Non-exhaustive list of interview questions

This list has been compiled by cutting and pasting (with some adjustments to
spellink and grammar, I wont name and shame) the questions left by various
members of the Interview questions for junior physios Facebook group.

MSK

What is the difference between Total and Hemi hip replacement?

What are the treatment goals?
Talk through an objective assessment of the lumbar spine.
What complications could there be following a # NOF?
How would you know if it was ACL rupture from the subjective and objective assessment?
What are the possible diagnoses for anterior knee pain?
Name the carpal bones.
Name the rotator cuff muscles, origins, insertions, actions, nerve supply.
What do you understand of red flags, can u name the red flags for the back and cervical
spine?
Patient presents with LBP and hip pain, how would u differentiate between the 2?
How would u differentiate between a frozen shoulder and shoulder impingement, what
would ur management of frozen shoulder be?
LBP red flags?
Tennis elbow symptoms, and what structures could cause lateral elbow pain?

MSK scenarios

35 yo woman with anterior knee pain, works in an office, no previous issues. What would
you ask subjectively, then do objectively. Confirmed as patellofemoral maltracking, what
would your management be? Differential diagnosis and how would you diagnose this.
Practical demonstrate 2 tests for knee instability and explain as you go.

Constant burning/shooting pain lateral calf and foot what questions do you need to ask.
Determined as lx origin what would initial management be? What would consequent
management be?

You're in outpatients- a patient presents with lower back pain, with pain spreading down
one leg. What would you include in your objective assessment?

You are seeing a new patient in their home, who has just been discharged from hospital
following fractured NOF that has been fixed. The patient complains to you of pain in the calf
of the affected leg. What do you think this might be? And why? What would you do?

Youre in outpatients and are seeing a patient who has had an ORIF for an ankle fracture and
has just had the plaster removed, what is your assessment and treatment?

You've been asked to see a patient just admitted onto the ward following a hemiarthroplasty
to correct a fractured NOF, what are you initially going to look at? A few days later you are
going to mobilise the pt, how do you approach this?

Patient 72 years old with Total hip replacement, has got UTI urine tract infection, he is
presenting deterioration and poor mobility.
What is your understand of this patient?
What are the precautions for this patient?
What do you have to consider before plan any treatment? What outcome measure
do you use for balance?

Cx spine pt with stiffness on right rot/side flex with radiating pain down his arm (median
nerve bias stated). You have done your subj. ax now demonstrate what neurological tests
you would perform?
What exercises would you give this patient based on the information you have?

73 yr old male pt with # NOF who is NWB and to be treated conservatively. pt is already
able to transfer with AO2. Consultant says pt can go home but you have concerns.
-Demonstrate how you would teach this pt to use a WZF?

Respiratory

Clinical case: Patient an 80 years old man with a COPD, diabetes type 2, he is getting worse
and his BMI is 35 plus.
-What is the clinical presentation for this patient?
-What would effect would this have on the exercises?
-What would you look for in his assessment?
-How would you prepare his assessment?
Your Senior band 7 is on annual leave and you have a patient presenting high respiratory
rate, blood pressure and temperature:
What else would you check on this patient?
What risk would be for this patient?
What are the signs and symptoms of someone in respiratory distress?
-What would you ask doctors if you were called out to see this patient?
-How would you treat them if they had increased 1. WOB 2. retained secretions 3.
collapsed lung?
-What would you need to do before you leave the patient?

What is your understanding of COPD ?

Can you interpret the following blood gases..?
Can u explain ventilation and perfussion, what does V/Q mean?
Tell us about your experience in respiratory and why you are suitable for the post.
Was given 2 sets of ABGs to interpret and asked- what is going on here? What type of
patient group would present with this?
How would you interpret a chest x-ray?
You have a patient post op who has got atelectasis on X-ray- how would you treat this?

Respiratory Scenarios

Then given on-call scenario with COPD patient consultant has asked you to see given all
obs and ausc details etc and asked to define main problems. Consultant has asked you to
BIRD patient what would you say/do and why?

Second scenario is COPD patient on medical ward, admitted for exacerbation and now
unwell but not sick, what would your treatment/management be for this patient before
discharge?

You have been asked to see a patient with bronchiectasis which is excess mucus production
to teach them ACBT to help clear secretions, can you demonstrate how you would teach it?
(one of interviewers was a model). How do you know whether the treatment had been
effective?

You are seeing a 65 year old lady with COPD admitted to hospital with SOB and difficulty
expectorating, she has a 30pk smoking history and does not have oxygen at home.

Patient has come in with a chest infection, how would u position them?, What would u do
with a patient who has secretions in in the right lung?.

Neuro

What are the signs and symptoms of PD Parkinson Disease?

What are the treatment goals of a Parkinson disease patient?
Can you talk about how dementia impacts on your role and treatment as a physiotherapist?
Describe your assessment of someone with an acquired brain injury.

Neuro Scenarios

You're on a stroke ward, which signs/symptoms you would expect if a patient had had a
rupture affecting the MCA....

