Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope.
One of the many challenges that junior doctors face in healthcare setups are stress and burnout. Unfortunately, this has been recognized as a fact, by managers and recruiters; and they are keen to see how new doctors are prepared to handle these challenges. There would usually be only one question regarding this, and it can be asked in different words. Be carefull not to just spit out a crammed answer.
Common Questions
- How do you recognize that you are stressed?
- How do you handle a stressful situation, discuss with an example?
Question #1: How do you recognize that you are stressed or bunrt out?
Behavourial Changes
- Poor concentration
- Forgetfulness
- Tiredness, irritability
- Getting anxious over small tasks
- Difficulty with time management
- Increased conflicts with colleagues
- Loss of appetite / overeating
Physical Symptoms
- Palpitations
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Insomnia
These are just a few of changes and symtpoms that can be caused by stress and burnout. It is in no way exhaustive, you can add more changes and symptoms which you have faced yourself. Write your answer based upon a real situation where you have been stressed.
Note: Your focus should be on answering “how do you recognize that you are stressed”; although your answer would be incomplete without mentioning the steps taken for resolving that stress.
Handling Stress
Depending on the type of stress, you will handle the stress differently:
- Remaining calm and taking a step back
- Organising your work, prioritising and delegating work and tasks
- Taking appropriate breaks
- Asking for help from colleagues
- Communicating with others
- Sharing problems with a colleague
- Having personal time off e.g., vacations, hobbies, sports etc.
Creating your answer
There is no pet answer to this question. You have to create one for yourself. The example that you use has to be unique and according to that example you will tell about the steps you take to handle the stress. Not every stress can be dealt with going on a vacation!
You answer should contain the following three points to be complete:
Identify one situation from your past clinical practice where you were stressed and burdened
Explain how you realized that you were stressed i.e., symptoms and changes
What steps did you take to deal with that stress?
Question #2: How would you handle a stressful situation, with example?
Your ability to handle and deal with pressure and stress is being tested in this question, specifically with an example.
Situations that you can discuss:
- Dealing with several tasks at once e.g., emergencies, urgent tasks etc.
- Doing something unfamiliar quickly and underpressure
- Deal with a difficult or abusive patient being overworked due to short staffing
- Negotiating with a diffuclt patient or colleague
Include These In Your Answer:
- You are mentioning a situation, so use the STAR Structure.
- Mention the skills and strengths that you used to handle the situation
- How you dealt with the stress
- How you took senior support
Example Answer
"I believe that being calm, organized, and prioritizing tasks is essential in managing a stressful situation. One example of this was during a busy night shift in the emergency department when we had multiple critically ill patients arrive at once, including a trauma case and a patient in cardiac arrest. In that moment, I quickly assessed the situation, prioritized tasks, and delegated responsibilities to my colleague. I took charge of managing the trauma case, while ensuring that my colleague handled the cardiac arrest. I communicated with my senior consultant about the situation. By remaining focused and composed, we were able to stabilize both patients. Afterward, I took time to reflect on the situation and sought feedback from my team, which helped me improve my approach for such scenarios in the future.