CASper

Processed meat has been found to be a carcinogen in humans, putting it in the same class as smoking cigarettes. As a public health official, what steps would you take when considering a ban on processed meats in your community?

(Ethical dilemma, policy) As a public health official, I would do more research into the effects on the health of the public. My main concern is the health of the general public, the limitations of my office, and individuals' right to autonomy. If the risk to the public is great and warrants intervention, I would see if the manufactures could look into making it healthier. If not, then I would consider a partial ban, by enforcing taxes or an educational initiative. I would not consider a complete ban unless the research is irrefutable and it causes a direct and imminent health threat (think asbestos), as that will infringe on personal choice.

What do you think is the significance of the statistic presented in the first sentence, that though 86% of people know that excess salt consumption is bad for their health, only 53% of them actually consider salt content when making food choices?

(Personal, critical thinking) The statistic alludes to the fact that individuals do not always act upon their knowledge. There are confounding factors to behavior, such as environmental, cultural, and psychological. However, I would hesitate to support this statistic before doing more research into how they got these numbers.

You are the manager of an office, where lunches have been missing from the common kitchen. What would you do?

(ethical dilemma) As the manager, my priority is the well-being of my team members, including the one who may be stealing lunches. I would interview my team privately, in a non-confrontational manner. If someone confesses, I would inquire as to why to see if they need help (financially or otherwise), and see if there is anything I could do to help them. However, I would have to warn them that this unprofessional behavior cannot go on and next time, I will have to fire them.

Describe a situation when you had to say no to a friend's request for help.

(personal) As an EMT, my friends have come to me for medical help and information. I usually try to help them to the best of my abilities, when appropriate and within my scope of practice. However, there have been some cases when I refuse to give them advice, such as mixing medications, because I believe it is out of my purview and unethical for me to advise them. In these cases, I tell them to ask their doctor or pharmacist.

What is your approach to working with someone whose values are vastly different from your own.

(personal) My approach to working with someone whose beliefs are vastly different from my own is to listen, try to empathize, which opens up the dialogue and makes it easier to find a common ground. My roommate was skeptical about masks and social-distancing during COVID-19, and by listening to his reasons, I was able to find house rules that we would both agree upon that would keep us both safe and allow his right to autonomy while sharing common space.

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." Would you change anything about that quote if you could?

(personal) One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Albert Einstein and is summarized by: "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." If I could change anything about Churchill's quote, I would include something about learning from your failures and mistakes to improve your ability to succeed. When I was learning how to snowboard, each time I fell or went down a slope, I thought about how I could improve. I focused on my stance, my turns, and my braking. Each time I went down that mountain, I got incrementally better by focusing on improving my mistakes.

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." Describe a time in your life when you failed.

(personal) When I received the final rejection letter from PA schools from the first time I applied, I was very disappointed in myself. Knowing that I wasn't going to achieve my goal of getting into PA school for at least one more year was devastating. However, I realized that this was also a second chance at better myself as a candidate and potential PA student. I used the year to improve my GPA, healthcare, volunteering, and shadowing experience. Now applying for the second time, I am excited for the opportunity to prove myself and show what I have learned in the past year.

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." What is your interpretation of that quote?

(personal) Winston Churchill alludes to the fact that success is the result of many failures. A famous example is the invention of the light bulb, where Thomas Edison failed a thousand times, but on the thousand and first try, he created this amazing technology that changed the entire world. In my personal life, I understand that failures are just another step in achieving my goals.

Describe your leadership style.

(personal) As a leader, I prefer to be engaged and communicative with my team members. When I was on the Philanthropy Committee in my sorority, I kept open communication with my members, allowing me to address issues before they become major problems. For example, I realized a couple of my members were having trouble meeting deadlines because of their academic workload, and by reaching out to them, I was able to reassign their tasks to other members who were interested in more responsibility.

In countries where the provision of health care services is subsidized by the government, do you think that governments should be able to prevent access to substances known to cause chronic disease? Why or why not?

