Sample interview questions: How do you handle emergencies and prioritize care when multiple critical patients require attention simultaneously?
Sample answer:
In emergent situations with multiple critically ill patients, I employ a systematic and evidence-based approach to prioritize care effectively:
1. Triage:
- Rapidly assess each patient’s vital signs, airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) using standardized triage tools.
- Determine the severity of their conditions and assign a triage level.
- Red: Immediate threat to life, requires immediate intervention
- Yellow: Urgent condition requiring prompt attention
- Green: Stable condition, can wait for care
2. Prioritization:
- Focus first on patients with life-threatening conditions (Red triage).
- Implement immediate interventions to stabilize their airway, breathing, and circulation.
- Delegate care to other team members for Yellow and Green triage patients, ensuring appropriate monitoring and supportive measures.
3. Team Collaboration:
- Clearly communicate patient priorities to the multidisciplinary team.
- Assign roles and responsibilities to optimize resource allocation.
- Utilize electronic health records and automated alerts to track patient progress and monitor changes in condition.
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/2_0_14/Critical%20Care%20Nurse