You are nearing the end of your shift, and you are exhausted from a busy shift for the anesthesia care team. As your colleague arrives to relieve you, tell me how you proceed.

"Patient safety often fails first because of shift handoffs, so I strive for efficient and effective shift handoffs. In this situation, despite my exhaustion, I would complete all required handover templates for all my patients if I hadn't already. I would also take the extra time to verbally communicate any known issues in the unit to the physicians coming on and the nursing staff. If there are huddles at shift change time, I would prioritize being present at both the start and ends of my shift each day."

Explain that you would ensure handoff information for all patients was completed before departing for the day. If you have direct experience in the proper handoff during shift changes, whether it be during your residency training or while in practice as an Anesthesiologist, be sure to talk about that. Make sure your interviewer knows that you understand the importance of properly handing off work during shift changes.