(policy) By preventing access to substances known to cause chronic diseases, governments may help their citizens live long, healthy lives by reducing chronic diseases, increasing quality of life, and decreasing overall healthcare spending. However, this also limits personal choice and may marginalize those choosing to practice this behavior for personal reasons. Instead of outright prohibition, governments can gradually limit access, such as the UK did with sugar and the US did with cigarettes by enforcing taxes.

A time you navigated a personal crisis (yours or someone else's)

*as a greeter stopping a distraught mother from entering the ER* *working on a patient who has coded*

Strategies

1. Remember names 2. Identify the most pressing issue. Your biggest concern will be the well-being of your patients, students, clients, customers, then your co-workers, employers, and finally the community and society at large. You can do this by figuring out who is directly and peripherally affected. 3. Be non-judgmental and non-confrontational. This means having private conversations and gathering all of the facts before making a decision. No assumptions. 4. If, Then Statements or BeMo's Punnett Square method. Find your two choices and the worst/best case scenario

Is it ever appropriate to keep quiet and not speak up against a superior even though you are certain they are making a 'wrong choice'?

A good team has different personalities and leadership styles and there are usually multiple solutions to a problem. Thus, I understand that I may not always agree with my superior on the best course of action. However, if my superior is doing something I believe is unethical or unprofessional, it is best to speak up and address the problem. Superiors are also human and make mistakes, a good team member should not be afraid of speaking up to correct wrongs.

A time when you problem solved.

A. As an administrative coordinator working at a healthcare management company, I was tasked with a special project to improve my team's efficiency. I worked with the head programmer and vice president of my department to develop a new workflow, by re-organizing our database and updating the search capabilities. I was able to test the new search functions and found that the new process increased our efficiency by 5%. B. As a medical billing assistant at a new healthcare start-up, I conducted monthly audits of unbilled claims and help reduce the backlog from over 8 months down to a month. To accomplish this, I developed a streamlined process that reviewed each claim, corrected patient accounts by either contacting the medical provider or patient directly, and contacted health insurance company representatives. WIth billing medical claims, any small inaccuracy ended with a denial of coverage. I was able to find the most common inaccuracies and address it in the process I developed and included in the job manual for new employees.

A time when you were empathetic

A. I was working as an EMT and transporting a distraught father and his three young children after a traffic accident, where no one was seriously hurt. The father sat in the front passenger seat next to me and was becoming increasingly agitated at the routine questions my partner was asking for the patient care report. While we were on the freeway, he started demanding to be let off with his children, taking this seatbelt off and turning around to threaten my partner. I was able to keep my composure and tell him that while he had the right to leave, it was my duty to ensure their safety by finding a safe place to park and let them off. While I was exiting the freeway, I listened to his fears about his insurance, de-escalating the situation. I believe it was my active listening skills and empathy about his situation that convinced him that it was best to make sure his children were safe by agreeing again to be taken to the hospital. C. When I remembered a family member's name, they asked me to weigh in on the doctor's words. By listening to them and taking the time to get to know them as people, they felt more appreciated, building trust.

A time when you exhibited good communication.

A. When I was on the Philantrophy Committee and in charge of my sorority's yearly philantropy event, one of my members informed me a couple of days before an important deadline that she would not be able to complete her task in time. She had a presentation for a campus research conference that week. Although none of the other team members approached me, I knew a couple of the other girls were also presenting at that conference. I discretely approached them and asked if they also needed help in meeting their deadlines. After determining that another student was eager for help, I was able to reassign their tasks to those who were able to spare the time. By communicating with my team members, I felt like we were able to make key deadlines that allowed our philantropy event to run smoothly. I was even able to watch my friend present her research project later that week.

Name a time when you had a problem within a team.

