Step 2 CS Tip: How To Answer Challenging Questions

CHALLENGING SCENARIOS…

Particularly challenging questions, are one of the BIGGEST challenges that students face on their CS exams. Nobody really teaches you how to answer challenging questions because most people just cross their fingers and hope for the best.

That approach is a recipe for disaster, which is why we’ve created a 4-step plan for approaching challenging questions. Keep in mind this doesn’t work for every possible challenging question, but it does work for the majority, which should help you on your exam.

Here are the 4 steps to answering a challenging question on the CS exam: 1. Acknowledge their concern, 2. Let them know more info is needed to give them a definitive answer, 3. Give a quick breakdown of how you’ll get the info needed to provide them with an answer, 4. Ask if they agree with your approach.

How do I actually do this in a real scenario? Here we go… Let’s say the challenging question is from Mr. Smith who asks ‘Can you give me some Demerol for my headache, I can’t take the pain?’.

Your response using the 4-step method outlined above:

1) Mr. Smith, I can see that you’re in a lot of pain and I’m so sorry 

2) But before I can prescribe you anything, I need to know exactly what’s going on so that I can give you medicine that is going to do the best job at alleviating your pain

3) I need to finish doing a physical exam in order to gather more info, then I’ll run a few tests, then once we know what’s going on, I’ll be able to give you the best treatment for your pain

4) Does that sound like a good plan to you?

As you can see, the problem was addressed and appreciated, an explanation of why medication couldn’t be given in the moment was given, a plan to get them the most appropriate treatment was outlined, and confirmation that the patient agrees was given. This strategy is going to work for you the vast majority of the time.

Follow this strategy when you’re faced with a challenging question on the CS exam and you’ll have a much easier time navigating any tricks thrown your way.

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