20 MultiCare Health System Interview Questions and Answers

MultiCare Health System is a large, not-for-profit health care organization that provides a wide range of medical services to patients in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. As one of the largest employers in the state, MultiCare is always looking for talented and dedicated individuals to join its team.

If you’re interested in working for MultiCare, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions specific to the organization during your interview. In this article, we’ll give you a taste of what you can expect, with sample answers to help you prepare.

MultiCare Health System Interview Process

The interview process at MultiCare Health System is generally positive, with most reviewers finding the staff friendly and the overall experience to be smooth. However, some reviewers note that the process can be lengthy, and others express disappointment at not hearing back after their interviews.

MultiCare typically begins the hiring process with a phone screen, followed by an in-person interview with a panel of managers. For some positions, there may also be a third interview with the company’s leadership team. The entire process usually takes about a month.

1. How do you prioritize patient care?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and determine which patients need care most urgently. Use examples from previous experiences to explain how you decide which tasks are more important than others, and highlight your ability to make quick decisions under pressure.

Example: “When I’m working with a patient who is in critical condition, I immediately focus on their needs and ensure that they receive the best possible care. If there’s another patient who may be waiting for my attention, I delegate some of the less urgent tasks to other team members so I can continue providing care to the critically ill patient. This helps me provide quality care to all patients while also ensuring that no one feels neglected.”

2. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with an uncooperative coworker.

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenges in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on your ability to work with others despite any differences or disagreements.

Example: “In my last position as a nurse manager, I had one coworker who was very outspoken about her opinions. She often disagreed with me when we discussed patient care plans, which made it difficult for us to collaborate effectively. However, I always tried to listen to what she had to say and explain why I thought our plan would benefit patients most effectively. Eventually, she started to trust my decisions more and began to offer suggestions of her own.”

3. What is the biggest problem facing healthcare today and how would you fix it?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the healthcare industry and how you can make improvements. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what the problem is and how you would fix it.

Example: “The biggest problem facing healthcare today is that many people don’t have access to quality care. I believe that one solution to this problem is to increase funding for community health centers. These centers provide low-cost or free medical services to those who need them most. By increasing funding for these centers, we can ensure more people have access to affordable healthcare.”

4. Why should we hire you as opposed to someone older/younger?

This question is a great way to show your confidence and willingness to learn. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you plan on growing with the organization.

Example: “I believe that I am the best candidate for this position because of my passion for helping others. While I have only been in healthcare for two years, I have already learned so much about what makes patients happy and healthy. I feel like I would be an excellent addition to Multicare Health System as I continue to grow and develop my skills.”

5. Are there any parts of your job that are more important than others?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your priorities and see if they align with those of Multicare Health System. When answering, it can be helpful to mention some parts of your job that you enjoy most or find most challenging.

Example: “I think patient care is one of the most important aspects of my job. I love being able to help patients feel better and get back on their feet. However, I also really enjoy working in a team environment. I like knowing that there are other people who are willing to pitch in when needed and support each other.”

6. Do you have experience working directly with patients?

This question is an opportunity to share your experience with patients and how you helped them. You can also discuss any special training or certifications that you have.

Example: “I worked as a nurse in the emergency room for five years, where I had many opportunities to work directly with patients. In my last position, I was responsible for triaging patients when they arrived at the hospital. This required me to assess their symptoms and determine what treatment they needed. I also performed physical exams on patients and administered medications.”

7. Have you worked in fast-paced environments before?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of how you might fit in with their team. If you have experience working in fast-paced environments, share some examples of how you handled them and what your approach was to handling the pace.

Example: “I’ve worked in several emergency rooms throughout my career, so I’m used to working in fast-paced environments. In fact, I find that it helps me stay focused on the task at hand when things are busy. When there’s a lot going on, I try to focus on one thing at a time and prioritize tasks as they come up.”

8. If a nurse came into work without proper attire, what would you do?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your professionalism and ability to enforce company policies. In your answer, explain how you would handle the situation while also emphasizing your commitment to upholding professional standards.

Example: “If a nurse came into work without proper attire, I would first remind them of our dress code policy. If they still refused to change, I would document the incident in their file and inform my manager so that we could address it further. As a registered nurse, I take pride in maintaining a professional appearance at all times. It’s important for me to uphold these standards because it shows respect for patients and colleagues.”

9. What kind of training did you receive for previous jobs?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn about your experience with training and development. They want to know if you’ve taken advantage of opportunities for professional growth in the past, so they can decide whether you would do so at their organization. In your answer, share what kind of training programs you participated in and how it helped you develop professionally.

Example: “At my previous job, I took part in a mentorship program that paired me with an experienced nurse who could help me with any questions or concerns I had on the job. She also gave me feedback on my performance, which allowed me to make improvements where necessary. This program was one way Multicare Health System encouraged its employees to grow and develop.”

