Bristol interview questions Flashcards
Why medicine?
Medicine is a deeply satisfying career- realised by adopting caring role the satisfaction of helping others and how improving their lives improved my own self-confidence/worth
Challenges + stress- I believe by staying open and making connections with other people in my situation and people outside of medicine I can handle it and the challenges presented can be enjoyable
Intellectual- amount of knowledge available is endless, encourages lifelong learning and growth which I aspire to.
I have also got a deep scientific passion and my interest in medicine has been deepened by reading books such as ‘The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat’, attending lectures on topics like the treatment of depression and reading articles on things like the progression and diagnosis of motor neuron diseases. These all fascinated me and inspired me to research further and learn more in the field.
Reviews- encourage reflection and constant personal + professional growth
My skills are suited to the career, by developing communication, empathy etc. I have equipped myself to become a doctor that can treat any patient at the highest standard of care possible.
Finally by speaking to doctors and hearing about the passion they have for the job being maintained throughout long careers and how the job never grows old I confirmed to myself that medicine is really the right path for me.
Other than course structure, what about Bristol appeals to you?
Music- I am a keen musician and I would love to join the Bristol University Symphony Orchestra, as well as that Bristol has a great music scene and lively culture, I think the city’s history in arts and music create an incredible backdrop for university life.
Hockey- I enjoy playing field hockey and having seen the facilities available at the university I think it would be a great place to exercise, make new friends and develop my skills
I also like the fact that Bristol is a city university which gives more freedom and I think going out and exploring the city is a really exciting opportunity
What about the course structure at Bristol appeals to you?
Freedom of learning with student choice placements in the first 3 years as well as an option for an elective in the 5th year really excites me and I think it differentiates Bristol from other medical schools.
The support of a mentor at Bristol also appeals to me because I think it helps to stay focused and makes the course seem less daunting as you know you have people to support you if you’re struggling.
Early clinical placements and a holistic focus on developing professional skills as well as knowledge makes me confident that Bristol will provide me with the facilities to become the best Doctor I can be.
If you had multiple patients in need of a heart transplant how would you prioritise which one to give it to?
Urgency- who needs the transplant most urgently
Chance of acceptance- matched for blood group, ethnicity, height, weight, sex, presence of antibodies etc. which all effect the risk of a transplant rejected.
Non-maleficence- any risks of surgery with any of them, couldn’t survive going under general anaesthetic or for some reason they would not be able to cope as well on immunosuppressants. Will they survive if they have the procedure or will they still need further transplants surgeries etc.?
How long have they been waiting for the transplant?
Avoid any unconscious bias particularly surrounding the nature of their illness, also address any underlying issues such as BMI as if they don’t tackle these issues, the problems may well happen with the transplant organ.
Can you give an example of a time you showed teamwork in a medical setting?
My job in a vaccination centre, I worked as a part of the primary care team to provide the best care possible for patients. We use a very efficient system to provide streamlined care to patients and reduce their anxiety when coming through. By creating a positive environment where people were not afraid to admit to mistakes; we ensured a high standard of patient care with minimal errors. I learned when to speak up and when to follow the lead of others within a healthcare team and the importance of asking for help when you are in need, such as when I couldn’t find a patient on the system or didn’t know what to log for a patient’s clinical risk factors.
Why would you be a good doctor
Above all else I’m compassionate and conscientious which I have developed through my time volunteering in a care home and through this I have developed effective communication skills, particularly the ability to use non-verbal communication to try to get through to residents who struggled. I also have the ability to work in a team, even under pressure which I have developed through playing hockey and in a medical setting through my job in a vaccination centre. Building on this, through my role as principal cellist in an orchestra, I have developed leadership skills and have learned to become somebody that my colleagues can trust and feel comfortable communicating any issues and suggestions with.
I have also built resilience by my time spent as a part of a fostering family as I faced a lot of challenges but remained empathetic and it challenged my world views as I realised my great fortune in how I had been raised, but continuing despite adversity to try to do the best for the kids and make a positive impact on their lives.
Finally by reading medical texts I have become informed and started to build a basis of clinical knowledge on which I can develop professional skills to be a doctor that can provide the best level of care possible.
Describe a key takeaway from your work experience
Importance of good communication skills- Really at the core of the job
Diversity of medicine- saw so many unique opportunities within my time there
Importance of other allied healthcare professionals
Why Medicine and not Nursing or Dentistry?
Very difficult both are very important and are needed for healthcare teams to function
I met a lot of nurses through my work
They were careers I considered as they are patient focused and have a lot of overlap with medicine
Work without any real occupational boundary
Responsibilities as a doctor, patient care decisions and problem solving
medical school training vs nursing degree
Leadership skills
Best illustrated with nurses I saw in the hospital
I would be a better doctor because of interest in medical research, problem-solving/leadership skills and some of the focus of my interests being a lot more suited to medicine
What are your hobbies?
Music- cello + piano, orchestra
Field hockey
Hiking
How do you manage stress
Music- relax take mind off issues
Hockey- release frustrations positively
Friends and connections- talk to people about issues and go out and enjoy myself
Set aside time away from work
Make friends with people who do different things to myself
Should doctors always be truthful?
Yes, duty of candour
important in building trust with patients
Patients will only follow their advice if doctors are honest
Honest=/Blunt
What are the values upheld by the NHS?
NHS Constitutional values-
Comprehensive available to all
Given on clinical need not ability to pay
Work across companies to better care
Best Value for taxpayer’s money
Highest standard of care
Patient is at the heart of care
NHS is accountable to the public it serves
