You are called to attend a delivery of a baby at 30 weeks gestation. The baby is born floppy, blue, and not breathing. Heart rate is 50 beats per minute. Talk through your initial management.

Tips to guide your answer

- NLS algorithm: dry/stimulate -> assess tone/breathing/HR -> open airway -> 5 inflation breaths -> reassess -> ventilation breaths -> chest compressions if HR <60 -> drugs

- Preterm <32 weeks: place undried into food-grade polyethylene bag/wrap (face uncovered) under radiant warmer; apply hat; use thermal mattress

- Inflation breaths: 25cmH\textsubscript{2}O for preterm (vs 30 for term), sustained for 2 - 3 seconds each

- Chest movement is the key indicator of adequate ventilation

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How to approach this Paediatrics interview question

This leadership question is common in Paediatrics NHS interviews because it reveals how you think under interview pressure, not just what facts you can recall. Use "You are called to attend a delivery of a baby at 30 weeks gestation. The baby is born..." as the anchor for a concise answer with a clear opening, a clinical or professional structure, and a reflective close.

What the panel is testing

A strong leadership answer is concrete. Describe the situation, the people involved, the decision you made, and how you created follow-through. Avoid sounding heroic; NHS panels usually prefer reliable team leadership. For paediatrics, include the child, family, safeguarding context, and senior support early. Interviewers want safe clinical reasoning and family-centred communication.

Give a practical example of leading through communication, delegation, and follow-up rather than job title alone.
Show how you kept the team aligned while protecting patient safety and psychological safety.
Reflect on what changed afterwards and what you would do differently next time.

How to structure your answer

For a leadership prompt, aim for a short opening sentence, then two or three evidence-led points, then a final reflection. If you use STAR, keep the result and reflection as strong as the situation. If it is a clinical scenario, say what you would do now, what you would do next, and how you would keep the patient safe while help is coming.

Open by naming the main issue in the question.
Give a structured response rather than a memorised script.
End with escalation, documentation, learning, or follow-up.

Common mistakes to avoid

The weakest answers usually stay too vague, ignore the specific role, or miss the safety issue hidden in the question. Do not use this page to memorise a perfect paragraph. Use it to rehearse the shape of a safe answer, then adapt it to your own experience and the post you are applying for.

NLS algorithm: dry/stimulate -> assess tone/breathing/HR -> open airway -> 5 inflation breaths -> reassess -> ventilation breaths -> chest compressions if HR <60 -> drugs
Preterm <32 weeks: place undried into food-grade polyethylene bag/wrap (face uncovered) under radiant warmer; apply hat; use thermal mattress
Inflation breaths: 25cmH\textsubscript{2}O for preterm (vs 30 for term), sustained for 2 - 3 seconds each