Do you consider yourself a team player?
In the fast-paced world of a critical care unit, providing the best care possible requires diligent synchronization of efforts from Intensivists, nursing staff, respiratory therapists, and all other staff. The program you are interviewing with must match surgical critical care fellows who can take direction and take the lead when necessary, all while being team players. During your interview, your team of interviewers wants to give you the chance to talk about your teamwork skills and how you would interact with your team.
Explain that you are a great communicator and can take direction or take charge and lead others when needed. Discuss your experiences as part of a larger team during your prior training and the role you are most comfortable playing on a team in the clinical setting. While this is an open-ended question, you should not neglect to mention your leadership skills.
"I thrive in a team environment, and my current team of residents and faculty will attest to this. I prioritize communication in any setting, including clinical, academic, and research. The nursing staff I work with have always praised my ability to keep them up to speed on patient care matters and other issues, and I would bring these priorities to your program. I would come here with the ability to lead as a surgical critical care fellow. My residency training put me in a position to lead care teams in a busy emergency department setting, and I was appointed chief resident this year."
