Tough Interview Questions: How would you respond?

[Khenon]

---

Members don't see this ad.

how would you answer "why medicine instead of nursing, EMT, or physician's assistant, social worker..."?

I think social worker is easy enough to answer . . . I'm science based, I have a science background, I thrive in a scientific environment, etc. Though social work is "helping people" it's not science. Some people have a mind for science and other don't. Each have to find their own way of helping people. I chose medicine because it's science based.

The other health care options will be tougher to answer. I mean the biggest difference between most of those careers mentioned is money, but we all know not to say that! I guess something to the effect of wanting to be in a more leadership role. Feeling comfortable making difficult decisions, and guiding others while making those decisions. Wanting more of a direct role in patient care, in terms of diagnosing, treating, and working with the patient. I don't know. None of those sounded that spectacular. Maybe someone else will have a better take on it. At this point, I would touch on those issues if ask those questions.

 

[evajaclynn]

I guess something to the effect of wanting to be in a more leadership role. Feeling comfortable making difficult decisions, and guiding others while making those decisions. Wanting more of a direct role in patient care, in terms of diagnosing, treating, and working with the patient.

Khenon, I think that this sounds like a great response. I actually shadowed a few PA's to get more of an idea of their daily routine. I definitely think that I would get more satisfaction from working as a physician and the reasons you stated above are right on!!!
👍 👍 👍 👍

 

[asdf999]

Why doctor vs EMT?

i've actually trained to be an EMT and the stuff you learn is not really in depth

you just learn how to respond to and treat symptoms

EMT's job is NOT to diagnose! that is a doctor's

and plus you don't even learn about the underlying causes behind diseases/illness

oh and you cant even prescribe medicine or perform advanced medical procedures

 

[Cat's Meow]

I once had an interviewer ask me how I would fix the Iraq and Iran problem...jeez.

I think there is more of an Israeli problem.

 

[redrocks]

One of the main questions I've heard comes up in a couple of versions:

What should be done about the healthcare system in the US?
or
If you had XXXX dollars, what would you do to fix the healthcare system?

Anyone have some concrete ideas on this?

 

[blossompp3]

One of the main questions I've heard comes up in a couple of versions:

What should be done about the healthcare system in the US?
or
If you had XXXX dollars, what would you do to fix the healthcare system?

Anyone have some concrete ideas on this?

I just had my first interview yesterday (yay!) and this is one of the things that came up with both interviewers. this is something that i feel really strongly about, and so the way i answered, although not necessarily popular with everyone are honestly how i feel.

Anyway, i think that the only way to fix things is to utilize some form of government funded socialized (gasp!) medicine, to provide some level of insurance to everyone to insure at least basic healthcare, prescriptions, etc. This is a major sore spot for a lot of people because it can potentially cut into profits for physicians, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc. it would likely also mean some tax raises. when viewed from a long term perspective, however, by providing so many people with basic, preventative healthcare, we will be keeping many of them from having to go to the emergency room with serious complications from what would have otherwise been a simple problem. in the long run, treating people's problems initially instead of waiting until they are bad enough to go to the hospital may actually save some money. also, when looking at other industrialized nations, we are the only one that still considers healthcare a privilege rather than a right and so to be successful in any of this our entire country needs a major shift in ideology as far as that is concerned. 🙂

 

[Friday]

Would they ask that question to an African American interviewee? I highly doubt it. I think that it is a subtle way of asking a white kid, "are you racist?" to see how he will react and squirm. Nobody in their right mind would answer one patient or the other.

they could and should ask that question to anybody. to me its the same as asking who would you save first, the left hander or the right hander. Don't let yourself be 'tricked' into thinking in racial terms...thats what they're trying to do.

 

[supersnuffles]

Question:

Why allo instead of DO?

Por favor. 🙂

 

[SOUNDMAN]

I've been looking over the interview feedback section for EVMS and there is one question that seems to come up a fair amount that I would appreciate some opinions on:

"You have an 80 year old patient for whom you have perscribed medication for high blood pressure. Her blood pressure remains high although she insists that she is taking the meds. How do you handle this situation?"

There are a couple of variations on the question, sometimes including who do you ask to see if she really is taking the meds?

Maybe I'm just overthinking the question, but I don't see any "great" answer for it. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

The main way to tell is to COUNT HER PILLS. Have the patient bring in her medication in the bottles. You can tell how many pills she should have taken and how many she should have left, just off of the prescription. After finding out if she is or not taking meds, then you obtain or find out about accountability or whether she needs medication adjustments.

 

[Scubadoc]

great thread 👍

 

[CuddlyKumquat]

bumpie

 

[no-see-um]

Tell me about a time you sought to correct something you felt was unethical in either science or any other aspect of your life?

