Have any tips for younger doctors going for an interview?
Feel free to contribute to the conversation by asking questions or answering questions where you might know the answer.
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It’s been a few years, but I remember getting asked a few of these emergencies:
Asthma Mx protocol, epilepsy Mx protocol, shocked baby/child - initial management and then figuring out the type of shock. Might get asked about DKA Mx.
Remember to mention referral to ICU, unless you’re going for a paeds ICU interview, obviously.
Also for neonates: HIE criteria and protocol, jaundice, PSBI case, importance of breastfeeding.
Might get asked about children’s rights for consent to procedures and things.
Also good to know the MTCT and IPT protocols, they sometimes ask that.
Was also asked how I cope with high intensity/stressful situations when I went for an ICU interview.
Other than that the general basics: conflict resolution, teaching and supervision of junior doctors, batho pele, etc.
Last year I interviewed for a paeds MO post at an academic circuit in Gauteng and these are some of the questions they asked me (besides asking me to elaborate on my experience and skills obtained thus far), as well as a rough outline of the answers I gave:
how to manage a baby with AGE with delayed CRT and lethargy, slow skin pinch etc (classic signs of hypovolaemic shock). Pretty straightforward, start with ABCs then fluid bolus(es) (also mentioned a few contraindications). Remember to check HGT, give O2, ceftriaxone, etc. Consider doing a blood gas if available. Once out of shock then start rehydration fluids and admit to the relevant ward if not yet admitted. NB check electrolytes on gas before starting rapid rehydration and make sure no contraindications. Monitor hydration in ward, urine dipstick, etc. They stopped me at this point as I think I’d given enough information.
what to do if a colleague gave the wrong dose of a medication leading to a patient going into cardiac arrest (regardless of whether the patient survived). This one was a bit more tricky for me as I couldn’t remember the exact steps of how to go about medical negligence in a colleague, but I just honestly told them how I would go about it from going to speak to the colleague first and finding out what led to the situation (to avoid any such future situations), and then encouraging them to go speak to the patient (or in this case primary caregiver) themselves to explain what happened, and then also informing their supervisor. They would also need to complete a case report. If they didn’t disclose anything to anyone then I would have to escalate it to the supervisor and make sure the patient (or caregiver) was informed of what occurred.
what I plan to do (academic-wise, I guess) during my contract with them if I were to get the post. I guess here they wanted to find out whether I’m actually invested and will be writing primaries, etc., as it’s an academic hospital.
I ended up getting the job so yay!
Hope this helps someone!