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How do I answer the following interview question: Can you describe a time you went beyond the call of duty?
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Suzanne’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
Your question alludes to why medicine and nursing is perceived as a calling. One must be truly engaged in order to "go beyond the call of duty" and love what they do day after day. I think the above examples are beautiful.
I have many examples where my nursing practice went beyond what I was being paid to do (although always within scope of practice). The example that comes immediately to mind is from years ago.
I was taking care of patients diagnosed with HIV related Kaposis Sarcoma. This was a horrible disease which manifested with purple lesions on the skin as well and internal lesions. I was part of a team conducting clinical trials with the patients. I became close to almost all of my patients. In one case, I became close not only to the patient, but to his family as well. I was invited to their home for holidays and celebrations. I loved this guy; sweet, talented and kind. As it was in those days, he ultimately failed all treatments and was given no further hope. He suffered terrible seizures due the lesions in his brain and was in the hospital for many days.
I was on my day off. My patient was actively dying. The family asked the nurses to call me at home and have me come in to be with him. They couldn't bear to watch their sweet family member die. I went in and stood by his side, held him, and told him it was ok to leave. That everyone would be OK. That he would be free from suffering. When he passed, I stayed with his body and prepared him for the morgue. I assisted the family with one last viewing. I walked him to the morgue.
So yes, doctors and nurses almost always, in some fashion, go beyond the call. I hope you hear that call and pursue what will be a lifetime of rewarding service.
Best,
Sue
Your question alludes to why medicine and nursing is perceived as a calling. One must be truly engaged in order to "go beyond the call of duty" and love what they do day after day. I think the above examples are beautiful.
I have many examples where my nursing practice went beyond what I was being paid to do (although always within scope of practice). The example that comes immediately to mind is from years ago.
I was taking care of patients diagnosed with HIV related Kaposis Sarcoma. This was a horrible disease which manifested with purple lesions on the skin as well and internal lesions. I was part of a team conducting clinical trials with the patients. I became close to almost all of my patients. In one case, I became close not only to the patient, but to his family as well. I was invited to their home for holidays and celebrations. I loved this guy; sweet, talented and kind. As it was in those days, he ultimately failed all treatments and was given no further hope. He suffered terrible seizures due the lesions in his brain and was in the hospital for many days.
I was on my day off. My patient was actively dying. The family asked the nurses to call me at home and have me come in to be with him. They couldn't bear to watch their sweet family member die. I went in and stood by his side, held him, and told him it was ok to leave. That everyone would be OK. That he would be free from suffering. When he passed, I stayed with his body and prepared him for the morgue. I assisted the family with one last viewing. I walked him to the morgue.
So yes, doctors and nurses almost always, in some fashion, go beyond the call. I hope you hear that call and pursue what will be a lifetime of rewarding service.
Best,
Sue
Updated
Louisa’s Answer
I don't think that I went beyond the call of duty but others may. I was working with a hospice patient and her mother. The mother was not ready for her daughter to die. Her grandson, the patients son was killed a few years earlier. They had no other family in the area. The night the daughter passed I received a call from the mother concerned that the daughter was not eating or drinking. She wanted hydration. I went it was late but the mother was very stressed. I was able to to get the IV inserted and slowly start the hydration. I stayed with them both. As the daughter was nearing death I sat with the mother at the foot of the daughters bed. We talked for hours as the mother began to accept that it was was going to happen the daughter became more relaxed. We talked ate ice cream and talked some more. It was 2:30 or 3 am when the mother looked at her daughter and said "she's going isn't she" shortly after her daughter passed. I received a call from the mother asking me to come by to sit Shiva with her. Upon arriving she greeted me and then said to all that she had an announcement. She then stated that I had saved her life. She had planned to die with her daughter. Spending the time with her allowing her to express her grief she was able to accept her daughters death.
Updated
David’s Answer
I was working in a pharmacy as a tech. I was also the IV starter, in the doctors offices on the floor above us. The pharmacist and I had to administer a new drug to a patient. Well she had a bad reaction to it. Which was not uncommon for this medication. The pharmacist was back down stairs and the doctor was seeing a patient. Eighty two patients that day he saw. He couldn’t help me or tell me what to do. No one was able to help me. The patient was literally crashing before my eyes, so I resuscitated the patient myself. Being in a doctors office, I had all the equipment I needed, including a paramedic box. I knew I couldn’t wait! My paramedic experience kicked in. As the patient started to come around, the doctor got wind of what was happening. He came in and told me that I did a good job and thanked me. He told the pharmacist, that I had only a ten minute time frame. And I just made it.
One of the prouder moments in my career. I’m getting choked up just writing this. I hope this encourages you to be in the medical field. I guarantee you, that if you do, you will be able to write something like this some day. And tears will probably run down your face, like they are mine right now.
One of the prouder moments in my career. I’m getting choked up just writing this. I hope this encourages you to be in the medical field. I guarantee you, that if you do, you will be able to write something like this some day. And tears will probably run down your face, like they are mine right now.