The interview question bank
133 real interview questions for medical, PA, dental and other health programs, with sample answer outlines for 48 of them. Filter, open an answer, then practice it out loud.
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MD · Patient safety · Intermediate5
Clear filters- Practice this question nowEthicsIntermediateMMI station MD, DO, PA, Nursing, Residency
Before a shift, you notice your senior resident smells of alcohol. What do you do?
Professionalism · Patient safety
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Sample answer outline
- State the priority: patient safety. If the resident may be impaired, they should not see patients until that is resolved.
- Don't assume. Speak to them privately and calmly, say what you noticed, and ask how they are.
- If the concern stands, tell the attending or supervisor before the shift starts. You don't need proof to raise a safety concern.
- Show care for the colleague: impairment can signal illness or crisis. Point to physician health and support programs.
- Acknowledge your position as a trainee and follow the hospital's reporting policy.
What makes it work
- It balances safety, fairness and compassion instead of picking one.
- Escalation is proportionate and quick, because patients are at stake.
Avoid
- Saying nothing because they are senior.
- Confronting them in front of the team.
- Practice this question nowEthicsIntermediateMMI station MD, DO, PA, Nursing, Residency
During rotations, you see one of your closest friends cover up a medical error they made with a patient. What do you do?
Integrity · Patient safety · Professionalism
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Sample answer outline
- First check on the patient: are they at risk right now? If so, alert the team immediately.
- Speak to your friend promptly and privately. Encourage them to disclose and offer to go with them.
- If they won't, take it to your supervisor yourself. Patient safety outranks loyalty.
- Acknowledge the pull of friendship and their fear, and point out that errors are reported to fix systems, not only to punish people.
What makes it work
- It gives your friend the chance to do the right thing first.
- Clear priorities: patient, honesty, then the friendship.
Avoid
- Staying quiet to protect the friendship.
- Practice this question nowPolicyIntermediateMMI station MD, DO, PA, Nursing, Residency, Pharmacy
Should vaccination be mandatory for health care workers?
Autonomy and consent · Patient safety · Health systems
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How to approach policy and current issues questions
- Define the issue in one sentence so you and the interviewer agree on terms.
- Give the strongest arguments on both sides, with one fact you are sure of.
- Take a clear position and name its tradeoffs.
- Bring it back to patients and your future role.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowSituationalIntermediateMMI station PA, MD, DO, Nursing
A patient's family member keeps answering questions for the patient during your assessment. The patient seems hesitant to speak up. How do you handle this?
Communication · Autonomy and consent · Patient safety
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How to approach situational questions
- Start with safety: is anyone at risk right now?
- Gather information before judging anyone involved.
- Act in proportion: a private conversation first, escalation when needed.
- Close the loop: follow up, document and reflect.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowEthicsIntermediateMMI station Nursing, PA, MD, DO
A patient confides they stopped taking prescribed medications due to religious beliefs, but asks you not to tell the physician. Their condition is worsening. How do you respond?
Confidentiality · Autonomy and consent · Patient safety
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How to approach ethical dilemma questions
- Clarify the facts and what you would want to know before acting.
- Name who is affected and the principles in tension: autonomy, doing good, avoiding harm, fairness, confidentiality.
- Walk through realistic options, starting with the least drastic.
- Choose a course of action, explain why, and say who you would involve.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
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