An interview is a key to the selection of an individual. It gives an idea of whether the candidate can carry out the job or not. Thus, the questions asked in the interview are pivotal, and the candidates’ answers can determine the fate of the person interviewed. Medical interviews that are taken should be well-curated to know the other person’s intellect and capability. Here we will discuss the top 25 questions and answers commonly asked for the post of Anesthesiologist.
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
Since my MBBS years, I have had a keen interest in anesthesia. I would visit the anesthesia department during the final year and learn about things. My post-grad residency was obviously in anesthesia because I loved the subject and knew I always wanted to be an anesthetist. Since I know that your hospital has a great inflow of patients who require surgery and thus anesthesia, I would love to offer my services. I would get a chance to pair up with a highly professional and considerate team. I want to increase my learning and knowledge since learning is always never-ending.
2. What Are The Roles Of An Anesthesiologist??
Anesthesiologist performs these roles.
- They provide anesthesia to patients, whether general or localized in nature. Anesthesia is the numbing of sensations to carry out a particular operation.
- Provide epidural to women undergoing delivery. It is meant to block the sensations of the lower body for some time.
- Monitor IV sedation or anesthesia
- to ensure that the patient is fit for receiving anesthesia and undergoing surgery. The amount should be highly specific.
- He supervises others too, who will manage and take care of the patient and monitor their recovery. This supervision is necessary to prevent any unwanted issues.
3. What Are The Qualities In Anesthesiologists That Are Needed To Be Successful?
A successful anesthesiologist needs to do the following things.
- Posses extremely professional attitude and administers anesthesia properly
- Can provide good aftercare to patients
- Can stay calm in stressful situations.
- Can have the stamina to stand for hours and perform duty.
- Can listen to patient’s needs and try to fulfill them.
- Adhere to schedule in the hospital
- Is disciplined and hardworking.
- Must be kind, honest, and hardworking
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Anesthesiologist Role? How Did You Manage Them?
The major challenge is ensuring patients’ safety and recovery, especially in high-risk surgeries. I have experienced the stress of caring for a patient’s recovery. What I usually do is that I give the proper dosage and ensure the best possible monitoring of the dose, and leave the rest to God. My patients have recovered well.
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As An Anesthesiologist?
I wake up in the morning and get dressed to go to the hospital. I check my schedule upon reaching the hospital. I check the timings of scheduled surgeries and the allocated room. Then I immediately start my work. I go to the specific rooms, tell my assistants to get ready with the equipment, and administer the anesthesia. Sometimes I work at night too.
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience?
My experience has been fulfilling. Since it is a dream job that I love, it is great to work each day. I love to interact with people. The whole procedure of administering the anesthesia and then the patient’s aftercare gives me immense pleasure.
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Are Required For The Anesthesiologist Role?
A strong-headed person is required for this role. A person who can work for long hours and is calm and composed during emergencies is the one who can perform this role perfectly. Strategies to succeed include:
- be well versed with new guidelines
- keep yourself informed
- do know about the patient’s history and physical examination details
- always give the right dosage and know how to deal with emergencies.
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge You Foresee In An Anesthesiologist Role Job?
Life is full of challenges, and the medical profession is incomplete without the same undoubtedly. Several patients visit us having different cases, and we have to help them in every possible way. As far as I remember, the biggest challenge I see in this job is the workload, the stress relating to patient safety, and the immense pressure to be accurate. I had experienced this all in my previous jobs when I had to do my duty, even on weekends. Since I have worked in this field for quite some time, I have encountered almost all of the challenges related to anesthesia. Nevertheless, my team members and the administration have helped me overcome them. Because of this, I am confident that I will also overcome any challenges I face in this job.