As a new EMT working in an underserved community, my (also new) partner would rush into dangerous situations. I was very uncomfortable with it, as it was against protocol and I worried about our safety. After he rushed into a stabbing without police backup, I spoke with him afterward and told him how I felt. As partners, our duties included making sure each other was safe. After that, we had a more collaborative partnership and made sure we were as safe as we could be.

A time when you were collaborative.

As an EMT working in an underserved community, my partner and I developed efficient partnership in order to handle the high call volume. Since he was training to be a firefighter and very physically fit, he would take point on the heavy lifting of patients. Since I was interested in learning more about patient care, I would take point in the patient assessments. Together, we were able to respond to over 20 calls on some days. The medics we worked with would compliment the synergy and teamwork we had.

From time to time, we deal with conflict in some form. Briefly describe a time when you experienced conflict. How did you react?

As an ER technician, I have encountered numerous patients and family members who are upset. One time, during COVID-19, a family member was extremely distraught, yelling and crying about our strict no-visitor policy. Since I was the screener at that time, it was my responsibility to enforce the rule. I felt pressured to let them in, but I stayed calm and understanding. I went into "active listening mode," and empathized with their frustration. They appreciated my empathy, which allowed me to explain to them that the strict policies were for their and our patient's safety. I gave them the nurses line so they could call in for updates, which they greatly appreciated.

What responsibility, if any do current generations have for future generations? Explain your answer.

As we rely on this planet for our resources and shelter, we have the responsibility to maintain this earth for our future generations. As we provide education, groceries, and homes for our children to grow up with, we should provide a livable earth for all future children. Our earth also has intrinsic value and we must preserve it.

Consider a time when you faced a difficult situation. What was the situation and why was it difficult for you?

Because of COVID-19, my hospital had a strict no-visitor policy and as the ER technician, it was on of my duties to enforce it as the screener. I had a particularly difficult encounter with a mother who wanted to see her son who was having a heart attack. She was extremely distraught and I empathized with her because the situation reminded me of the time I was waiting to hear about the results of my brother's surgery after a major car accident.

When selecting individuals for professional school, what do you think is more important: academic performance and standardized test scores or their ability to demonstrate professional-type behaviors across a variety of settings?

Both academic and professional-type behaviors are important for professional school. Academic performance demonstrates student's ability to handle the rigors of graduate-level learning. Since most, if not all, graduate schools and the professions they train for requires networking and collaboration, professional-type behaviors are also very important. Academic performance and standardized test scores have been demonstrated to discriminate against lower-socioeconomic groups, while not always indicating future professional performance. I would argue that professional-type behaviors are more important when selecting individuals for professional school, given the short-comings of standardized test scores.

Why is diversity important?

Diversity and inclusion are important, especially in healthcare, as our patients come from all walks of life and we need to address our own biases to ensure that all patients get the best treatment. A diverse team lends different perspectives, allows everyone on the team to feel included and welcome. It is not only racial, as it also encompasses sexual orientation, gender, religion, physical differences and more. A diverse team will also lead to cultural competence, which is important for providing quality care.

Why is it important to have a diverse workplace?

Diversity and inclusion are important, especially in healthcare, as our patients come from all walks of life and we need to address our own biases to ensure that all patients get the best treatment. A diverse team lends different perspectives, allows everyone on the team to feel included and welcome. It is not only racial, as it also encompasses sexual orientation, gender, religion, physical differences and more. A diverse team will also lead to cultural competence, which is important for providing quality care.

How can widespread social media use and data collection benefit our society?

During COVID-19, the government and other health groups used social media platforms to disseminate information to help the public stay safe. By spreading verified facts about masks and social-distancing, authorities combat the spread of misinformation and help "lower the curve" of infections. It is my hope that in the future, authorities continue to utilize this important and powerful messaging tool to keep the public informed of the truth and safe.

Why is equity important?

