UCAT Situational Judgement Test #5
Sam, a medical student, is spending time in the emergency room. Sam receives a call from Lola, another medical student, on another ward, asking if he can view the records of a patient who is now being treated in the emergency room. Lola says she wants to know how the patient is because he is a friend of hers.
Which of the following reactions by Sam is most suitable in this circumstance? Each of the following responses would be delivered nicely, it is assumed.
To get further information, it would probably be best to chat with the doctor who is seeing your friend.
Explanation:
Although inappropriate, this is not awful. Both of these medical students should be aware that requesting the treating physician for personal patient information is unacceptable because the physician will not be able to provide it. Sam could have addressed the situation at the time, thus having that chat with Lola is delegating responsibilities to the doctor. Sam hasn't violated any confidentiality, therefore it's not terrible. He is deferring responsibility for explaining this to Lola to the doctor, though. It would be more proper for Sam to mention this up front since it is a clear-cut scenario in which patient information should never be accessible.
When Zoe sees Jack, a classmate, approaching her, she is still roaming around the university campus. When Jack tells Zoe that he did not pass all of his tests, he is visibly distraught and says, "I'm going to have to redo this year if I want to stay on the course. I put a lot of effort into this and believe that even if I try again this year, I will still fall short. I believe it would be better if I dropped out of college. What should I do, in your opinion? ”
How appropriate would Zoe's reactions to the following be in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
"Have you considered requesting assistance from the institution for guidance on what to do?".
Explanation:
Very appropriate. There are many reasons why students fail tests. There may be extra learning requirements, such as undetected dyslexia, as well as personal health issues or life stressors. The specifics are unknown to us. However, in this circumstance, directing Jack to expert assistance is quite acceptable. It is delivered delicately and offers a workable alternative that Jacob might not have considered. Additionally, redoing a year of university is a big effort (emotionally and financially), so having assistance would be helpful.
When Zoe sees Jack, a classmate, approaching her, she is still roaming around the university campus. When Jack tells Zoe that he did not pass all of his tests, he is visibly distraught and says, "I'm going to have to redo this year if I want to stay on the course. I put a lot of effort into this and believe that even if I try again this year, I will still fall short. I believe it would be better if I dropped out of college. What should I do, in your opinion? ”
How appropriate would Zoe's reactions to the following be in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
"I'm sure the next time you'll find it simpler to pass the tests."
Explanation:
This is inappropriate. Even if it might not seem like a poor response at first. In all honesty, it is ineffective and dismissive of Jack's worries. Simply assuming that he will perform better the next time is useless and possibly untrue because he has acknowledged that he worked hard this time. It is not encouraging, offers no useful advice, and is not likely to be of assistance to Jack, who has reached out and is distressed. It's not terrible because it seems to have been spoken with good intentions, but Jack isn't going to feel better about himself after hearing it.
When Zoe sees Jack, a classmate, approaching her, she is still roaming around the university campus. When Jack tells Zoe that he did not pass all of his tests, he is visibly distraught and says, "I'm going to have to redo this year if I want to stay on the course. I put a lot of effort into this and believe that even if I try again this year, I will still fall short. I believe it would be better if I dropped out of college. What should I do, in your opinion? ”
How appropriate would Zoe's reactions to the following be in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
Before making any decisions, "I think you should take some time to think about what you want to do."
Explanation:
This is very appropriate. Jack is obviously distraught after recently learning that he failed his exam. He's probably not thinking clearly right now, making it unlikely that he'll make the best choices for his future. It is appropriate to offer support at this time and suggest waiting a while before bringing up the subject again.
When Zoe sees Jack, a classmate, approaching her, she is still roaming around the university campus. When Jack tells Zoe that he did not pass all of his tests, he is visibly distraught and says, "I'm going to have to redo this year if I want to stay on the course. I put a lot of effort into this and believe that even if I try again this year, I will still fall short. I believe it would be better if I dropped out of college. What should I do, in your opinion? ”
How appropriate would Zoe's reactions to the following be in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
"Perhaps you might apply for a new course—one that might be simpler? ”
Explanation:
This is very inappropriate. Exam failure can occur for a number of reasons, including personal stress, physical health issues, and additional learning needs, and in this situation, we are not aware of any specifics. It is rarely the result of "intelligence." This remark is condescending and patronizing. Hearing this from a peer will probably only add to Jack's already negative feelings of worthlessness. Everyone will probably require assistance at some point during their undergraduate (and/or postgraduate) studies, therefore Jacob should be handled with the same consideration that you would want if the tables were turned on you.
Alice and Madison, both medical students, are doing clinical rotations in a hospital ward. Aoife has just finished observing consultant Dr. Reyes on a ward round. Dr. Reyes posed some really challenging questions to Alice during the ward round, which she claims she was unable to respond to. She is now furious because she fears that Dr. Reyes does not regard her as a capable medical student.