9. How Do You Stay Motivated At Work?
My work keeps me motivated. I look forward to the day. The schedule keeps me on my toes. I feel great to be able to serve people, and this can be termed as the motivating force behind my success. Whenever an operation is successfully done under the anesthesia I have administered, I feel great. Additionally, when you help someone, you already feel stress-free, and being an anesthesiologist gives me the opportunity for the same. I feel honored, which motivates me the most for the same role, especially at work.
10. Describe A Time You Failed As An Anesthesiologist Role And The Lesson You Learned?
I was a young internee in the anesthesia department, and the head directed me to give a certain dose. I gave the dose, but the amount was slightly higher by mistake. The patient went into tachycardia. So I panicked and felt numb. My professor thankfully managed the situation, and he adjusted the dose. Therefore the patient vitals became fine, and I was relieved.
11. Why Do You Feel You Are Qualified For This Anesthesiologist Role?
Since I have experience of more than seven years in the field and I have worked day and night religiously to gain this experience, I feel like I will be a great fit for your hospital. I will serve the patients well and make sure everything is taken care of. Moreover, I am qualified because I have immense experience and the necessary qualifications. I have served many patients for the same in the past and will surely never disappoint the management in this coming phase.
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement
My greatest achievement was managing 20 patients in a day which is a very high count for the Anesthesiologist. I did everything from administering the dose and then the aftercare. It was one hell of an experience. So fulfilling and great at the same time.
13. When You Discuss A Patient’s Medical History Before An Operation Is Done, What Risks Do You Look For?
Medical history is very important to determine the type of anesthesia, dosage, and duration. A few risks that I always look for are :
- Any signs of chronic cough
- Dyspnea
- History of smoking
- History of lung disease
- Obesity
- Any blood disorders
These risk factors can increase complications post-op and cause severe issues for the patient. Therefore, great care should be taken.
14. How Would You Manage The Case Of Loss Of A Patient On An Operating Table?
I would Convey to the family members that their patient has died during an operation, and it is probably the most stressful work an anesthetist can perform. I would be greatly empathetic towards the family. I would also stop the operating list for the day since regular operations and anesthesia administration become difficult.
15. What Would You Do To Cancel Out A Negative Response To The Anesthesia?
There are some Iv reversing agents that can be used.
- Flumazenil is a drug that reverses the ill effects of benzodiazepines.
- Naloxone also reverses the effects of opioids on the body.
- Neostigmine helps in reversing the effects of muscle relaxants.
- Sugammadex is a new agent designed to bind Rocuronium, therefore, canceling its action.
16. How Do You Prepare A Patient For Anesthetic Procedure?
A thorough medical history needs to be taken. Special care is being taken to note down any medical allergies. The patient has to be prepared for the anesthetic, which involves explaining the anesthetic action and taking care of any anxieties they might feel towards the procedure. The procedure should be easygoing and smooth.
17. After You Have Given General Anesthesia For A Surgery, How Will You Determine That A Patient Can Now Be Sent Home?
Many sedatives can affect patients long after the surgery is done. I will determine if the patient is stable if his vitals are normal, and if he can respond. If the criteria are met, I will send him home. I will give him instructions and tell him to come to an emergency if any complication arises.
18. What Are Some Of The Most Effective Techniques For Administering The Anesthetic Or Sedatives During The Medical Procedure?
There are several techniques by which anesthetics or sedatives can be administered, depending on the kind of surgery. I administer anesthetics for some surgeries requiring general anesthesia using inhalation or caudal methods. Local methods are also quite effective most of the time. I love caudal injections because of the simplicity and low rate of complications.
19. What Precautions Do You Plan To Take For A Patient Who Has Poor Health?
I will gear my procedure counseling to make the patient aware of possible complications that might occur and the importance of before and aftercare instructions. Moreover,
- I will ensure if it is safer to take certain medications rather than others.
- I will monitor closely for specific side effects or complications that may be more likely to affect patients and make a plan to deal with them if they arise.
- If a patient’s surgery is not urgent, advise them on what they can do to lower their risk before surgery, such as stopping certain medications, quitting smoking, or losing weight.
