge that I understand they want the best for their family member. Then, I would explain that I cannot discuss the patient's care with them and that the patient has the right to make their own decision. I would encourage them to discuss their concerns with the patient directly and perhaps ask for a meeting with the care team so their concerns could be addressed. Throughout my career, I've most experienced upset family members in the PACU following surgery. In these situations, I take the time to talk with the family and educate them further on general medical process so they have a better understanding."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
As long as the patient can make their own decisions, the best way to deal with these situations is to tell the family that they need to talk with the patient. You also should not talk about the patient's condition when they are not present. In your answer, talk about how you will rely on your ability to educate the family and loved ones of your patients and why doing so is best for their care.
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