Transitional Year Residency Mock Interview
Practice 30 Transitional Year Residency interview questions covering clinical reasoning, program fit, and career goals.
Question 11 of 30
How do you cope with the death of a patient?
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Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
As a physician, there will be times when you will have patients that die. The interviewers want to hear that you have coping mechanisms to keep from becoming overwhelmed with the loss of life. It is essential for healthcare professionals to have someone they can speak with and have healthy avenues to decompress to prevent burnout, illness, and injury. Describe how you cope when you lose a patient.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"It is never easy losing a patient. As a physician, I got into this profession to help people, so it is sad to see them die. But I knew that was part of the job before going to medical school, so I have the mindset that patients will unfortunately not always make it. I cope by knowing I did the best I could for them. If a particular death bothers me more than others, I talk with colleagues or my spouse, which always seems to help. I also take care of myself mentally and physically so the grief doesn't take control of my emotions."
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