OSCE Practice – Maintaining Patient Confidentiality
Practise professionalism, communication, and ethical decision-making aligned with NEBDN OSCE expectations.
Scenario
You are a dental nurse working in a general dental practice.
While working near reception, a patient overhears part of another patient’s treatment discussion and says:
“I heard someone mention treatment costs for the patient before me. What treatment are they having?”
You are the dental nurse responding professionally while maintaining confidentiality.
Your Task
In this OSCE scenario, you are expected to respond professionally while maintaining patient confidentiality and protecting sensitive information.
You should be able to:
- Maintain professional boundaries
- Protect confidential patient information
- Respond appropriately to patient curiosity
- Demonstrate professionalism and ethical judgement
- Understand when confidentiality may be at risk
- Communicate calmly and professionally
Please log in to access this Quiz.
This Scenario Assesses
This station tests important professionalism, ethics, and legal responsibilities expected of a dental nurse, including:
- Patient confidentiality
- Professional communication
- Ethical judgement
- Information governance awareness
- GDPR-related professionalism
- Professional boundaries
This scenario also develops confidence in responding professionally when patients ask inappropriate questions about others.
Model Answer / Ideal Response
A strong response should be calm, professional, and respectful while maintaining confidentiality.
Step 1 — Maintain Confidentiality
Respond professionally and avoid sharing any information.
Example:
“I cannot discuss another patient’s information, but I am happy to help with any questions about your own appointment.”
This protects confidentiality while remaining polite.
Step 2 — Maintain Professional Boundaries
Even if the patient insists or appears curious:
- Do not share treatment details
- Do not confirm patient information
- Avoid discussing costs, appointments, or treatment plans
Patient information should remain confidential.
Step 3 — Reassure Professionally
Avoid sounding defensive or dismissive.
Example:
“We always aim to keep patient information private.”
This helps maintain trust in the practice.
Step 4 — Recognise Confidentiality Risks
Patient information should generally:
- Be discussed in appropriate areas
- Not be overheard unnecessarily
- Be handled professionally by the dental team
Confidentiality concerns should be raised appropriately where needed.
Step 5 — Check Understanding
Before ending the interaction:
- Remain polite and professional
- Redirect the conversation appropriately if needed
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sharing another patient’s treatment information
- Confirming private details
- Saying “it is not a big issue”
- Discussing confidential information in public areas
- Responding defensively
- Ignoring confidentiality concerns
Key Learning Points
- Patient information must remain confidential
- Professional boundaries should be maintained
- Confidential discussions should happen appropriately
- Confidentiality helps maintain trust
- Dental nurses share responsibility for protecting patient information