You are a specialist at a local hospital. You have just finished your shift and are rushing to your daughter's high school graduation. On your way out, Erica, a patient who knows you well, calls to you from the waiting room: "Doctor! I have bad chest pain. Please stay for a bit. I'll feel much better if you're here." Enter the room and talk to Erica.

Where answers to this question lose points

Our scorer marks every answer on three parts. For each of the 92 applicants who finished this question on Confetto, we took their first scored answer and counted the part that scored lowest.

• Structure: a clear order and a clear point35 of 92
• Content: covering what the question needs30 of 92

Confetto data as of November 8, 2026. A part is shown only when 20 or more applicants share it. Answers where two parts tied are not counted toward either. We never show anyone's answers or details.

What this question tests

• Communication
• Empathy
• Patient care

How to structure your answer

1. Stay in the scene (15 seconds). The doctor introduces themself as Dr. Morgan, asks to sit beside Erica, and tells her she does not need to get up or walk. They speak directly to Erica throughout, taking her chest pain seriously rather than explaining their approach to the assessor.
2. Ask about them (45 seconds). The doctor starts with one open invitation for Erica to describe her chest pain, beginning wherever makes sense to her. They make room to listen without interrupting and reduce pressure by saying she does not need medical words or lengthy answers if talking is difficult.
3. Name the feeling (40 seconds). The doctor names Erica's fear and connects it to her severe pain and the reassurance of having a familiar doctor nearby. They affirm that calling out was appropriate, reassure her she is not bothering them, and invite a brief pause while remaining beside her.
4. Say it plainly (45 seconds). The doctor explains that bad chest pain could mean a heart attack or another serious problem, calls for urgent assessment, and asks focused symptom questions. They honestly disclose their graduation commitment, promising to stay for a safe handoff rather than throughout Erica's care.
5. Agree a next step (30 seconds). The next step is an urgent assessment by the nurse and on-duty doctor, with Dr. Morgan staying to explain Erica's symptoms and concerns. Erica can choose who speaks first during the handoff and whether someone familiar should be contacted for support.
6. Common pitfalls. Leaving for the graduation before a safe handoff, or promising to stay throughout Erica's care, would undermine this answer. Dismissing her pain as anxiety or giving advice before hearing her account would also weaken the response by minimizing a potentially serious problem.

Example answer from Confetto

Example answer from Confetto. Not a real applicant's answer.

“Erica, it’s Dr. Morgan. I’m here. May I sit beside you? You don’t need to get up or walk anywhere. I can see that you need my attention, and I’m taking what you’ve said seriously.”

“Tell me what’s happening with your chest pain, starting wherever makes sense to you. I’m listening. You don’t have to find the right medical words, and if talking is difficult, just tell me what you can.”

“That sounds frightening, Erica. You’ve said the pain is bad and that having someone you know here helps you feel safer. I’m glad you called out rather than keeping this to yourself. You’re not bothering me. Let’s pause for a breath. I’m staying beside you while I get someone to come directly to us.”

“Bad chest pain can sometimes mean a heart attack or another serious problem. I can’t tell what’s causing yours just by talking, so I don’t want to assume it’s anxiety or wait to see whether it passes. I’m calling the nurse now for an urgent assessment and the on-duty doctor. While they’re coming, when did the pain start? Is it spreading anywhere? Are you short of breath, sweaty, dizzy, or feeling sick? We can take those one at a time. If answering becomes difficult or the pain changes, tell me straightaway.”

“I also want to be honest with you. My shift has ended, and I’m on my way to my daughter’s graduation. That doesn’t mean I’m going to leave you without a safe handoff. I’ll stay until the team is here and I’ve explained what you’ve told me. I can’t promise to stay throughout your care, but I can make sure they understand your concerns before I leave. Would you prefer that I explain first, or that you tell them with me beside you? Is there someone you’d like us to contact so you have another familiar person here?”

Use it for its structure. Interviewers can tell a memorized script, so tell your own story.

Keep going

• As a physician, how would you approach building trust with a patient who expresses deep mistrust of the healthcare system due to past negative experiences?
• You are a family physician. Your patient, Mark, missed an important exam and says his teacher will give him a zero unless he brings a doctor's note. He asks you to write that he was too unwell to write the exam, but you can't find anything wrong with him. Enter the room and talk to Mark.
• You are a family doctor. One of your patients, a recent immigrant who speaks limited English, is pregnant and interested in genetic testing for her baby. You are not sure she fully understands what the results could mean, including the decisions they might lead to. How do you make sure she makes an informed decision?
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