How to Answer: You are rounding on your patients on your inpatient unit, and as you enter an elderly woman's room, you find her sitting up and alert. Tell me what steps you take to prevent her from falling between now and the next time you round.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Situational Nursing job interview.
19. You are rounding on your patients on your inpatient unit, and as you enter an elderly woman's room, you find her sitting up and alert. Tell me what steps you take to prevent her from falling between now and the next time you round.
How to Answer
Falls are a common risk for patients who are receiving inpatient care, particularly among the elderly or patients with decreased mobility. Because of this, falls prevention is a common initiative at most hospitals and care facilities. Most nurses are expected to round on their patients hourly, at a minimum, and during these rounds, they are expected to ask their patients about the four P's - Pain, Potty, Positioning, and Possessions. By ensuring the four P's are covered, the nurse is ensuring the patient is comfortable and has everything they need, which will likely prevent them from attempting to get up on their own, hence preventing falls. The interviewer is asking this question to determine if the candidate has an understanding of falls prevention and the four P's of nursing. To effectively answer this question, the candidate should describe how they would check on the patient using the four P's. A more successful answer to this question can include a situation of how the candidate has used the four P's to prevent a patient from falling in their nursing career, how they trained a colleague on the four P's, or even how they implemented a falls prevention program at their facility using the four P's.
Written by Kelly Burlison on June 3rd, 2019
1st Answer Example
"In this situation, I would go through the four P's with the patient to prevent her from attempting to get up and falling between then and the next time I rounded on her. I would first assist her to the restroom then help her relieve any pain she was having. Then, before I left the room, I would ensure she was in a comfortable position and had everything she needed near her. This is something I do with all my patients, even if they seem well enough and able bodied, because failing to do so could mean they may attempt to get up on their own and fall. This is a part of my job as a nurse that I take very seriously because I know how serious patient falls are."
Written by Kelly Burlison on June 3rd, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Early in my nursing career, I had an alert and oriented patient fall when trying to get up himself to use the bathroom. Although the patient didn't sustain any injury, that incident really drove home to me how important it is to work to prevent falls for my patients. Before I leave this patient's room, I will assess to make sure all of her needs are met. Does she need to go to the bathroom? Is she sitting comfortably? Does she have her water, any other needed possessions, and her call light all within easy reach? Does she need any pain medication? Once I have addressed all of these concerns, I will reiterate to the patient to please call if she needs anything, rather than trying to get up herself."
Written by Kate Buckley on January 10th, 2023
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About the Author
I began my career in emergency medical services (EMS) over 30 years ago, working as a Firefighter-Paramedic, EMS Captain, Mental Health Technician, ER Technician, EMT and Paramedic Adjunct Instructor, and EMS Educator. During my career, I had the privilege of serving on over one thousand interview panels to help various organizations choose the right candidate for the job.
I have created curricula and training materials to prepare candidates for interviews and held mock interview courses for all types of healthcare professionals. My interview experience includes hiring emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, nurses, medical assistants, home health aides, and physician assistants.
As a coach and contributor for MockQuestions, I am excited to help you navigate your upcoming nursing interview. While these situational questions assess your critical thinking and communication skills, interviewers also ask these questions to gain insight into your personality to determine if you will be a good fit with the company culture. Remember to be relaxed and be your authentic self. Best of luck in nailing your interview!
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