Situational Judgement
Topic overview
Situational judgement does not require medical knowledge; rather, it judges the appropriateness of behaviour or the importance of factors. Stable principles include patient safety, honesty, confidentiality, seeking help promptly and acting within one's own competence.
Key concepts
Address direct safety risks first, then consider integrity, confidentiality and team communication. For problems beyond your competence, seek help from qualified personnel rather than guessing or concealing.
Key points
- ◆Safety first
- ◆Record truthfully and escalate promptly
- ◆Respect privacy and professional boundaries
The best level earns full marks; choices adjacent to the best level can earn partial credit. In training you should still judge the behaviour itself, rather than using the partial-credit rule to conservatively guess the middle option.
Key points
- ◆Distinguish the undesirable from the seriously improper
- ◆Look at the behaviour itself rather than luck in the outcome
- ◆Private, measured communication is usually better than public accusation
Worked examples
Try each example yourself before checking the explanation.
Is it appropriate to seek help from a qualified person when a patient asks you a medication question you cannot confirm?
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