Equality is important because everyone deserves fair treatment and opportunities. Discrimination against the color of your skin, socioeconomic circumstances, or where you live has far-reaching effects that lead to early death and poorer quality of life. Health is influenced by more than the interactions between a clinician and a patient. We must be cognizant and address the health inequities caused by social determinants, such as socioeconomic disparities, lack of green spaces, food deserts, access to health services, and poor education and literacy. Through education, outreach, and community activism, we can influence the well-being of neighborhoods. <revise>

How can you advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

First, I would make sure to identify my biases and work on them. I would call out acts of discrimination when I see it in the workplace. I would also advocate for a diversity committee or workshop to make sure we can develop long term solutions to building a more inclusive workplace. If I was in a leadership position, I would make sure our hiring practices were fair to all applicants. If our applicant pool is not representative of the population, I would also propose outreach measures to reach diverse, qualified individuals.

Maintaining work-life balance can be challenging. Why do you think people struggle to find a balance?

For many work and life are equally as important, thus the difficulty of maintaining a balance. Many times work is not confined to the office and can reach into our personal lives, which prevents set boundaries. On the other hand, life includes children and family, which also cannot be confined to a specific time or location. With smartphones, our employers can reach us via email or a phone call and expect a quick reply, even when we are home or elsewhere. Similarly, we need to be able to reach our families, especially in case of emergencies, even when we are at work.

How do you manage stress in your life?

For me, stress is combated through organization. When I am stressed, I know it is because I have not simplified whatever is worrying me. I am constantly making lists and keep a detailed planner/journal. If the situation calls for it, I also meditate, especially for events like an interview or tough work day. In addition, I have learned that sometimes all it takes is one night's rest and whatever is causing me stress seems less overwhelming.

What makes a good leader?

Good leaders are those who are able to utilize a team to their fullest potential by identifying each individual's strengths and combining them to solve problems. I believe this is accomplished through active listening, good communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. With these skills, members will respect their leader, leading to cohesive team dynamics and collaboration.

What motivates you (in general)?

I am motivated by making a difference and helping others. It is part of the reason I am pursuing a career as a PA—I know I will enjoy serving others, especially the disadvantaged. It is why I enjoy community service in all settings and why I chose to become an instructor—to help students achieve their goals. I also value other's opinion of me and strive to be friendly, agreeable, and compassionate. Also, I love working under pressure, which is why I chose to be an EMT and work in underserved communities. Being in the ER has also been fulfilling for me, being able to help others, and having to think on my feet.

What would make you a good PA?

I believe a solid education and good clinical experiences will help me be a good PA. A solid education will include honing my critical thinking skills so I can make good clinical decisions for my patients. Clinical experiences during PA school will also assist my learning, so I can see first hand what PAs do and practice. Clinical experiences will also allow me to network and learn from other PAs.

What type of feedback do you like to receive?

I believe good feedback involves both positive and negative reinforcement. Although I appreciate it when others point out things I have done well, I also like to know what I could improve on so I could perform better next time.

What makes effective teams?

I believe team members should be communicative and dependable. Each member should uphold their responsibilities and communicate any problems. Through communication and dependability, trust can be built, which creates effective teams. <example in the ER>

Working with difficult people.

I believe the difficulty is in the relationship, not simply the person. There were a couple of patients who would frequently show up in the ED that would frustrate many of the clinicians. Whenever I would work with these patients, I would check my frustration and bias before going into the room. Once I'm in there with the patient, I have a clear agenda and set boundaries with them. I always take the time to listen to their concerns and empathize with their situation. These strategies have helped me many times and my conversations with them have usually been positive and fruitful. I usually get along with most of my coworkers and bosses. When I was working as a student on the campus library, I had a difficult time while working with another student worker. His unfriendly behavior was lowering my overall job satisfaction and performance. I pulled him aside one day after work and told him how his behavior was making me feel. Surprisingly, he apologizes, saying that he was overwhelmed with schoolwork, which was affecting his behavior at work. After that, he was friendlier and I was more understanding.

What do you anticipate to be some of the biggest challenges in pursuing a career as a PA?

