You are assisting a physician to perform a procedure when you are asked to retrieve a bottle of acetic acid that can be used on the patient. After retrieving the bottle from its normal location, what do you do before passing it to the physician?
The interviewer is asking this question to determine if the candidate would verify that they retrieved the correct chemical before passing it to the physician. This confirmation is important, as the nurse may have accidentally retrieved the incorrect bottle or a bottle containing a different chemical may have been in the place where the requested chemical was typically kept. If either of these were the case, and the incorrect chemical was passed to the physician and used on the patient, significant consequences could occur. Simply verifying that the correct chemical is being passed to the physician could help avoid a serious medical error. To effectively answer this question, the candidate should indicate that they would verify that they have the correct chemical by checking the label on the bottle. A more successful answer to this question would include a specific example from the candidate's nursing career where they avoided a medical error by verifying the name of a chemical or drug that was to be administered to a patient.
"I know exactly what I would do in this situation, as I have been in a situation almost identical to this. Before handing the bottle to the physician, I would read details on the label to verify that I am handing them what they requested. This is similar to a situation I was in a few years ago, while I was working in an oncology office and was assisting a physician with a colposcopy, which requires acetic acid. During the procedure, I went and grabbed the bottle, which I assumed was acetic acid, from where it was normally stored on the shelf; but when I checked the label, I found that it was sulfuric acid, which would have burned the patient if applied. Someone had placed the sulfuric acid in the incorrect location, but since I verified I had the correct chemical, I avoided a medical error."
"In this situation, before I hand the bottle of acetic acid to the physician, I would read the label to make sure that I was actually giving the physician the medication she requested. Although it has not happened to me directly, in my hospital there was a situation where a concentration of heparin was stocked in a location where a different concentration was normally placed, and a nurse administered the incorrect concentration to a patient. During my orientation, this incident was brought up to us as an example of why we always have to verify the name and dose of a medication, even if we take a bottle or bag from its 'usual' place, and it's always stuck with me."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
You visually look at the medication, strength, and expiration date before handing it to the physician to ensure it is the correct medication.
Chad's Feedback
Great answer! The interviewer will be pleased that your first step in this situation would be to verify that the correct chemical was retrieved, before passing it to the physician. This simple step is integral in avoiding potentially serious medical errors. To improve your response, I would suggest using first-person pronouns (I, me, my), rather than second-person. I have offered a revision below:
"I would visually look at the bottle's label to confirm the medication, strength, and expiration date before handing it to the physician. I always verify that I retrieved the correct chemical, to avoid any potential medical errors."
Anonymous Answer
I do closed-loop communication if they verbally order a medication I repeat the order back to them, for example, acetic acid correct? what is the strength and any other supplies you want me to bring back as well? So I'd return and be like Dr blah blah here is the acetic acid per your request what dose would you like and what route. Show them the bottle to confirm the correct medication is in hand.
Cindy's Feedback
Good start. Spend a little time on what and why. Define closed-loop communication and why you would use it in this instance. What's the purpose of using it? Why is it appropriate or critical under these circumstances?
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