 

[no-see-um]

The 20 year old probably has a better chance of surviving after the treatment, so I'm gonna go with the 20 year old.

How about if that 70 year old you didn't feel like saving, due only to age, had 7 grandchildren right there at his bedside?

Hate to bust your balls or anything, but there are no easy answers, and I think you need to take all into account when giving that answer.

 

[no-see-um]

well then that sucks and should be changed; it's his baby too and why can't he petition for total custody?

I agree with that. 👍

 

[no-see-um]

As for the ethical questions, every time I gave a decent answer, he changed it to make it more difficult:

1) You are in lab with a good female friend. She pulls you aside to tell you that the TA has been touching her inappropriately and has been making advances. She has a boyfriend......

Stop right there. The boyfriend ought to handle it.

 

[BAM!]

Stop right there. The boyfriend ought to handle it.

I dont think so, If she's coming to you for help, then maybe you should be a good friend and try to help her. By saying that the boyfriend should handle it is kind of like making an easy excuse to not get involved.

 

[no-see-um]

I dont think so, If she's coming to you for help, then maybe you should be a good friend and try to help her. By saying that the boyfriend should handle it is kind of like making an easy excuse to not get involved.

I believe that such an instant of alleged sexual harrasment -one I did not see- is a situation for the person involved and his or her partner to discuss and handle. I would not think to come between the two unless it could not be handled well without my help. But I would be concerned nevertheless, by accompanying her to class perhaps even by sitting in on lectures if asked and allowed, and if I did happen to see it, I would encourage my friend to meet with the ombudsman of the school, and to alert the dean of students and faculty.

 

[sactownkingsfan]

Stop right there. The boyfriend ought to handle it.

I disagree that the boyfriend should handle it. The boyfriend should certainly be a source of support, but his role should be limited.

I believe that as her friend, or her boyfriend, you are obligated to encourage her to seek a solution to the harassment. I would advise her to bring the issue to the attention of the TA's supervisor, and offer to accompany her for support purposes.

I would not take the matter into my own hands, no matter how dear a friend or girlfriend she was. Women are better off if they can effectively deal with sexual harassment on their own. Taking the problem out of her hands would be crippling her for potential future, and worse, situations.

 

[DoctorMalki]

I dont think so, If she's coming to you for help, then maybe you should be a good friend and try to help her. By saying that the boyfriend should handle it is kind of like making an easy excuse to not get involved.

I agree ... if she is a good friend you have to trust her and believe that she would not be lying to you about a serious matter like this.

 

[DoctorMalki]

OKay I have a few
1. you have to perform surgery on an AIDS patient and your staff and you could potentially be infected , would you perform the surgery?
2. Would you choose between a more expensive, longer lasting treatment for a few people or a cheaper older, less effective treatment that could treat more people?

 

[Quynh2007]

.

 

[DoctorMalki]

for #2, why would we have to choose? Is it a government program, because shouldn't the patient be able to choose?

i think as a hospital administrator you have a limited budget but all these patients to treat .......in that budget what would you do basically go for quality or quantity ?

 

[Quynh2007]

.

 

[vtucci]

If you abort a fetus/baby on an unconscious patient in the ER you may be working against the patient's wishes. My wife would qualify as one of those patients. I don't know about the legalities, a skilled trial attorney could probably argue you into a lawsuit. If I had the choice, I would save the mother. Our morals won't always match the patient's, however. Speaking on abortion in general, forget religion. You could be an atheist and vehemetly oppose abortion. Our laws that prosecute murderers are however based on the ten commandments. Like it or not, the Bible is the bedrock of western thought regarding the law.

Sometimes, there is a difference between someone who is unconscious and someone who is in a life-threatening situation. If the patient is conscious and in a life threatening situation, they can refuse to have the fetus aborted. If the patient is unconscious and in a life threatening situation and there is no family around to give authorization, the appropriate and legal course of action in most cases is to save the mother. You cannot devine her wishes (i.e., that she wants the life of the child to be put before her own). As far as being sued, a lawyer can be found to file any kind of case these days, however, the standard for liability is the reasonable person standard (i.e., what would a reasonable person/doctor do in that situation and a reasonable doctor would save the mother).

However, the situations in which a viable fetus cannot be delivered and the mother saved are slim. In many instances, these situations arise in the earlier stages of pregnancy and the baby cannot survive outside the womb.

I know of situations where interviewers have thrown obstacles in here (i.e., the mother is brain dead or has a limited possibility of recovery etc, or the father has demanded that the child be saved, noting that it is his wife's wishes- how would you know that?).