I chose PA because I knew I would love this job and I am excited to tackle any challenge to pursue this career. I understand the academic rigors of PA programs will be challenging, but I look forward to learning as much as I could about medicine. I understand programs are difficult because they are preparing us to make clinical decisions that will affect the lives of others.

Why PA?

I chose PA because I wanted a career where I would be passionate about my work and enjoy for the rest of my life. I love helping others and solving problems, which drew me to the healthcare sector. However, the PA profession stood out to me because of its emphasis on helping the underserved, job flexibility, potential for lateral mobility between specialties, astounding job growth, and medical education model. In addition, I love the collaborative aspect of this job and knew I would enjoy the partnership with a supervising physician.

What motivates you to become a PA?

I chose this profession because of it's humanitarianism, as I am motivated by making a difference and serving others. In addition, this career will allow me to increase access to quality medical care to underserved areas, like the areas I grew up in. I believe that health is a human right, and wish to increase the well-being of my community so everyone, including the marginalized, can enjoy healthy, happy lives. In addition, knowing that I will enjoy good job prospects

Think of a time when you had to make a sacrifice in order to accomplish a goal. Do you regret your decision to make this sacrifice? Why or why not?

I decided to take the offer, as the larger hospital had PAs whom I could work closely with and the current hospital did not. I was pre-PA, so this opportunity allowed me to network and learn more about the field I was pursuing, which was worth it in the end. Although I had to work the night shift for 6 more months, I believe the benefits outweighed the costs.

What makes you mad?

I don't get angry often, but injustice is one thing that does make me angry. If I believe something is unfair, I will get angry. In that situation, I assess whether or not I can make a difference, and if I can, I try to facilitate change. If I can't, I try to accept the situation and reframe it or use it as an opportunity to learn a lesson about how I will not do things or treat others.

What did you learn from this situation that can be applied to your future career?

I learned that I am capable of sacrificing short term discomfort in order to achieve my goals, especially if I deem that goal to be worth it. I would sometimes had to work my day and night jobs back to back. I know as a new PA, I will not have the luxury of choosing my work schedule, but I know I could tough it out to gain the experience I need.

What makes you happy?

I like helping others and making a difference. Hence I have enjoyed all my community service projects. I also enjoy setting goals and achieving them.

Name a time in your life you had to persevere toward a goal.

I switched career paths four years ago and have persevered and juggled patient care jobs, additional classes, volunteering, and networking in a field where I had no connections to before. I have had to work 60 hour weeks while taking science courses like physiology and anatomy, which has strengthened my time management and organizational skills. I have connected to individuals from all walks of life as an EMT and ER technician in underserved communities. Although these 4 years have been tough, I have loved the process and believe I have improved my character and abilities through perseverance.

Name a time you failed at something.

I was not accepted in PA school the first time I applied. It was devastating and meant that I would have to delay my plans for one more year. However, I knew I had to take advantage of that year to make myself a better applicant and potential PA student. I utilized that time to gain more patient care experience, improve my GPA, volunteer, and network with other PAs. By the time of the next application cycle, I was optimistic and excited to try again. My first quarter at college was overwhelming. I was not prepared for the rigorous academics and moving far away from my family. I received a Ds that quarter because of my high school study habits which included late nights of cramming and procrastination. However, through the next year, I experimented with different study strategies and ended up on the Dean's honor list by the last quarter of freshman year. I also had to address my mental health and sought counseling for my depression and homesickness. This experience taught me to the value of organization, strategic planning, and protecting my mental health.

Professionalism.

I was working as an EMT and transporting a distraught father and his three young children after a traffic accident, where no one was seriously hurt. The father sat in the front passenger seat next to me and was becoming increasingly agitated at the routine questions my partner was asking for the patient care report. While we were on the freeway, he started demanding to be let off with his children, taking this seatbelt off and turning around to threaten my partner. I was able to keep my composure and tell him that while he had the right to leave, it was my duty to ensure their safety by finding a safe place to park and let them off. While I was exiting the freeway, I listened to his fears about his insurance, de-escalating the situation. I believe it was my active listening skills and empathy about his situation that convinced him that it was best to make sure his children were safe by agreeing again, to be taken to the hospital.

