A new patient gets angry at you for bringing up weight loss tactics when discussing their health. Respond to them.

When asked to role-play during a multiple mini interview, pulling from your prior experiences can be the key to making a positive impression on your interviewer. Practice makes perfect, so take the time to rehearse role-playing situations where you have to communicate with upset or angry patients.

When dealing with an angry or offended patient, it is best to take a methodical approach. First, acknowledge their feelings and thoughts so they understand they are being heard. Take the time to listen to them if another person is role-playing as the patient. While showing empathy for the patient and their weight issue, start an honest conversation about how it can negatively impact their health. It's important to reiterate that you want to help them and allow them to make the choices that they are most comfortable with.

"Joe, I understand your feelings, and I want you to know that I don't mean any offense to you. Your weight could pose health issues down the road to your heart, liver, and other body functions. (allow them to respond) Yes, I understand that heredity can be a big factor in a person's size. But I don't want that to be an excuse to not exercise and eat right. Tell me about your diet and physical activity every week. (allow them to respond) Okay, I appreciate the honesty. I want you to know that what I recommend is a professional recommendation, and you can do what you want with it. My first recommendation would be to start walking 30 to 60 minutes, five times a week. You'll be amazed how much better you feel after just one week of doing this. My other recommendation would be to only dine out once per week and eat lean meat and a low amount of carbs at home for most of your meals. Are you willing to commit to this plan for six months? At that time, I would love to see you again."