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Surgical First Assistant Mock Interview

Question 1 of 30 for our Surgical First Assistant Mock Interview

Surgical First Assistant was updated by on December 22nd, 2018. Learn more here.

Question 1 of 30

How do you approach dealing with an angry patient, and why?

"I believe acting calmly and speaking rationally is a great way to calm someone who is angry and I try to be the voice of reason without making someone feel that I am belittling them."

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How to Answer: How do you approach dealing with an angry patient, and why?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Surgical First Assistant job interview.

  • 1. How do you approach dealing with an angry patient, and why?

      How to Answer

      Knowing how you will handle a difficult situation will tell the interviewer if you have the right attitude for this job. Being a physician means you have to deal with people from very different backgrounds and with varying personalities. Give the interviewer an example of how you would handle an angry patient.

      Written by Darby Faubion on December 22nd, 2018

      Entry Level

      "I think it is important to try and find out what has made the patient mad. If it is something such as not being called as quickly as he had expected, a simple explanation regarding what caused the delay may help calm him."

      Written by Darby Faubion on December 22nd, 2018

      Answer Example

      "I believe acting calmly and speaking rationally is a great way to calm someone who is angry and I try to be the voice of reason without making someone feel that I am belittling them."

      Written by Darby Faubion on December 22nd, 2018

      Experienced

      "There are a couple of different approaches and safety is, of course, the most important thing to consider. A patient who is angry could become combative which could result in injury to him, to me, or to both of us. I feel the best approach is to ask what has made the patient upset and try to resolve the underlying cause, if at all possible."

      Written by Darby Faubion on December 22nd, 2018

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Undergoing a procedure is usually due to an illness. Most anger is based on fear, so it is important first to recognize that and to understand that the patient is not angry with me personally and to engage with them without being defensive. A calm response based on empathy generally works best for me."

      Rachelle's Feedback

      Your approach sounds excellent and very caring! If you have an example of a time when you used this approach to help settle an angry patient, this question presents a good opportunity to weave in a memorable story.

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