You are asked to put three items into a time capsule, which will be opened in 300 years. This time capsule is intended to reflect the areas of humanity that are going well, and those that need improvement, in the current year. What items would you put in the capsule? Explain your response.

I would place Falcon X, the new commercial rocket created by Space X and is the brainchild of Elon Musk. Many would argue that Falcon X is the pinnacle of space technology that we have today. Elon Musk is arguably the Newton or Leonardo Da Vinci of our time, as an inventor. I would also place a Pangolin scale or White Rhino Horn indicating the mass extinction and wildlife exploitation that is occurring at this time due to human activity and habitat destruction.

You are the manager of an office, where lunches have been missing from the common kitchen. Two of your team members, who sit near the lunchroom, have noticed the cleaning staff going in and out of the lunchroom at odd hours, they want you to confront them. What would you say to your team members?

I would recognize that I do not have all of the facts in this situation, and try to find more information before jumping to conclusions. I would interview them privately. If they have substantiated observations of wrong-doing by the cleaning staff, then I would have a private meeting with the cleaning staff manager informing them of what has been going on (without implicating anyone). Together, we can work to help the offenders rehabilitate their behavior.

What is your biggest weakness?

I've had to work on relaying information in a succinct manner and concentrating the delivery on what is most important. As an EMT giving reports to the ER nurse, I tended to include everything since I wanted to overcompensate for my inexperience. It was only when working more closely with clinicians as an ER technician, that I realized my inefficiency made it harder for others to determine what was important, as some clinicians would kindly ask me to summarize what I had said. I started to analyze the information passed on to me and convey only what was important.

How would you tell a superior that you think they are 'wrong'?

If I believe that a superior is doing something unethical or something that will harm our patient, I would approach them in a private conversation. If it is urgent, then I would try to make it as private as possible by either taking them around the corner or a corner of the room and speak in a quiet voice. Embarrassing them will not help with delivering my message and could make them defensive. I would be calm and rational, listing the reasons why I believe are wrong. I would also be prepared for a rebuttal and understand it may strain our relationship if they do not take kindly to criticism.

You are the professor at a university, and a student approaches you asking for a "strong" letter of recommendation. The student was caught cheating last year, and a colleague told you that he "threw a tantrum." If you did write the letter, would you mention what your colleague had said about the student, why or why not?

If I did write the letter, I would rather use the facts and my personal observations of the student. I do not know exactly what transpired between their conversation, and I do not know if there was a miscommunication or possible exaggeration of the student's behavior. This letter will seriously impact the academic and possibly professional future of this student, I would hesitate to include information that I do not know firsthand of.

If you could choose any other career what would it be?

If I was not pursuing PA or anything healthcare related, I would love to be involved with animal and environmental conservation. I was an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major in college, and I took many classes in conservation, marine life, and animal behavior. There are many species and habitats facing extinction, and I feel compelled to help and preserve the precious biodiversity we have. In many ways, it's similar to my desire to become a PA, I want to help those who are marginalized and underserved and protect their well-being.

From time to time, we deal with conflict in some form. Consider how the other person in the scenario acted. Do you think they handled the situation appropriately? Why or why not?

In times of crisis, such as your son being taken to the ER because of a heart attack, being emotional and distraught is understandable and warranted. With a crisis like fearing for your son's life, there is a large range of acceptable behaviors, as individuals process emotions differently.

Consider a time when you faced a difficult situation. What would you do differently if you experienced a similar situation again? Explain your answer.

Looking back I could have also requested security to help out instead of dealing with the situation on my own. Speaking with them took some time, in which patients and visitors had to wait outside in line to come in. Security or other people would have helped me resolve the situation much quicker.