20. Can Memory Problems Be Caused By Anesthesia?
Most of the time, anesthesia doesn’t cause memory problems. However, scientists have still not understood why only a third of patients who undergo some anesthesia and surgery have experienced some cognitive impairment, such as memory loss. In all the usual cases of anesthesia administration, memory loss is not reported.
21. What Do You Think Is The Single Most Quality An Anesthesiologist Should Have?
I think that great bedside manners are something an anesthesiologist should have. He should be able to convey his message well. He should have empathy for the patients. He needs to vary little details. He needs to know the patient’s medical history and allergies and the medications he is currently taking.
22. What Is The Most Important Issue Being Faced By The Medical Industry Today?
The medical industry is facing several issues, of which the most important one is COVID these days. This pandemic has caused a lot of stress on hospital machinery, and thus people are scared. Apart from that, hospitals lack funding too. The patient handling these days is not up to the mark because of a load of serious COVID patients.
23. What Is The Most Important Lesson You Have Learnt Through The Work You Have Done As An Anesthesiologist?
The most important lesson for me is that hard work and knowledge are key to success. If you work hard and keep trying, only you can succeed in life. It is the consistency with your work that makes a difference. Additionally, I have learned:
- “Say yes” – Our profession should be approached with a “yes” attitude. I always put on a “just say yes” smile when I was asked for assistance by an interventional radiologist, an electrophysiologist, or anyone else in my previous job. Residents were then asked to memorize the following words: “Thank you for consulting anesthesiology; we are glad to assist. Definitely, you need our assistance”.
- “Do it now” attitude – Yes, it’s true, no doubt. Do not put your work till tomorrow; you must do it all by today. This is something I have learned from my past-job experiences. I used to leave my daily assigned tasks and assignments till the last day, but my seniors and managerial staff in my previous job taught me to do the daily chores instead of leaving them for later dates. This taught me punctuality and dedication and brought great seriousness to my work attitude.
- Don’t expect anything in return – As an anesthesiologist, I must serve the patients without expecting anything. This is because if I make unrealistic expectations, I won’t be able to focus on my work. We have to support and help others, either a friend or an enemy in the medical profession. We are always taught this, and we take an oath when starting to serve. I stick to the same and will continue doing so.
24. Can You Describe Your Ideal Boss?
An ideal boss is the one who helps me grow well. He is the one who teaches me knowledge, compassion, hard work, and commitment. I hope to work under such amazing mentors. A great teacher can always show you the right path in life. He gives you a direction in your career. My ideal boss is someone who cares about their team members’ opinions and ideas. When a manager shows that they care about their employees’ opinions, I am always grateful. My manager, for instance, held monthly brainstorming sessions where she invited everyone to participate. Though I was nervous at first, I began to look forward to these sessions. As a result of these sessions, I felt more confident as the group heard my ideas.
25. What Are The Pros Of A Career In Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is a branch of medicine that is too vital to a patient’s wellbeing. It is a relatively relaxed job. It is comparatively easier as far as the work schedule is concerned. Others include:
- Salaries and job security are competitive.
- A diverse workplace.
- Flexibility in working hours.
- Reduced patient responsibilities.
- Manageable lifestyle.
- Instant feedback and job satisfaction.
- Advanced devices and technology exposure.
- In-depth training and further studies.
Conclusion
The Anesthesiologist needs to give detailed answers, which should show his knowledge and experience. It is a luck game because many experienced professionals fail, and inexperienced people clear the interview sessions. All the questions were asked to judge the ability to navigate difficult situations. Anesthesiologists are so important in a surgical unit. They can play a major role in a patient’s wellbeing. Those mentioned above are the 25 topmost Anesthesiologist questions and answers. Still, undoubtedly, they are never the same, i.e., it depends on the interviewer and the workplace or nature of the job. Therefore, you should prepare yourself accordingly.