10. Would you be willing to relocate if necessary?

If you’re interviewing for a position at Multicare Health System, it’s likely that the company is looking to fill an open position in one of its hospitals. If this is the case, your interviewer may ask you if you would be willing to relocate to work there. When answering this question, try to show enthusiasm about moving and working in their area.

Example: “I’m happy to move anywhere as long as I can continue my career in healthcare. I’ve always wanted to live in Seattle, so I’d be thrilled to have the opportunity to work here.”

11. How long can you commit to this position?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you’re looking for a long-term career with their organization. If you have plans to move in the near future, it’s important to be honest about your intentions and provide an explanation as to why you may not be able to stay at this position for a longer period of time.

Example: “I’m currently enrolled in school and plan on graduating within the next year. I would love to continue working here after graduation, but my current obligations will prevent me from committing to this position for more than one year.”

12. What changes would you want to make to our organization?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your leadership skills and how you would implement change. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight some of the organization’s strengths and discuss ways in which you could improve upon them.

Example: “I think Multicare Health System has an excellent reputation as a health care provider. I would want to continue that by making sure all patients are treated with respect and kindness. To do so, I would make sure there were enough nurses on staff to provide quality care to patients. I also think it’s important to have more doctors available during off-hours, so I would like to see if we could hire more physicians.”

13. What types of medical procedures are you comfortable performing?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your skills and experience. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list specific procedures you have performed in previous roles.

Example: “I am comfortable performing many different medical procedures. In my last role as an emergency room nurse, I was able to perform CPR, administer injections and draw blood. I also had some training on administering anesthesia, although I did not do so regularly.”

14. How often do you like to take breaks while on shift?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re able to work a full eight-hour shift without needing frequent breaks. They want to know that you can stay focused and productive for the entire duration of your shift. When answering, be honest about how often you need breaks but also emphasize that you are capable of working hard for long periods of time.

Example: “I usually take one or two short breaks per day. I find that it helps me stay energized throughout my shift. However, I am fully capable of staying focused on my tasks for an entire eight-hour shift.”

15. Have you ever received any disciplinary actions at your previous workplace?

This question is a common one that employers ask to learn more about your past behavior. They want to know if you have ever had any issues with the law or were reprimanded for something at work. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest and explain what happened without going into too much detail.

Example: “I was once written up by my manager for being late to work three days in a row. I was having some personal problems at home and didn’t realize how often I was late until my manager brought it to my attention. After talking through the issue, we both agreed that I would make sure to set an alarm on my phone so I wouldn’t forget again.”

16. Can you tell me about a time you were able to provide great customer service?

Customer service is an important part of working in healthcare. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience providing excellent customer service and can do so at their organization. When answering, think about a time when you helped someone who was having difficulty or provided them with information they needed.

Example: “I once had a patient who came into the emergency room late at night because he wasn’t feeling well. He was very worried about his symptoms and wanted to know what was wrong. I took the time to explain everything to him and answer all of his questions. By the end of our conversation, he felt much better and even thanked me for my help.”

17. Describe a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you prioritized your tasks and the results that followed.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for managing multiple social media accounts. One day, I had too many things to do at once, so I decided to focus on one account per hour. I started with the most important account first, then moved onto the next-most important account and continued until all of the accounts were complete.”

18. How would you document a patient’s history?

This question is an opportunity to show your attention to detail and ability to follow protocols. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you documented a patient’s history in the past.

Example: “When I was working as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital, I had a patient who came into the emergency room with symptoms of a heart attack. After taking his vitals, I asked him about his medical history and he told me that he had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. He also mentioned that he had just started a new medication for his condition. I documented all of this information in his chart so that the doctors could have access to it when they were treating him.”

19. What would you do if you saw the doctor doing something that wasn’t safe?

This question is a great way to show your commitment to patient safety. It’s important for healthcare professionals to be able to speak up when they see something that could harm patients, and this interview question can help you demonstrate how you would do so respectfully.

Example: “I have seen situations where doctors or nurses were doing things that weren’t safe for patients, and I always feel it’s my responsibility to speak up about these issues. In one situation, I saw a doctor who was administering medication without checking the patient’s blood pressure first. I politely asked if she could check the patient’s blood pressure before giving them their medication, which she did. She apologized for not following procedure and thanked me for speaking up.”

20. What was the last thing you learned from a past manager?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your learning style and how you apply new skills to your work. Use this opportunity to share something that helped you improve your performance or develop a skill.

Example: “My last manager taught me how to use project management software, which has been very helpful in my current role. I find it easier to stay organized when I have all of my tasks laid out on a calendar. It also helps me communicate with my team members about what they need to do.”