You are the professor at a university, and a student approaches you asking for a "strong" letter of recommendation. The student was caught cheating last year, and a colleague told you that he "threw a tantrum." What would you say to the student?

My biggest concern is my student's well-being, as well as the academic integrity of my office and the university. I would gather more information from the colleague and the student, privately and non-judgmentally before jumping to conclusions. If it turns out the student did cheat and act unprofessionally, but the student demonstrated maturity and learned from the situation, then I would agree to write the letter of recommendation. However, if the student still unprofessional when asked about the situation, then I would have to regretfully decline writing the letter of support.

What does it mean to be a professional?

Professionals have a fiduciary duty towards those they serve. This means that professionals must act in good faith towards patients. Their decisions and actions must serve the welfare of their patients or clients. Members of a profession should have and obey a code of ethics which includes accountability, altruism, excellence, honor, and integrity.

Give an example of positive feedback you have received.

Recently, my ER was extremely understaffed due to COVID-19 and a hiring freeze. There were a couple of times when I was the only ER technician on the schedule when there should have been four or five. I got recognized by the charge nurse and ER staff for being a team player during those times. During that time, I focused on prioritizing tasks that had to be done by me and asking for help on tasks that were considered less urgent or able to be done by someone else. I really appreciated the feedback because there were times when I felt overwhelmed.

What are some other ways in which widespread social media use, and the resulting data collection, could negatively impact our society?

Social media has the power to connect individuals and ideas from all around the world, but this also comes at a price. From promoting negative body images to our youth to disseminating false information like anti-vaccination propaganda, there are serious consequences to these platforms. Data collection can also be used against the public like China's media surveillance to subdue peaceful protests or collecting information on consumer behaviors to encourage sugary foods in youth.

Do you believe that one false or inappropriate post on social media can have a lasting effect on someone's career? Explain your response.

Social media is a powerful tool that can be used by professionals for educational, networking, and social purposes and requires careful consideration by the professional. Even posts shared on private accounts can be leaked or distributed online, preventing redaction or removal from the web. Thus, inappropriate or unethical posts and images can have a lasting effect on someone's career. As professionals, the public views our actions as representative of our profession, thus we must act accordingly.

"Do not follow where the path may lead". What does this quote teach you about leadership?

That leaders are innovative and form their own path to success. By following everyone else, one will only accomplish what everyone else has. In medicine, leaders have innovated new technologies like the Da Vinci robot to assist in surgeries, resulting in safer procedures for patients. Innovative thinking is how leaders find novel solutions and make the industry safer, more efficient, and accessible to the community.

How can we better protect members of the public from the misuse of their private data?

The government should protect the public by giving individuals the ability to turn off data collection and also limit the kind of information that is available to be collected and sold. In addition, similar to incorporating typing and online etiquette classes to the curriculum, we should include education on the risks if the internet in our schools. Online data should also be anonymous, to prevent tracking.

What is your biggest strength?

The most common compliment or positive feedback I have received is on my cheerful attitude and friendliness. I really enjoy talking and working with others, which is part of the reason why I have chosen to pursue PA. Even when working long hours, I tend to be upbeat.

Do you think school administration should be held responsible for monitoring cyber-bulling by students? Explain your response.

The school's priority is the well-being of their students, but they must also consider their students' right to autonomy and privacy. Thus, schools should have the right to make decisions to protect their students when they have a justifiable belief that a student is being bullied. However, monitoring of both public and private content is invasive and unnecessary. Continuous monitoring allows the risk of tipping over to curiosity, voyeurism, and invasion of privacy, blurring the line for what is profession and what is not.

You are asked to put three items into a time capsule, which will be opened in 300 years. This time capsule is intended to reflect the areas of humanity that are going well, and those that need improvement, in the current year. What areas, both positive and negative, do you feel should be highlighted? Explain why you consider these to be key areas.

