Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Scenarios and Scoring Guidelines

Vocabulary and scenario-based flashcards reviewing Situational Judgement Test (SJT) ratings, professional ethics, patient safety principles, and specific scenario judgements.

Very Important (SJT Scale)

Crucial to the decision making (usually linked to patient safety).

Important (SJT Scale)

Needs to be considered in the decision making but is not a deciding factor.

Of Minor Importance (SJT Scale)

Crosses my mind, but not really important.

Not Important at All (SJT Scale)

Has no relevance to the situation, usually personal opinions or harms patient safety.

Very Appropriate Thing to Do (SJT Scale)

Offers a practical, immediate straightforward solution.

Appropriate Not Ideal (SJT Scale)

It is appropriate, but something can be done that would be more appropriate.

Inappropriate Not Awful (SJT Scale)

Shouldn’t be done but doesn’t have awful consequences.

Very Inappropriate Thing to Do (SJT Scale)

Should not be done and has severe consequences.

Raj and Libby Scenario - Most Appropriate Action

After the meeting encourage Libby to be honest to Dr West about when the blood test was ordered, as it addresses the issue of honesty whilst remaining supportive.

Raj and Libby Scenario - Least Appropriate Action

During the meeting inform Dr West that Libby had only just ordered the patient’s blood test, as it is likely to embarrass Libby by pointing out her mistake to everyone and is not supportive.

Marcus and Jane Scenario - Most Appropriate Action

Explain to Jane that he would personally revise alone as he finds this more helpful, as it is polite yet honest and isn’t detrimental to his own studies.

Marcus and Jane Scenario - Least Appropriate Action

Suggest to Jane she asks another classmate to revise with her instead, as it may be perceived as rude and unsupportive since he should explain why.

Trevor and Daisy Scenario - Most Appropriate Action

Ask Daisy what would make her feel more comfortable to disclose this information, as it tries to resolve the situation by offering a practical solution.

Trevor and Daisy Scenario - Least Appropriate Action

Ask Daisy to wait so that he can call the receptionist back from her lunch break to help, as it leaves Daisy waiting when she is already nervous, which may cause her to leave and go untreated.

Wilson Scenario - Most Appropriate Action

Explain to the senior doctor that he wants experience on a different ward, as it is upfront and honest.

Wilson Scenario - Least Appropriate Action

Suggest to the senior doctor that he does not want to bother the dean of the medical school, as it does not address the real issue.

Handling Patients Angry About Waiting Time

Telling them to calm down or promising they will be seen next is VERY INAPPROPRIATE, as telling someone to calm down usually has the opposite effect and medical staff cannot make false promises.

Accidentally Hurting a Patient During a Procedure

Saying nothing is VERY INAPPROPRIATE because it goes against policy guidelines, which require that patients must be informed of all accidents.

Working Within Competency

Adhering strictly to personal competency is VERY IMPORTANT, as healthcare professionals must know their limitations and avoid overstepping boundaries to ensure patient safety.

Signing Attendance Sheets for Absent Peers

Signing an attendance sheet for someone who is not present is VERY INAPPROPRIATE, as fraudulent and unprofessional behaviour constitutes grounds for gross misconduct.

False Reassurance

Providing false reassurance to patients or family members is VERY INAPPROPRIATE, as honesty is vital in the medical profession and future outcomes cannot be predicted with certainty.

Observing Confidentiality Breaches in Public Areas

Taking doctors to one side after leaving a public space (like a lift) or addressing them immediately to stop the discussion is VERY APPROPRIATE to preserve patient confidentiality.