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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)- CVICU

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 9, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 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.

Behavioral

Walk me through what CVICU means to you and why you want to work with critically ill cardiovascular patients specifically, on nights.

whether the candidate understands the acuity of this unit and chose it deliberately rather than applying broadly

Tell me about a time you noticed something off with a patient, maybe just a gut feeling, before it became obvious. What did you do?

observation skills and willingness to escalate concerns promptly to the RN, which matters in a high-acuity ICU

Tell me about a time you had to reposition or transfer a patient who was heavily sedated or on multiple lines and tubes. How did you keep them safe?

real hands-on experience with complex, fragile patients versus general CNA experience with more mobile patients

Have you ever collected a specimen or done point-of-care testing and had a labeling or identification step go wrong, or almost go wrong? What happened?

attention to detail on identification protocols, since mislabeled specimens in an ICU can cause serious harm

Tell me about a time you had a heavy workload with several patients needing care at once. How did you decide what to do first?

prioritization skills, essential for the fast pace and every-third-weekend, overnight staffing pattern

Have you ever had to provide post-mortem care or been present when a patient passed? How did you handle it, and how did you take care of yourself afterward?

emotional resilience and whether they've thought realistically about the harder parts of critical care nursing support

Technical

How do you take and document a blood pressure, pulse, and respiration, and what would make you double-check a reading before charting it?

basic clinical competency and whether they understand the difference between recording a number and recognizing an abnormal one

What's your experience with electronic medical records, and how do you make sure what you document matches exactly what you observed?

comfort with EMR systems and understanding that accurate documentation is a patient safety issue, not paperwork

What do you know about maintaining skin integrity for patients who can't move themselves, and why does that matter so much in an ICU?

specific knowledge of pressure injury prevention, a common and serious risk for immobile ICU patients

How do you make sure you're following hand hygiene and isolation precautions correctly when you're moving quickly between patients?

consistency with infection control habits under time pressure, not just knowledge of the rules

Situational

You're doing rounds and a patient who just had cardiac surgery says they feel short of breath but their vitals look normal on your last check. What do you do right now?

judgment about when to interrupt the RN immediately versus documenting and monitoring, given the fragility of CVICU patients

If a family member is at the bedside and gets upset because their loved one isn't waking up as fast as they expected, how do you handle that moment while still doing your job?

composure and communication skills under emotional pressure in a high-stakes environment

This unit requires overnight shifts, every third weekend, and half of holidays. How does that fit with your life right now, and what's made a schedule like this hard for you in the past, if anything?

honest assessment of schedule fit and retention risk before investing in training

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34504 Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center - Critical Care: CVICU 7T Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 24 Schedule Details/Additional Information: NOC shift; (3) 23-0730 shifts per week OR (2) 19-0730 shifts per week Every 3rd weekend 50% Holiday requirement Pay Range: $20.80 - $31.20 Major Responsibilities: • Assists RN with daily care of patients including bathing, oral hygiene, feeding, activity orders and ambulation which may include use of therapeutic assistive devices, proper positioning, range of motion and special transferring as indicated. • Measures and documents blood pressures, TPRs (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration), I & O (Intake and Output), daily weights, and other patient data as requested. Documents accurately in Electronic Medical Record (EMR). • Performs purposeful rounding under direction of RN and promptly communicates observations, concerns, and needs of patient/family to RN. Documents appropriately. • Participates in admission, transfer and discharge process under supervision of RN including room set up, orientation to room, removing linen, and proper management of patient belongings. Ensures patient call light is always in reach of patient and answers call-lights promptly. • Collects urine, stool, and sputum specimens and performs point-of-care testing as indicated using approved process for accurate specimen labeling and identification. Maintains competency as required. • Completes various errands as directed including pick-up and delivery of trays, charts, specimens, and reports. Maintains and orders stock for nursing area. Cleans equipment and work areas. • Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties which require lifting and pushing/pulling while utilizing proper technique and assistive devices. Performs tasks related to nutritional needs of patient under direction of RN to include diet review, tray set up/removal, proper positioning and diet selection. • Performs tasks related to maintaining skin integrity to include proper repositioning and skin care. Ensures special patient supplies and appliances are provided and maintained such as TED hose and sequential compression devices. • Under the direction of RN and as determined by site/unit requirements, may be required to remove IVs, provide post mortem care, and bladder scans. • Practices within policies and procedures of infection prevention by demonstrating hand hygiene and knowledge of sterile and aseptic procedures, proper disposal of contaminated materials and utilizing proper attire when in direct contact with patients in isolation. • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 45 days, and • Nurse Aide in good standing as indicated with the State Registry in which the team member practices. Education Required: • Certificate of General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), or • High School Graduate. Experience Required: • None. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Basic computer skills. • Excellent oral and written communication. • Excellent organizational skills and ability to set priorities. • Certification Addendum • Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others). Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist, and reach above shoulders during the work shift. • Must be able to: • lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Will be required to use foot pedals on carts or machines. • Must have functional vision and hearing. • Will be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids on a continuous basis; therefore, protective clothing must be worn as necessary. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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