Medical Assistant (MA) - Surgical Specialties Clinic - Per Diem
Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a time you caught an error, like a wrong medication dose or a mismatched patient chart, before it became a problem.
What they are checking: vigilance and willingness to speak up even under time pressure
Tell me about a patient who became agitated or upset in clinic. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: de-escalation skill and composure, called out specifically in the physical requirements
This job involves lifting, transferring patients, and being on your feet most of the day. Tell me about a time the physical demands of the job tested you.
What they are checking: realistic self-assessment of physical readiness for the role's demands
Tell me about a time you had to work closely with a nurse and a physician on the same patient case. How did you make sure everyone stayed on the same page?
What they are checking: teamwork and communication within a coordinated care team
What would you do
A patient tells you they're terrified of needles right before you need to draw their blood for pre-op labs. What do you do?
What they are checking: ability to keep a nervous patient calm and cooperative without rushing the clinical task
This is a per diem role with shifting daily schedules across an 8 to 5:30 window. How do you make sure you're ready to step into a different pace or team on short notice?
What they are checking: adaptability and reliability, since per diem staff don't get the ramp-up time of permanent teammates
You have three patients ready at once and only one provider available. How do you manage the flow without anyone feeling ignored?
What they are checking: prioritization and communication skills in a busy ambulatory clinic
About the work
Walk me through how you'd room a patient before a surgical consult, from the moment they check in to when the provider walks in.
What they are checking: whether the candidate has a real, ordered workflow for rooming rather than a vague sense of the steps
Tell me about your experience with phlebotomy and point-of-care testing. What kinds of draws and tests have you done regularly?
What they are checking: actual hands-on comfort with the preferred skill, since this clinic likely relies on it daily
How do you document vitals, history, and procedure notes in the electronic health record so a surgeon can trust it at a glance?
What they are checking: attention to accuracy and completeness in documentation, since surgical decisions depend on it
Describe how you'd assist a surgeon during an in-office procedure. What's your role while they're working?
What they are checking: understanding of scope of practice and how to anticipate a provider's needs without overstepping
What's your process for administering a medication or vaccine correctly, from checking the order to documenting it?
What they are checking: whether the candidate follows the checks that prevent medication errors, like verifying the five rights
How do you protect yourself and patients when you're handling specimens or working around blood and body fluids?
What they are checking: knowledge of standard precautions and infection control habits
Practice this interview out loud.
Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.
Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Advocate Health.