Scene to read · Problem solving, Empathy
One drink a minute
You volunteer at the coffee cart in a hospital lobby.
It is eight minutes to seven. The cart's single machine makes one drink a minute, and eight hospital staff are waiting off to one side to get coffee before their shifts start on the hour. Fabian, a visitor you served earlier, comes back with his cup. Agnieszka, the cart supervisor, is beside you.
The scene
Fabian: Sorry, this has milk, and I can't drink it. I've been upstairs all night.
Agnieszka: Eight people, eight minutes, one machine. A remake means somebody goes without.
Fabian: They call me back up at seven. It's all I've had since yesterday.
Agnieszka: And they won't get a break till noon. Your call. Who's next?
The two questions
- 1What would you do, and what would you say to Fabian and to the people in line?
- 2How do you weigh one person's need against the needs of many when you cannot fully meet both?
What raters look for
- Problem solving
- Gathers facts before acting, considers options and consequences, and chooses a workable next step.
- Empathy
- Recognizes what others feel and need, and lets that shape the response without losing judgment.
Answer scenarios like this on the real timers
Answer both questions on the clock, and get each one scored 1–9 the way raters score. Your first set is free, no card.
Practice free
