Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Clinical competence
35% weight
Check CPB case volume and circuit fluency: LivaNova S5 or Terumo consoles, del Nido versus Buckberg cardioplegia, DO2i goal-directed perfusion, ACT management, ECMO and cell saver setups.
Evidence to listen for
Command of the procedures, anatomy, and equipment the role requires
Holds current registration or certification
Knows normal from abnormal and what to do about each
Recognises when a case is outside their scope
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Unsafe knowledge gaps; registration missing or lapsed.
2
Needs Improvement
Knowledge gaps that would affect patient care.
3
Satisfactory
Competent for standard cases; needs support on complex ones.
4
Very Good
Strong clinical knowledge; safe and reliable across the usual range.
5
Excellent
Names annual pump case counts, valve/CABG/aortic mix, specific consoles and oxygenators, and defends cardioplegia and flow strategy choices with numbers.
02
Evaluation factor
Patient safety and protocol
30% weight
Probe AmSECT standards adherence: pre-bypass checklists, air embolism and massive gas embolus protocol, low-flow alarms, heparin resistance handling, ABCP or equivalent certification and CEUs.
Evidence to listen for
Follows identification, infection control, and documentation protocol without prompting
Can describe an error or near miss and what they did
Escalates deterioration early
Treats protocol as protection rather than bureaucracy
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Casual about protocol; would not report an error.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent protocol adherence; slow to escalate.
3
Satisfactory
Follows protocol reliably; documentation sometimes thin.
4
Very Good
Protocol is instinctive; escalates early and reports honestly.
5
Excellent
Describes checklist discipline, a caught circuit hazard or clot event, and quality reporting without minimising near misses or blaming the surgical team.
03
Evaluation factor
Patient communication
20% weight
Assess how they handle pre-operative patient or family contact, consent-adjacent explanations of bypass and blood conservation, plus Jehovah's Witness and refusal-of-transfusion cases.
Evidence to listen for
Explains a procedure to an anxious or confused patient
Handles distress, pain, or refusal without losing control of the interaction
Respects privacy and dignity in practice, not just in principle
Works with families and carers
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Dismissive of patients; no bedside awareness.
2
Needs Improvement
Task-focused; struggles with distressed patients.
3
Satisfactory
Adequate rapport; less confident in difficult interactions.
4
Very Good
Calm, clear, and respectful with anxious or difficult patients.
5
Excellent
Explains bypass and blood management in plain terms, and has adapted technique for bloodless surgery requests documented in advance.
04
Evaluation factor
Working in a clinical team
15% weight
Test closed-loop dialogue with the surgeon and anaesthetist during cannulation, cross-clamp and weaning, ICU handovers for ECMO, and how they raise concerns mid-case.
Evidence to listen for
Hands over cleanly and completely
Challenges a colleague when patient safety requires it
Takes direction from clinicians without deferring blindly
Handles shift work and pressure without becoming difficult to work with
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Poor handover; cannot work in a clinical team.
2
Needs Improvement
Handover gaps; avoids raising concerns about colleagues.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable team member; handover adequate.
4
Very Good
Clean handovers and willing to speak up on safety.
5
Excellent
Gives concrete examples of calling out rising line pressure or poor venous return early, and structured ECMO handover to intensive care.
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