Today, technology has improved many areas of our society. Our smartphones allows us to connect with others and ideas in an instant. With this ability, we can collaborate and innovate unlike before. However, we have also caused an environmental disaster that has destroyed the precious biodiversity our world has to offer. Through human means alone, we have caused mass extinctions in almost every environment.

Describe a time you had an ethical dilemma and how you resolved it.

When I was a new tech working nights, we had a patient, Jane Doe, who come to the ER frequently and upset the nurses with her behavior. One time a physician ordered eye drops for her. The nurse I was working with was annoyed and ask me to just flush Jane's eyes out with water. I refused and politely asked her if she would be able to complete the order. To help out, I offered to complete the vitals for her other patients so she would be less stressed.

A time you worked with others unlike yourself

When I was volunteering at an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, it was an eye-opening experience. We donated staples like rice, beans, and canned fruit, as well as educational supplies like coloring books, pencils, and pens. We also played with the children and worked on the coloring books with them. I had taken Spanish so was able to converse with them a little, but many of them had little experience around an Asian American. They were really innocent in their questions and I had a lot of fun getting to know each other.

A time you received unfair treatment or criticism

When I was working as an EMT in Los Angeles, I was oftentimes the only female and always the only female Asian American. I quickly realized that the all-male firefighter crews that would respond to 911 calls with us would never speak to me and would only speak with my male partner. Even when I was completing the patient care, they would ask my partner about questions. I realized that this was just the culture of these crews and did my best to ignore my insecurities. While working here, I just tried my best, knowing that as the sole female or Asian American, I am representing these groups.

Think of a time when you had to make a sacrifice in order to accomplish a goal. Briefly describe the situation and the sacrifice you had to make.

When I was working as an ER technician at the local hospital on the night shift, I had the opportunity to switch to day shift. Getting day shift was something I was aiming for, as I had another day time job and had a very erratic sleep schedule which was impacting my physical and mental well-being. However, around the same time, I received a job offer for a position at a larger hospital, but it was for the night shift only. I decided to go for the new job since it would be a better opportunity.

How have you managed conflict with a superior in the past?

When I was working at the college campus library, a new manager's unfriendly behavior had a negative influence on my work, and I started losing motivation and job satisfaction. Eventually, I asked for a meeting and told her, in a calm and polite way, how I felt. To my surprise, she told me that she was struggling with her academic workload and not coping well. After that, she made an effort to be less critical, and I was more understanding.

Briefly describe a time when you hesitated or chose not to help someone. What were the reasons behind your dilemma?

While working as an ER technician during COVID-19, I was working as the screener when a young man rushed in and tried to get inside the ER. He was extremely agitated and distraught. I stopped him and he identified himself as the brother of a patient. When I looked up the patient, I saw that she was checked into another hospital and that she did not have any brother listed. When he asked, I refused to tell him where she was located and what her status was, citing HIPPA and patient's right to privacy. He became agitated, trying to look at my computer screen, disrupting the other patients waiting in line. I informed him he should try to contact the patient or other family members and security had to escort him out.

Consider a time when you faced a difficult situation. Do you prefer to deal with difficulty on your own or by involving other people? Explain your answer.

While working in the ER, difficult situations arise frequently, whether it is an elderly patient coding or agitated family member. Although some of these situations call for quick individual thinking, many times collaboration with many other clinicians and support staff results in the best care. By involving other people, our individual strengths combine to tackle multiple sides of a difficult situation.

When two or more people are experiencing conflict, what factors are most important to consider before trying to solve the issue? Explain your response.

With conflict, I believe communication and empathy are most important before solving the issue. I believe active listening and sharing your perspective will open up the dialogue to understanding what the other party is thinking and feeling. This allows for empathy, which establishes trust between both parties. By knowing and understanding the other side, both parties can establish a compromise that everyone agrees upon.

informed consent

requires the patient or client to understand the proposed procedure, details, possible alternatives, risk and complications, and consequences of doing nothing.