Patient has Parkinsons and has had decreasing mobility in last month. Practical carry out
initial subjective and objective assessment. Discuss physiotherapy treatment and
management plans for this patient. What are the clinical signs of PD?

75 yr old with 3-yr history of CVA whose mobility has suddenly deteriorated over last 3
weeks, why things could have resulted in this?

Youre seeing a Parkinson's patient who has had recurring falls , what would be your
assessment?

Patient with a stroke has low tone in the upper limb, how would u go about treating them?

First ax of a stroke patient, what would you do?

For this stroke patient what would your treatment priorities (problem list basically) be?

You

What are the skills that you can bring for this job?
Tell us 3 strengths and weaknesses from placements or previous Band 5 work?
Tell us about your experiences of MDT working and an instance of conflict and how this was
resolved?
What is your understanding of an MDT and give an example of a good or bad MDT you have
worked with and why?
Why do you want this job?
Tell us how you've kept up with your CPD since qualifying.
Give an example of when you've received positive and negative feedback.
Tell us a piece of work/learning you did recently that made an impact on your practice.
Tell us about a memorable patient in your clinical experience and why?
What project and/or audits have you been involved in? And what have you learnt from this
experience?
Tell us about yourself and what you would bring to the team if employed
What have you learnt about physiotherapy in the last 6 months?
Tell us about a patient who you may have treated unsuccessfully and what you learned from
this?
Tell us about a piece in your CPD folder that youre most proud of.
Name a situation which made you stressed, how did you deal with it and how did it
alter/change your practice?

If you were to start as a newly qualified PT in our trust, what measures would you expect to
ensure that your practice was safe?
Tell us about a recent reflection you have undertaken in response to a critical incident and
how this has since influenced your practice.
Name a clinical situation in which you did something you were proud of and why?
Give an example of when you saw a health and safety concern with any staff member, what
did you do and how did you handle it?

The Trust
Why this trust?
What can you bring to this trust?
What attracted you to our trust and why should we pick you?
What do you know about our trust and our values?

Miscellaneous

What are the role and responsibility of a band 5 physio?

What are the MDT challenges and what skills required to work in a MDT setting?
What do you understand of clinical governance?
What is confidentiality?
You are on the MDT meeting and you disagree with a treatment approach, What do you do?
What are the Implications for physio from Francis Report and Health and Social Care Act?
Difference in treatment between someone with acute pain and someone with chronic pain?
What is your understanding of MDT and why do you think this is important.
What is your understanding of red flags and yellow flags?
Tell us what you understand by the term 'flags' and why these are important?
The local community here is very diverse with people from various multicultural background
- what challenges do you think this might present and how would you deal with this?
Tell us what you think your training needs are presently and what opportunities are there
for you to help with these?
What are the benefits and negatives of collaborative working?
What are the benefits and negatives of a 7 day service?
It is in our trust policy that the patient should be discharged 24hrs after being medically fit.
What is it in your qualities as a therapist and in a team that helps you to achieve this?
The Francis report identified the need to focus on compassionate care, can you explain why
this is important? How would you evidence the fact that you embodied this core value?
There are a lot of changes going on in the NHS at the moment, can you give an example of
one and what you think it means to practice as a physio?
What's your understanding of compassionate care?
How would you deal with a patient complaining about your physio treatment of them?

Choose an objective measure you have used and explain to us why you have chosen it?
What are the challenges of working part time in a physiotherapy post?

Scenarios

Newly admitted 55 yo male on rehab ward with history of fall at home, ward sister has asked
you to see him. What would you want to know before seeing the patient and how would you
find this out? Respiratory scenarios given ABGs and asked to interpret and suggest
condition that could cause these.

Scenario with patient with mild dementia wanting to go home but not safe for discharge what would you need to consider?
Elderly ward 70 year old woman who is clinically well and dr wants to discharge but you
dont think shes safewhat would you do?

You're on call, your senior has seen a patient for their chest at 4pm and have asked you to
see them at 8pm as they may deteriorate before being seen in the morning. On your way to
seeing them, you are paged to see a patient who has become acutely unwell. How do you
prioritise and what would you need to find out?

You are treating a patient with acute pain and one with chronic pain- how would you
treat/manage them?

A new patient referral with recurrent falls: tell us about your assessment - subjective and
objective. what factors could be contributing to this patient's falls? What outcome measures
could you use?

You've gone to see a patient at home for a mobility aid assessment when they ask you to
please help them get their medication at the chemist because they have run out of
medication. What do you do?

What would you do if you go out to see and patient and they are on the floor and confused?

What would you do if you were the only physiotherapist managing two orthopaedic wards?

A Patient has had a fall on the ward and you see two staff trying to get the patient off the
floor with outstretched arms, what would you do in this situation?

You are on call and a doctor calls you, what do you need to ask before deciding whether you
need to go in?

You are in A&E and have 4 patients, prioritise them and explain why:
- a man with acute shortness of breath
- a child with CF who has come in for antibiotics
- a 36 year old woman with reduced mobility and acute confusion.

How would you describe intensive care Physio to a member of the public?