How to Answer: Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news to a patient. How did you effectively communicate that news and what was the outcome?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Travel Nurse job interview.
15. Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news to a patient. How did you effectively communicate that news and what was the outcome?
How to Answer
As a nurse, the need to communicate effectively to a patient is vital and this is no more evident than when delivering bad news. The interviewer will be looking to see how you handled yourself in a particular instance by showing empathy and composure where most individuals wouldn't be able to. Think of a time when you had to do this and talk about an instance that had a great outcome.
Written by Darby Faubion
1st Entry Level Example
"During my time in clinical rotations on a Med/Surg unit, I had been working with a patient throughout the day that was planning to be released back home by 4:00 pm that afternoon. As my day shift was ending, the physician notified us that due to the fact the patients blood pressure hadn't dropped to an acceptable level, he would have to stay another night for observation. When I was in the room with my preceptor, she gave the news to the patient calmly and explained the reason why it was necessary. While certainly excited to be sent home, he fully understood the reasoning why and took the news well due to her simple delivery of the message."
Written by Darby Faubion
1st Answer Example
"As a travel nurse early in my career, my physician received lab results from a young patient found to have a brain tumor. When the patient and family were called in for their consult, the physician and I were both in the room when the news was delivered. In that situation, it is hard not to break down with the family in tears but I knew that they were looking at me to be the person with strength and have answers to their questions. The physician and I were able to walk them through their next steps and options moving forward with their child's diagnosis and they truly appreciated that."
Written by Darby Faubion
1st Experienced Example
"As an urgent care nurse, I saw patients with varying degrees of sicknesses and illnesses. One weekend, a young boy came in with a foot injury from playing in a hockey tournament earlier that day. After the doctor examined him, he was sent to the lab for X-rays. In talking with the boy and his father, they were in town for a hockey tournament and his team had just reached the championship game which was to be played the next day. The boy was so excited and hopeful that he would have just a bruised foot and be able to play. Once the tests came back, it was revealed that he had fractured the outer metatarsal on his foot. The physician delivered the news to the boy that he had fractured his foot and that he would need to leave our clinic in a walking boot and not play the next day. He was devastated. I was then responsible for educating the patient and his family regarding his injury. I explained to him that playing further could damage his foot further down the road and by taking the time to explain why he had to take the course of action he did, both the boy and his father were grateful."
Written by Darby Faubion
2nd Experienced Example
"During a follow up office visit for diabetes a patient had been anticipating beginning an insulin pump. The patient had really been looking forward to this next step and accomplishment in their treatment plan but knew their A1c had to be within a certain range to begin. Unfortunately, the patient's A1c was not in the desired range that the patient and physician had previously set and the patient was not able to start the pump. The physician provided the lab result in a professional manner and I had the opportunity to speak fully with the patient after the physician had completed their portion of the visit. This gave me the opportunity to better understand what was going on in the individual's life that may be negatively impacting their diabetes treatment plan. I was able to provide additional education for the patient about diabetes management strategies and provide them with the support they needed to understand diabetes better and improve their glucose levels."
Written by Tabitha Cumpian on December 28th, 2022