Surgical First Assistant Mock Interview
Master 30 Surgical First Assistant interview questions covering sterile technique, intraoperative procedures, and clinical judgment.
Question 8 of 30
Has there ever been a time that you felt you should not participate in a specific surgery? If so, how did you handle the situation?
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Darby Faubion has been a Nurse and Allied Health Educator for over 20 years. She has clinical experience in several specialty areas, including pediatrics, medical-surgical, critical care, and hospice.
"There have been a few times that I wasn't 100% comfortable with a surgery because I had not yet assisted on that kind of case. However, I have only requested to be excused from one surgery. I had recently had a miscarriage and the surgery was a cesarean delivery of a stillborn fetus. Although today I feel like I could handle that surgery and be ok, at the time, I was still experiencing a great deal of difficulty with my own loss. When I explained to my supervisor, I was immediately replaced and allowed to assist with an alternate procedure."
Darby Faubion has been a Nurse and Allied Health Educator for over 20 years. She has clinical experience in several specialty areas, including pediatrics, medical-surgical, critical care, and hospice.
As a surgical first assistant, your job is to work hand in hand with the surgeon. An ideal situation would be to have all cases be ones that you feel comfortable with, whether it is morally, ethically, or within your scope of practice. However, if a situation were to arise that you caused you to feel like you should not assist, the interviewer wants to know that you could handle the situation professionally and without any risk to the patient.
Darby Faubion has been a Nurse and Allied Health Educator for over 20 years. She has clinical experience in several specialty areas, including pediatrics, medical-surgical, critical care, and hospice.
"I have never had a situation when I felt like I couldn't participate in a surgery. If a situation were to arise where I felt uncomfortable or unprepared, I would talk with a supervisor immediately, and explain my feelings and ask if it is possible to have someone else assigned as the first assistant."
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Anonymous Answer
This has not been something I have faced. If it did happen I would immediately let my supervisor know that I was not comfortable and the reasons for my discomfort so that another first assist could replace me.
Rachelle's Feedback
Good approach! The interviewer should be happy to hear that you would listen to and respect your own boundaries if you found yourself in this situation.
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