You are nearing the end of your 12-hour shift and you are exhausted from caring for eight high-acuity patients. As your colleague arrives to relieve you, tell me how you proceed.

"It has been thoroughly ingrained in me that patient safety often fails first because of shift handoffs and I would come to your institution as a new resident that would be focused on efficient and effective shift handoffs. In this situation, even though I am exhausted, I would complete all required handover templates for all my patients, if I haven't already. I would also take the extra time to verbally communicate any known issues happening on the unit to the physicians coming on and the nursing staff as well. If there are huddles at shift change time, I would prioritize being present at both the start and ends of my shift each day."

To effectively answer this question, you should indicate they would ensure handover information for all patients was completed before departing for the day. If you have direct experience in the proper handoff at shift change time, whether it be during your medical school rotations or other clinical experience, be sure to talk about that. Any way you answer, be sure that you reiterate to your interviewing team that you understand the importance of properly handing off work at shift change time as a resident physician with their program.