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Certified Nursing Assistant - Cardiovascular Care Unit

SSM Health · WI · Full time

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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 noticed something wrong with a patient and spoke up.

What they are checking: Whether they act as the RN's eyes and ears and don't wait to report changes.

You're scheduled 3 to 11:30 with every other weekend. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Whether they can reliably work evenings and weekends that part-time staff are hired to cover.

Tell me about a time you made a patient feel cared for during a hard day.

What they are checking: Whether they bring real compassion, which matters a lot to scared cardiac patients.

What would you do

Two call lights go off while you're helping a patient to the bathroom. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they keep the current patient safe and use the team to cover other needs.

A patient refuses to let you help with a bath. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they respect the patient's choice, try again kindly and report it to the nurse.

About the work

On a cardiovascular unit, what changes in a patient would you report to the RN right away?

What they are checking: Whether they know heart warning signs like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or a new irregular pulse.

How do you take an accurate daily weight, and why does it matter for heart patients?

What they are checking: Whether they know same scale, same time and clothing rules, since weight tracks fluid in heart failure.

Walk me through helping a patient walk for the first time after heart surgery.

What they are checking: Whether they think about lines, sternal precautions, dizziness and safety before getting someone up.

How do you measure intake and output for a patient on fluid restriction?

What they are checking: Whether they record I and O accurately, since heart patients' fluid balance guides their treatment.

How do you prevent pressure injuries in patients who stay in bed?

What they are checking: Whether they know turning schedules, skin checks and keeping skin clean and dry.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling WI-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison Worker Type: Regular Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. In this role, you will provide hands-on support in a fast-paced patient care environment where every shift has a meaningful impact on the health, comfort, and recovery of those you serve. Your compassion, attention to detail, and ability to work closely with nurses and other healthcare professionals will help ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care. If you enjoy building connections with patients, supporting a collaborative care team, and making a difference every day, this role is perfect for you. Department: Cardiovascular Care Unit Schedule: Full-time; scheduled 36 hours a week as a night shift with hours of 7:00pm to 7:00am or 11:00pm to 7:00am. Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, every day. Job Summary: Assists in performing a variety of nursing care services for patients. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Receives patient care assignment from the registered nurse (RN) in charge. Initiates delegated tasks based on demonstrated competence in performing nursing activities for specific patient age group served. • Collects and documents data for the admission assessment and reassessment at specific times for patient population. Documents and provides appropriate data to the licensed nurse for analysis and validation of patient’s response to care or treatment and when significant change occurs in the patient’s condition. • Relaying information via charting and communicating to team members. • Informs licensed nurse of any changes in patient condition/needs, of patient complaints, and of patient/significant other educational needs. • Answers patients’ calls for help, takes their vital signs, and monitors their behavior and physical condition for progress or deterioration. Assists with baths, ambulating, feeding, skin care, personal and oral hygiene and making occupied and unoccupied beds. Performs dressing changes, enemas, ostomy care, toileting, turning, cough and deep breathing, catheter care, collection of biological specimens, measuring and recording intake and output of fluids. • Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal as indicated. • Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment in keeping with patient care needs and cost containment. • Assists with delegated clerical duties such as answering telephones, relaying messages, transcription of physician orders, preparing and organizing the patient's medical record. • Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit. • Performs mechanical and manual operation of equipment as recommended in user's manual, with ability to recognize common mechanical problems and initiate appropriate corrective action. • May perform point of care testing according to policies and procedures. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Education equivalency for licensing EXPERIENCE • No experience required PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Constant standing and walking. • Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. • Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry. • Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Occasional lifting/moving patients. • Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors. • Occasional driving. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) - Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) State of Work Location: Missouri • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) - Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services State of Work Location: Oklahoma • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Advanced Unlicensed Assistant - Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) • Or • Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) - Oklahoma State Department of Health State of Work Location: Wisconsin • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry Work Shift: Night Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 1003000007 4E Cardiovascular Care Unit Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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