How suitable are Madison's reactions to the following in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
"Perhaps you ought to review the subjects Dr. Reyes asked you about so you can respond to his inquiries if it happens again."
Explanation:
This is an appropriate, but not ideal response. Currently, Alice needs support since she is quite distressed. She probably just needs Madison's support and assurance. It does provide some useful guidance by advising Alice to use this chance to advance her education. Therefore, that is sound advice, albeit perhaps it could have been given in a more tactful way.
Alice and Madison, both medical students, are doing clinical rotations in a hospital ward. Aoife has just finished observing consultant Dr. Reyes on a ward round. Dr. Reyes posed some really challenging questions to Alice during the ward round, which she claims she was unable to respond to. She is now furious because she fears that Dr. Reyes does not regard her as a capable medical student.
How suitable are Madison's reactions to the following in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
"You should discuss how you are feeling with Dr. Reyes."
Explanation:
This is an appropriate, but not ideal response. This strategy is really direct and truthful. It is a mature approach for Aoife to talk to Dr. Reyes after the incident and to express that she was upset, which would cause Dr. Reyes to consider if her questioning and tone were appropriate. It also gives Aoife a chance to reassure Dr. Reyes that she is a diligent medical student and to explain that she has gone away and done some more learning. This is not the best option, as it could be preferable to discuss the problem with a stranger as it is possible that Alice would not feel comfortable visiting Dr. Reyes again.
Alice and Madison, both medical students, are doing clinical rotations in a hospital ward. Aoife has just finished observing consultant Dr. Reyes on a ward round. Dr. Reyes posed some really challenging questions to Alice during the ward round, which she claims she was unable to respond to. She is now furious because she fears that Dr. Reyes does not regard her as a capable medical student.
How suitable are Madison's reactions to the following in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
"I believe you should talk to your supervisor about how you are feeling."
Explanation:
This is a very appropriate response. This situation relates to both of the responsibilities of an educational supervisor, which are to ensure the wellbeing and academic advancement of their trainees. It would be beneficial to speak with a supportive yet independent individual to get their opinion on the circumstance. They could determine whether the questions had been fair and whether Alice's response had been fair, and perhaps give Alice some encouragement that she is succeeding in her studies as a doctor. They could also provide learning objectives for any knowledge gaps that needed to be filled.
Alice and Madison, both medical students, are doing clinical rotations in a hospital ward. Aoife has just finished observing consultant Dr. Reyes on a ward round. Dr. Reyes posed some really challenging questions to Alice during the ward round, which she claims she was unable to respond to. She is now furious because she fears that Dr. Reyes does not regard her as a capable medical student.
How suitable are Madison's reactions to the following in this circumstance? Assume that the following responses would all be delivered in a respectful manner.
Dr. Reyes was inappropriate to ask such difficult questions to you.
Explanation:
This is an inappropriate, but not awful response. Although it doesn't address the problems or provide a workable solution, it isn't terrible because it seems to be supportive. If Aoife does need to handle some additional learning, it can provide a false sense of security.
Noemi, a junior doctor, is employed on a hospital ward that is unusually crowded today since a staff member is unwell. After lunch, she gets a call from the surgical team informing her that the day's surgeries are running behind schedule. They clarify that she must inform Harrold, the final patient on their list, that his procedure will be postponed until tomorrow and that they will put him first on the list for that day. Harrold's security is unaffected by this. Noemi is aware that Harrold has been quite nervous about the surgery and that this procedure is to remove a tumor. Harold is informed by her that his surgery will not take place today as she has been instructed to do so.
How appropriate are Noemi's subsequent responses in this circumstance?
Give Harrold an explanation of why his procedure will not take place today.
Explanation:
Explaining to Harrold why his surgery has been postponed is absolutely reasonable given that he was concerned about the procedure and it is polite to do so.
Noemi, a junior doctor, is employed on a hospital ward that is unusually crowded today since a staff member is unwell. After lunch, she gets a call from the surgical team informing her that the day's surgeries are running behind schedule. They clarify that she must inform Harrold, the final patient on their list, that his procedure will be postponed until tomorrow and that they will put him first on the list for that day. Harrold's security is unaffected by this. Noemi is aware that Harrold has been quite nervous about the surgery and that this procedure is to remove a tumor. Harold is informed by her that his surgery will not take place today as she has been instructed to do so.
How appropriate are Noemi's subsequent responses in this circumstance?
Because she is so busy, ask Harrold if he can ask any questions to her tomorrow instead of doing so now.
Explanation:
The wait should not be prolonged without giving Harrold the chance to ask any questions, as he has been really worried about the surgery.