Peer Interview Question regarding prioritization in Pacu/Ortho

I was recently asked the following question in a peer interview for a Pre-op/Pacu/teaching position

in a small Orthopedic Surgical Center. How would you have answered?

"How do you prioritize your work as you go through your day; keeping in mind our focus in this

particular unit?"

Depends on the focus of the unit. I am assuming it is a predominately outpatient unit? In that case: 1) Ensure patient safety. That is always the number one. 2) Work towards safely discharging patients - pain management, nausea management, loading dose of long-lasting pain medication (Dilaudid vs Fentanyl), family to the bedside, teaching, out the door. Maintain a steady, efficient flow of patients out the door. 3) Stop work and focus on number 1, safety, if any critical issues arise.

tx for the response stopnik :). Yes, it is predominately an elective surgery/outpatient unit but there is overflow from the OR (hospital "attached") and alot of their current patients go up to a floor for over night obs. I took the question pretty generically and responded that I prioritized in my head, and deferred to emergencies allowing for flow with the other staff members helping a case as quite often in my experience the team members help each other when they are not busy to speed the process along (assessment, iv, teaching, comfort, managing family, collaborating with docs/nps) to move them to pain intervention (blocks) and then along to OR. And then of course on the back end (as you described) ... I was very general in my response since I don't know their current protocols and so I was hoping I gave an appropriate answer. Never been asked that before - but then I haven't had alot of peer interviews either. Tx again for your help!