Situational Dental School Mock Interview
Master 30 situational dental school interview questions covering clinical scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and patient care.
Question 28 of 30
A dental student colleague left their computer open with sensitive information on the screen. You are the only one in the shared office. How would you address this with them?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Community Answers
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
Patient confidentiality and HIPAA regulations apply to dentistry, and leaving a computer open, even to run to the bathroom for a minute, risks a serious breach of patient confidentiality. Your team of interviewers needs to be assured that any student entering into their training program has integrity and would do the right thing in this situation.
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
"I would immediately close or lock the computer, and I would not look at the information on the screen. If I wasn't sure where the coworker was or when he or she left, I would be compelled to report it to a faculty member because someone could have accessed the information. It's a tough call and may cause some tension with my colleague, but as a dental student, I must do what is best for the patient to protect their information."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
You should not see protected information on a patient that you are not personally taking care of. Leaving a computer wide open is a serious risk to confidentiality. Tell your interviewers that you would gently close or lock the computer so that the screen is not visible and discuss the seriousness of this when your colleague returns. No matter how you answer, make sure that your interviewers walk away from your time together knowing that you would do what is necessary to protect the PHI of any patient of their institution.
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Unlock All 30 Situational Dental School Questions
Prepare for scenario-based questions that dental school admissions committees use to assess candidates.
Get StartedJump to Question